AUTHOR: Macedonio Fernández
READ: Sept-Oct
THOUGHTS: Was really really excited to read this. Hooked me w/ concept alone: novel with 50+ prologues plus main novel about "characters" living in a place called "La Novela" (nyuck). The playfulness in this book is a bit out of control, though it can be very appealing/funny/interesting. I think this might be one of those "more interesting to think/talk about than read" kind of things ultimately, because getting through this whole book was pretty difficult at times; a large portion of it is Fernández talking about being vs. nothingness, his ideas on fiction, love, phenomenology, etc. Still way ahead of its time (mostly written in 30's/40's) and a very interesting example of a novel with an overwhelmingly metafictional aesthetic attempting to address very important (though conventional) questions about life and shit. A very inspirational book, really would like to read more about his life/other works. (Also wonder if anything has been lost on me due to my lack of knowledge re: Argentine literary scene during the 30's and 40's).
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