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happybeartoes's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The translation work by Margaret Jull Costa is top-notch, as always. I've read this twice now, in the original and in translation, and this translation makes the world of the Israfel Poe Society sing.
quintus's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hermitbell's review against another edition
Me acordé que hace pila leí este libro, ahora que leí cuentos de Borges tiene más sentido jajaja
vonnegutian's review
3.0
Luis Fernando Verissimo has concocted a clever and entertaining Borgesian mystery which duly pays homage to one of South America's greatest writers - even, in fact, casting him as a support character in the tale.
A reclusive 50 year old and besotted admirer of Borges, an expatriated Jewish German named Vogelstein, finds himself meeting his idol amidst a murder investigation at a Edgar Alan Poe literary convention (the inventor of detective fiction, no less). The backstory to this meeting is complicated, since Vogelstein once translated a Borges story, changing the ending in the process and leaving (fictionally) the great author none-too-pleased. Furthermore, three stories the younger man had sent to his hero had all been rejected. Many years have passed until the current murder investigation serendipitously bring them together. The connection between the admirer and the translator of years before however, Borges has seemingly has all but forgotten or forgiven.
As chief witness to the crime, Vogelstein and his hero ruminate on who the killer may be. By methodically remembering events (unsurprisingly a mirror plays a part) they slowly progress down philological rumination, encompassing 'the origins of language, the work of John Dee and the "Necronomicon" (publicised by H. P. Lovecraft), the Kabbala, the occult, the Gnostic gospels, apochrypha, and the "eternal orangutan." All the while, Borges' friend, a criminologist and strong advocate of scientific method, tries to solve the murder using conventional methods - regularly returning (and despairing) to the illogical postulates the two excited authors create together whilst he is away.
This was a very entertaining read and a more than fitting tribute to the work of Borges. Admirers of Borges' work will get added pleasure from the story but knowledge of his work is by no means necessary in order to appreciate this book.
A reclusive 50 year old and besotted admirer of Borges, an expatriated Jewish German named Vogelstein, finds himself meeting his idol amidst a murder investigation at a Edgar Alan Poe literary convention (the inventor of detective fiction, no less). The backstory to this meeting is complicated, since Vogelstein once translated a Borges story, changing the ending in the process and leaving (fictionally) the great author none-too-pleased. Furthermore, three stories the younger man had sent to his hero had all been rejected. Many years have passed until the current murder investigation serendipitously bring them together. The connection between the admirer and the translator of years before however, Borges has seemingly has all but forgotten or forgiven.
As chief witness to the crime, Vogelstein and his hero ruminate on who the killer may be. By methodically remembering events (unsurprisingly a mirror plays a part) they slowly progress down philological rumination, encompassing 'the origins of language, the work of John Dee and the "Necronomicon" (publicised by H. P. Lovecraft), the Kabbala, the occult, the Gnostic gospels, apochrypha, and the "eternal orangutan." All the while, Borges' friend, a criminologist and strong advocate of scientific method, tries to solve the murder using conventional methods - regularly returning (and despairing) to the illogical postulates the two excited authors create together whilst he is away.
This was a very entertaining read and a more than fitting tribute to the work of Borges. Admirers of Borges' work will get added pleasure from the story but knowledge of his work is by no means necessary in order to appreciate this book.
bengriffin's review
3.0
A fun, enjoyable little read. Not quite sure what everyone else absolutely loved about it, but it works well as homage and is definitely entertaining.
delight's review
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
alyp01's review against another edition
2.0
This was an odd book. It was a murder mystery, but a lot of time was spent talking about origins of letters and theories about random things. I had a difficult time understanding a lot of it, so I didn't get as much out of the story. The main character Volgelstein, is telling the story to Borges, the reader. He goes to Buenos Aires for a conference and a much loathed man is murdered there. He then speculates with Borges who the killer is and what the symbolism left behind can be interpreted as. The ending was kind of interesting, but I was lost most of the time.
daal218's review against another edition
4.0
Una locura. Recomendaría antes leer (o releer) algo de Borges -especialmente La muerte y la brújula- y también algo de Poe, para entender todos los guiños que hace el autor.
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