The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano

I must admit that had I not read the lengthy 2666 first, I might not have been so eager to sink my teeth into The Savage Detectives. Reading this had the feel of stream of consciousness with a purpose as opposed to James Joyce’s ramblings. Bolano is such a magnificent storyteller and can manifest so many different voices that it’s a joy to turn over every page.

Set primarily in Mexico from the mid 1970’s to the mid 1990’s, its main focus is on two pedantic poets, Ulisses Lima and Arturo Belano, who coin themselves the Visceral Realists. As they search for the elusive Cesarea Tinajero, we are introduced to a plethora of characters found in Mexico City, Paris, Vienna, Barcelona and San Diego, to name a few.

Ulisses Lima is not seen by most in a positive light as hygiene is never foremost on his mind. He does not concern himself with other’s opinions at all and approaches life with his own objectives at heart that drive him to carry on without distraction.

Surely the author’s alter ego, Arturo Belano, is considered the more level headed Visceral poet, although not all would agree with that representation.

Joaquim Font is a wealthy Mexican who we become front seat witnesses to his mental and financial decline. Oblivious to other’s situations, his self-absorption becomes his downfall.

Luscious Skin is a bisexual man and the name alone makes him worthy of consideration. Reveling in the poets’ hedonistic ways, he is one of the lesser known visceral poets.

Meeting Mr. Bolano would be a dream come true. Perhaps we would sip some Mezcal as he would surely spin a tale or two or three and introduce me to some interesting characters he’d created.

My rating for The Savage Detectives is an 8 out of 10.

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