Hi again blog :))
Thank the heavens this week the reading had normal lenght sentences (looking at you, Combray). I absolutely adored reading Mad Toy. The pacing of the story was amazing, and I really felt as if I was looking at snapshots of Silvio’s life. I thought I would feel the gaps in the story, but in reality, the passage of time between one chapter and another did not hinder my reading experience at all. In fact, I really enjoyed these time intervals.
Roberto Arlt really heard the sentence “coming-of-age story” and said “BET”. He expertly portrays how a person’s perspectives and ideals change as they grow older, and how, as much as you can denounce ever feeling a certain way when talking about the past, those ideals never completely leave you. Silvio’s growth from being certain his future was with his crime gang, to going through the shttiest job ever, to getting his first reality check through his gay roommate, to being okay with his life selling paper AND being on the other side of his earlier life dreams, is such a beautiful depiction of what every teen goes through. We always think adult life is all daisies and roses, and then we get our metaphorical asses handed to us, and we get reality checked to the next plane of existence, so that we can get up and learn to be okay with the fact that life does suck sometimes, but you have to try to make the best of it. Everyone needs to have their crime gang go on break to eventually figure out that selling paper is okay for now, you know?
I had a delightful time seeing Buenos Aires through Silvio’s eyes. Not because he had an easy life, or because he was a particularly happy person (that man needs a therapist yesterday), but because I was fascinated to watch his perspectives change with time and experience. Silvio is a genius. He is incredibly smart, he knows so much about maths and sciences, and yet he is stuck learning a trade to make a living instead of being able to do what he truly loves, which is writing, studying, and inventing. This initial shock, which morphs into acceptance, is something I once again think so many teens go through. It is still heartbreaking to see Silvio get put down over and over again, but it also made me think that so many people probably feel seen by what he went through. And for these people, hearing how, at the end of the day, Silvio still finds joy in his life, is something incredibly important.
I want to talk about so many other things because I genuinely adored this book, but the last thing I will mention is how awesome the blend of varieties of Spanish and other Romance languages was. As someone who went to school with people who spoke all kinds of Spanish, that really made me feel at home lol.
I also have to mention arsonist Silvio. I know boys always have that one thing they hyperfixate on as teens, but having that be building cannons (yes, multiple) seems a bit concerning. Still loved that though, arsonist Silvio was very fun.
Stealing is no stranger to Silvio, and Silvio is no stranger to stealing. But Mad Toy shows us how even if you know how to steal, having everything be stolen from you fundamentally changes you and your morals.
I am very glad I read this book, it was awesome!! I leave you guys with one final question: What are your thoughts on Rengo being a metaphor for chapter one Silvio? Cuz I thought he was one hell of a metaphor, and the fact that Silvio turned him in is what really solidifies an important part of his growing up story.
Thanks for reading!!! :)))
5 replies on “What did the “coming-of-age story” genre do to Robert Arlt that made him come out swinging like that?! and what is this arsonist child doing here?!!”
Hi Julya!
Interesting analysis! I liked how you highlight how the idea of comming of age is put into tension during the novel.
Please share your thoughts and ideas on the class!
If you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to make two comments on your classmates’ blogs
See you tomorrow.
Julián.
Hi Julya:)) I totally feel you when you talk about this week being a much more enjoyable read haha
I also agree with your comments on the time intervals in this book, I was actually expecting the chapters to have a larger age gap in between them, but was pleasantly surprised at the pace of each. While one’s teenage years may not seem very important on their own, you can see in this book just how formative each year was for Silvio, and how much he changed throughout his teenage years.
Hello Julya,
Great blog post, I can feel how much you enjoyed reading the book from it.
I like your comment about Rengo, it makes a lot of sense when you point it out. The parallels are there in the structure, beginning as a thief and ending as turning in a thief. And maybe Rengo is not just chapter 1 Silvio but a future that may have existed for Silvio, as someone he may have become if he stayed a thieving rogue in Buenos Aires. The chapter shows the future and various possibilities of everyone from chapter 1: Lucio as a police investigator, Enrique in jail, Rengo also being betrayed and arrested, and Silvio having rejected all those possibilities to move to the south.
Hi Julya! I also believed that the “coming of age” theme was done extremely well. I felt that I could really see how Silvio and his environment were changing throughout the novel. I was definitely able to see the universal teenage angst through Silvio’s narration.
Hihi Julya! I absolutely agree with you when you say this was a far more enjoyable read, especially compared to Combray [I think my brain had its monthly dose of exercise with that one]. Moreover, I find the parallel that you made so interesting by comparing Rengo to Silvio in chapter 1 or what would have become of him if he continued on the same path. I didn’t make that connection at all and reading your blog was very eye opening to instances which felt open ended in the book!