The Book of Chameleons by Jose Eduardo Agualusa is a tale that intertwines reality with fiction, and the past with the present. The title of the novel is quite deceiving, as it barely mentions chameleons, but the closest we get is a gecko narrator living in Angola. The novel is a profound exploration of memory, identity, and the stories we weave to define ourselves, our pasts, and the future.

First, let’s address the elephant (or, should I say, the gecko?) in the room: a peculiar narrator named Eulalio, a roommate and “friend” of Felix Ventura. The pair share more than just a living space. As Felix creates new identities and pasts for people while switching between his own as a bookdealer during the day and a “seller of pasts” at night, the gecko’s existence is also split between his current life as a reptile and the memories of his past life in human form. Both characters try to navigate a world full of lies and illusions.

‘Dreams’ acts as a fascinating channel between illusions and reality too, giving much more character to the protagonists in the novel. The gecko experiences his dream in vivid human forms where he interacts with characters, including Felix. These dreams blur the line between his current form in a gecko’s body and his past self, creating a space where he explores his identity beyond his physical form. Though they are not discussed much in the book, Felix’s dreams are nonetheless interesting. Through their dreams, we also explore how close the gecko and Felix are, to the point where they both “share” dreams. Felix casually mentions that he has dreams of interacting with the gecko.

“I have dreams. Sometimes I have rather strange dreams. Last night I dreamed about him. And he pointed at me.” (69)

Felix’s attachment with the gecko inevitably seeps into his subconscious, influencing his dreams. Not only this, I believe that dreams acted as meeting points for both, as their physical forms inhibited them from interacting with each other in real life. Through these dreams, the novel delves into the theme of the cycle of life and the quest to find meaning beyond the physical realm.

As companions, both share a form of solitude. The Gecko provides Felix, who is lonely due to the nature of his work, with a silent yet compassionate presence.  Gecko’s death prompts Felix to write diary entries, (which I found very cute). We see how Felix not only tries to process his grief but also honors the memory of his friend, acknowledging the gecko’s role both as an observer and a confidante in their shared existence.

Question: What do you think the dreams symbolize?