Author Archives: ava

“Who is this professor and why has he designed the course like this?” I asked myself the first time I looked at the course website back in December. I remember when I first registered I told myself that it could go so wrong I might end up hating it. It was completely out of my … Continue reading Ava’s Last RMST 495 Blog Continue reading →

Here’s a whistled version of one of my favourite songs by Farhad Mehrad to help you get through my blog. Hope you enjoy it! On page 3, the novel posed two questions: “When did Peru fuck up?” and “When did he fuck up?” referring to Santiago, the main character. Since the beginning, I have been … Continue reading The End: “It’s getting late son” Continue reading →

It is over. I feel strange. An end that marks the end of the book but not the end of the story for me. I think halfway through the novel I decided that I didn’t enjoy reading it but even then I was still hopeful for a change. I was waiting for the moment when … Continue reading What’s Outside the Window? Continue reading →

It’s funny (sad) what society, well, some characters in the book associate with “comfort” or being “privileged”. I believe these “hidden desires” reveal something deeper about society especially economic disparities where many things are defined by what you can influence with the money you have, what activities you can engage in and even who you … Continue reading Conversation in the Cathedral: and the conversation continues Continue reading →

I’m starting to feel a bit less “fond” of The Savage Detectives (I was barely ever but). Even though I am usually less excited to read The Savage Detectives than Conversation in the Cathedral, this time around it really took me out. I usually read the book in one sitting or over a couple of days … Continue reading Stuck on the Puzzle: The Savage Detectives Continue reading →

O homeland,which generation of your childrenwill see you free, flourishing, and proudwith eyes that truly believe? – Mahmoud Dowlatabadi What a strange experience it is to read. What a strange feeling to read about the history of one country and think of another. The events, the small details, the history of dictatorships, their fall, their … Continue reading In the Shadow of the Dictatorship Continue reading →

And the Interviews continue… How will all of this make sense? Will it ever? To start off, it’s satisfying that the pages I’ve read finally outweigh what’s left. I must give Bolaño some praise for his writing. It may not make much sense to me, but he clearly knows what he’s doing by deliberately making … Continue reading The Savage Detectives: Same old, Same old Continue reading →

First off, I can’t believe I finished a whole book in one sitting, in one day. Going back to our in class discussion on Thursday on why short books are short, one of the reasons we came up with was the satisfaction that it gives the readers, that they are able to finish the book … Continue reading UNAM, Fourth Floor of the Faculty of Philosophy and Literature Continue reading →

My initial thought after finishing the last page I intended to read for this week (pp. 90-190) was that I tried to figure out whether I liked The Savage Detectives more or Conversation in the Cathedral and I genuinely do not have an answer. I compare them so much I don’t know why. However one … Continue reading San Marcos, Lima, Peru Continue reading →

As you might recall, I really enjoyed reading the first part of The Savage Detectives, but now… I am not even sure how I feel. From the very beginning, I have felt that I always need to be on the hunt for details, making connections, connecting the dots with Bolaño but at this point I’m … Continue reading The Savage Detectives Part II: What is going on? Continue reading →