Well what a read! I couldn’t put the book down once I started. Through couch reading, reading while cooking, dinner reading, and back to the couch reading, this book kept me engaged and not knowing what would come next.
Agostino started off weirdly, I thought he might have some Oedipus issues, but soon I realized his experience is quite innocent at its foundation. Agostino longs for the appearance of something he yet does not fully understand from the people on the beach. He doesn’t quite understand what is implied by going for a boat ride, but yet he does at the same time. When Agostino fell in with the tough local guys, it seemed at first good for him since he quickly learned so much that he had been sheltered from, however it also put him in a vulnerable position. Agostino was an outsider in the group, the weakest, and didn’t fit in immediately with any of Sandro, Homs, Tortima, or Berto. I noticed Agostino very quickly would trust people around him who showed some kindness, which left him in a miserable position when they would quickly rug pull the kindness from under him to get what they want, despite his thoughts on fairness.
This happened with Berto until he got beaten up, Sandro until he left him on his own, Tortima who took all of his money and got into the brothel solo, and even with Homs who made a story up about the Agostino. However, most unfortunately, this happens with the adult of the group, Saro. He found support in Saro quite early when the boys would tease him and he saw to Saro for support, who had been quiet unlike the others. Later, Saro lies about a boat trip to Rio to take Agostino on a boat ride, much to the dismay of Homs who tried to sway him from going with them. Homs gets left behind and drags Agostino’s reputation with a jealous intention to the group when paired with his wealthy outsider status. Agostino doesn’t even realize the meaning of a boat ride, yet when his mother and the young man Renzo go I thought he understood.
Agostino’s journey continues as he tries to find himself, feeling troubled at home due to his mother’s closeness to the young man, but similarly feeling troubled when hanging with the gang. Agostino later attempts to enter into a brothel using all his money and borrowing from his mother, but is quickly refused. Though, he did take the opportunity to glance in through the windows. I feel that Agostino’s in a weird position as he’s too young to be treated as a man, but too old to be treated like a child. I think he didn’t realize this til he spent time with the rough and tough boys. Near the end, he beckons his mother that she always treats him like a baby, to which she tells him she will treat him like a man. This sticks with him, but a lot of time shall go by before he is a man. Through the book, we saw how his relationship with his mother changed from jealousy, anger, scrutiny, and understanding. Many times he had a thought he wanted to express but would never say it, instead coming up with an excuse.
I want to ask, Agostino is treated poorly by each of the boys and often felt uncomfortable – sometimes even running away at the end of the day – why does Agostino continue to return to the den and hangout with the gang? I reckon this is due to a sense of adventure, from his initial bravo of rowing with his mother, to going to the den, to defying his mother and attempting to get into a brothel, to his experience with the water where he thought of crossing and leaving forever, I feel as though these all point towards an adventure of the unfamiliar.
“Though, he did take the opportunity to glance in through the windows. I feel that Agostino’s in a weird position as he’s too young to be treated as a man, but too old to be treated like a child.”
Totally, I think that ‘in between’ situation is one of the key aspects of the novel.
See you tomorrow.
Julián.
Hello ! I can’t change my name here so.. it’s Quizzy!
Anyway, I enjoyed your blog a lot because I shared the same experience while reading it. I was intrigued by the story’s narration and the development of Agostino’s relationship with the boy group yet uncomfortable with how their “life lessons” were transforming his mind. Within this discomfort though, I also understood where he was coming from? Without a father figure as well, he has to navigate through this understanding of sensuality and sex without someone to properly guide him. He also cannot project such sensuality to another womanly figure because he only has his mother with him. I think this book tackles the topic of maturation in a unique and raw way.