translated from the Spanish (Argentina) by Lorna Scott Fox and published 2017
Havilio has a reputation in Argentina as being something of a cult author, and no doubt this splendidly strange novel, will go to confirm that.
At the outset, narrator, José, cycles to work as usual at the local fireworks factory, only to find his workplace devastated by a massive explosion. From then on his wife becomes the earner, and he stays at home to look after his young daughter, finding some very different ways to spend his time. It is through them that he discovers his superpower..
It takes a while for José to adapt, but once he adapts. He needs to borrow a spade for gardening, and asks his neighbour Guillermo, who invites him in for a drink and puts on some jazz. At which point, quite out of the blue, José reacts on impulse, violently and quite out of character.
His life-changing behaviour leads José into covering his tracks, afraid that his horrific action will be discovered, and Havilio leads the reader along nicely into what is now thriller territory. But there is another twist, when he plucks up the courage to return next door, his neighbour Guillermo, smiling and healthy, answers the door.
As the novel continues it never quite lives up to the spade episode. His marriage struggles, his relationship with friends go through turbulent times, and he relies on routine. Havilio is always anxious to move the novel on, and it is crammed with activity and energy. Perhaps there’s just a bit too much in it, with José‘s fascination with Russian literature and music. There’s a nice underlying humour though, that remind us that it’s all not to be taken too seriously.
I read of comparisons to one of my favourite authors, César Aira, which I agree with, but also to another of my favourites, Magnus Mills.
My GoodReads score 4 / 5
Safe Return Doubtful 
Leave a comment