Siesta

by Patrice Chaplin

In a theatre in Las Vegas, the stage is all set for music hall star Sylvia Chrystal’s sell-out show. All she needs to do is turn up for the rehearsal. But Sylvia isn’t in Vegas. She wakes up, bloody and dishevelled, in Barcelona. And she has no idea how she got there. As her agents in America frantically try to find their missing star, Sylvia has a task of her own. She needs to try to work out why on earth she has just woken up in a pool of her own blood beside an airport runway in the blazing heat. As she gradually begins to try to piece together the events that led her to there, a series of strange flashbacks pierce her brain and one person emerges in full her long-time lover, Celestino. But Celestino has now married someone else, and Sylvia faces a is she in Spain to try and win him back, or will she try to leave the past behind and face what promises to be a bright future in the United States? As Sylvia falls in with a group of upper-class English drinking their way round Barcelona, one thing becomes increasingly in just the dirty clothes she woke up in and no money to her name, she is going to need a lot of help whichever choice she makes. But then Sylvia’s life starts to turn even blacker and spiral out of control, and things become even less clear than they were at the start. With its strange, dreamlike narrative, Siesta is a black, sexy thriller from a mistress of the genre. Praise for Patrice Chaplin ‘… a surging intensity that keeps the reader glued to the page.’ – New York Times ‘Powerful romantic fiction in the tradition of Emily Bronte.’ – Guardian Patrice Chaplin is an author, playwright, journalist and the producer of the BBC radio documentary on The Cabala in Spain. In addition to seven novels, including Harriet Hunter, Having it Away and The Unforgotten, she has written many short stories and plays for radio and television. She is the author of From the Balcony written for the National Theatre and Radio 3. Her novel Siesta is based on the years described in her volume of autobiography, Albany Park, and has been filmed.

174 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Andrew Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A piece of fine music led me to this fine novel. I came upon a copy of Miles Davis/Marcus Miller's score for Siesta in my local secondhand vinyl shop. This is not the place for musical reviews, so I'll simply say that it's gorgeous. Knowing nothing of either the movie or the novel on which it was based, I found myself a copy of Patrice Chaplin's remarkable book, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is difficult to write much about the plot without running the risk of spoiling it for those who have yet to read it. It might be described as a thriller, but the definition doesn't quite fit. It is packed with suspense, delivered in taut and spare prose which put me in mind, time after time, of Paul Bowles, and the heat and the alienation and the despair of The Sheltering Sky. There are, too, echoes of Katherine Mansfield and Mary Butts. An altogether outstanding novel. To my shame I had been unaware of the work (even of the existence) of Patrice Chaplin, but inspired by Siesta I shall now read it all.

[Olga Goa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dramatic story that makes you think

I decided to check this book because of my total satisfaction by watching the same titled movie. But I was kind of disappointed when I finished it. I wanted to enjoy the story in full but unfortunately, I didn't.
My full rate is 3.7 stars. I didn't feel the deep emotions, feelings, the mysterious atmosphere like I felt watching the movie, I gave in. I think maybe the problem is a proofreading of this book or just the strange logic of some scenes and conversation between the minor characters. Anyway, some parts were good, without doubt, but not the whole book. It made me confused cause of instant jump from one scene to another. I wished to see more emotional stuff about Sylvia and Celestino but I didn't feel it. It was more like a scheme or a plan than love. This is my honest impression and opinion.
Of course, a book is always better than a movie but in that case, it didn't work. I am upset because I expected more tragedy and more emotions in this story about forbidden love.
The minor characters were awesome but as I said, dialogs were quite weird for me. I like the reason why people say so and I didn't find it in some episodes. I guess, these characters were included in this story because they represented Sylvia's thoughts, hidden desires and fears. Otherwise, it has no point.
The end is tragical and sad. I also think why Sylvia felt a pain after what happened? Maybe because love is the most powerful thing in the world.

[Lily MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't seen the movie (and it doesn't appear to be available now), but a friend recommended Siesta, and I just finished reading it. As another reviewer has pointed out, it's difficult to discuss plot without giving away too much.

I was amazed at Chaplin's skill at weaving together past and present and even future. She did it in a seamless way that, as a writer myself, I'm envious of. Her fast-paced prose also underscores the narrative's tempo. I had trouble putting it down as I had to know what happened next.

At the heart of the book is a love story that keeps getting more complex. Sylvia, the main character, clearly is self-destructive, caught in a compelling affaire that won't let her go. I felt as if I had entered this nightmarish dream-like world with her that involved multiple characters. They seemed to be inner figures more than actual external persons that represented aspects of Sylvia herself. Fascinating read!

[Phil C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extraordinary novel. It is the only work I have read by Patrice Chaplin, and it's very fine. It fits loosely under the category of crime novel or thriller. But its construction is complex and sophisticated, so that the pieces are not fitted together until the final pages. Much skillful narrative dislocation is involved to slow the narrative. For this reason it's difficult to summarize without giving away essential parts of the mystery.

I saw the movie when it came out 35 years or so ago and was puzzled by it, although I thought there was a lot to admire. The novel is even more adept as a study of sexual obsession and identity disintegration. However, these somber themes are presented in ways that are sympathetic to the characters and at times hilarious. The novel is very well paced, moving toward an end in which we see that the choices that are given are without any choice.

Those who have read Hemingway will see glimpses of The Sun Also Rises, since much of the cast of characters in Chaplin's novel are hard-drinking English partygoers in Spain. The story is updated with references to drugs and sexual violence. But the dialogue is often very witty and perceptive. It reads like a Modernist social satire, deepened by themes of anxiety and social anomie.

[Simonetta Scotto · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pesante, allucinato, assurdo, non un poliziesco ma quasi un horror, non mi è piaciuto

[Alan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst EVER!!.

I gave this drivel a 1 star rating because this is the lowest I could give
This is the worst, the most ridiculous story I have EVERY read...and I read 3-4 books per week. Do not waste your time on this.