Poso Wells

by Gabriela Alemán, Gabriela Alemán

Celebrated Ecuadorian author Gabriela Alemán's first work to appear in English: a noir, feminist eco-thriller in which venally corrupt politicians and greedy land speculators finally get their just comeuppance!

In the squalid settlement of Poso Wells, women have been regularly disappearing but the authorities have shown little interest. When the leading presidential candidate comes to town, he and his entourage are electrocuted in a macabre, darkly hilarious accident witnessed by a throng of astonished spectators. The sole survivor--next in line for the presidency--inexplicably disappears from sight.

Gustavo Varas, a principled journalist, picks up the trail, which leads him into a violent, lawless underworld, and ultimately to a strange group of almost supernatural blind men. Bella Altamirano, a fearless local woman, is on her own crusade to pierce the settlement's code of silence, ignoring the death threats that result from her efforts. It turns out that the disappearance of the candidate and those of the women are intimately connected, and not just to a local crime wave, but to a multinational magnate's plan to plunder the country's ecologically sensitive cloud forest.

A political satire and noir thriller, laced with humor and a sci-fi twist, Poso Wells plunges its readers into dark passages where things are as uncontrolled and overheated as the lava from a smoking volcano, which is where the story ends.

Genres: Fiction, Novels, Womens, 21st Century, Mystery, Crime, Literary Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Gabriela Alemán, a writer based in Quito, Ecuador, has played professional basketball in Switzerland and Paraguay and has worked as a waitress, administrator, translator, radio scriptwriter, and film studies professor. She received a PhD at Tulane University and holds an MA in Latin American literature from Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar. She received a 2006 Guggenheim Fellowship and was included in Bogota39, a 2007 selection of the most important up-and-coming writers in Latin America in the post-Boom generation. She was one of five finalists for the 2015 Premio Hispanoamericano de Cuento Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia) for her story collection La muerte silba un blues and has won several prizes for critical essays on literature and film. Her other books include the short-story collections Maldito corazón, Zoom, Fuga permanente, and Álbum de familia; and the novels Body Time, Poso Wells, and Humo. Her stories have appeared in anthologies in French, English, Chinese, Hebrew, and Serbo-Croatian. Poso Wells is her first full-length work to appear in English.

Reviews

[Maziyar Yf · Rating 3 out of 5]

در چاه تاریکی‌ها رمانی است از گابریلا آله‌مان، نویسنده اهل اکوادور ، داستان او در یک شهر کوچک و دورافتاده در اکوادور جریان دارد که در آن، آدم‌ربایی و ناپدید شدن افراد به امری عادی تبدیل شده. با ناپدید شدن یک نامزد انتخاباتی، روزنامه‌نگاری جوان به تحقیق در این پرونده می‌پردازد و در این مسیر، با شبکه‌ای پیچیده از فساد، قدرت و جنایت روبرو می‌شود.
سبک کتاب به سبب روایت‌های غیرواقعی و اغراق‌آمیز، اما در عین حال ریشه داشتن در واقعیت را شاید بتوان رئالیسم جادویی دانست . در چاه تاریکی‌ها نیز رویدادهای عجیب در فضایی وهم‌آلود رخ می دهد که در عین حال با مسائل اجتماعی و سیاسی واقعی گره خورده . از طرف دیگر یک داستان جنایی نیزروایت می شود که در آن، فساد، خشونت و رازهای پنهان نقش مهمی دارند ، بنابراین سبک کتاب آله مان را شاید بتوان ترکیبی از رئالیسم جادویی و نوآر دانست .
به زحمت ، کتاب خانم آله مان را می توان کتابی متوسط دانست . در چاه تاریکی‌ها ، هیچ برجستگی یا نکته خاصی ندارد که کتاب را از آثار مشابه ، متمایز کند .

[Sportyrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absurd, banger one-liners, maxi-melodrama.

The opening death scene was everything. You couldn’t wish for anything more. It was so absurd and entertaining. If not for being fiction, it would have won the Darwin Award (the award given to the person who died or severely injured themself due to the extent of their own stupidity, like picking your nose with an electric drill). No spoilers, but a note to myself to chuckle about looking back: don’t have roadies when you have to go on stage to perform, when you gotta go, you gotta go, so be careful or you could end up like charcoal chicken.

The spectacular death scene set up the story so well. You know what to expect, or rather expect to not expect. There are disappearances, over a hundred of them linked to the housing project area at Guayaquil. The same area which the politicians are trying to exploit. Varas, a journalist with principles (but who struggles to control his urges when rescuing a naked woman) is on the case to unravel what’s been ignored or not cared about for years. The other characters are a hoot. One such description is as follows:

“Then her face was like that of a broken and poorly mended doll. It was impossible to look at her without staring at the wound.”

But then there was softness, Varas fed stray dogs and wouldn’t get out of danger until his new dog was safe.

The themes were told from a unique angle, covering corruption, exploitation of the poor, displacement, environmental protection, weird belief systems accompanied by physiological adaptations and much more. Apparently the book was meant to be a feminist eco-thriller, however if it was, it was so well-blended I didn’t realise. I think there were many subversive layers for contemplation. Some shout out louder than others.

I was on track for a 5 star rating until there were about 8 pages left and I realised that the ending would be unsatisfying. It seemed quite sudden.

I read this as part of my reading challenge for Ecuador. I was particularly fussy in selecting a book for this country since I was there a few years ago and have fond memories. The volcanic setting and guinea pigs in the hut were treasured memories.

Anyone who enjoyed this book, might also like The Slum Virgin by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, which is set in Argentina.

[Pedro · Rating 3 out of 5]

La novela transcurre en torno a un barrio marginal de ese nombre, ubicado en un bajo pantanoso. Un doble homenaje al escritor H. G. Wells, quien visitó esa zona de Guayaquil, Ecuador; y por otro a uno de sus relatos. El error ortográfico permite jugar ambiguamente entre el pozo en el que se ubica el barrio, y el poso que sedimenta en el fondo de una taza de café. Una novela creativa, por momentos casi excesiva, y muy grata para leer.

[کتاب‌فام · Rating 5 out of 5]

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🕞۱۵۰صفحه در ۳ساعت و ۳۰دقیقه.
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🔶«گابریلا آله‌مان» در «در چاه تاریکی‌ها»، نوآر، فمینیسم، هزل و محیط‌زیست‌گرایی را در تاریخ عجیب منطقه‌ی «پوسو ولز» اکوادور در هم می‌بافد. «در چاه تاریکی‌ها»، نمایان‌گر خوبی‌ست برای ناامیدی ناشی از دسترسی مداوم به اخبار وحشتناک از طریق رسانه‌های اجتماعی. داستان از قدرت ویران‌گر بی‌تفاوتی و طمع صحبت می‌کند و همچنین، به سکوتی که در پس خشونتی فراگیر، زنان در زندگی روزمره‌ی خود با آن مواجه می‌شوند، اشاره می‌کند. «آله‌مان» داستانی آزاردهنده و گاهی دل‌خراش در مورد جنایات پدرسالارانِ در قدرت، و دشواری مبارزه با استعمار خلق کرده است.
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🔶داستان از آن‌جایی آغاز می‌شد که بر اثر یک تصادف عجیب که منجر به مرگ یک سیاستمدار اکوادوری می‌شود، «باراس»، خبرنگاری که برای تحقیق در مورد این حادثه مأموریت یافته، حقایق شوکه‌کننده و شومی را در مورد این سیاست‌مدار و هم‌فکرانش کشف می‌کند. «آله‌مان» با آمیختن طنز با فانتزی و شوخ‌طبعی، یک زمین بایر خیالی به نام «پوسو ولز» خلق می‌کند که در آن صدها زن به طور مرموزی ناپدید می‌شوند و هر روز اتفاقات عجیبی درش روی می‌دهد. این رمان درخشان «آله‌مان»، تو گویی وام‌گرفته از نویسندگان چون «توماس پینچن»، «گابریل گارسیا مارکز» و «ریموند چندلر»، حاوی رمزوراز، وحشت، طنز، پوچ‌گرایی و تفسیر سیاسی‌ست. «آله‌مان» در سرتاسر کتابش، مجموعه‌ای از شخصیت‌ها را گلدوزی می‌کند که گاهی بازیگوش و کنایه‌آمیز هستند و در بعضی مواقع به شکل کارتونیکی یا دوست‌داشتنی هستند و یا نفرت‌برانگیز. با این‌حال (گاهی اوقات) به نظر می‌رسد که نتیجه‌ی اعمال آن‌ها قابل پیش‌بینی باشد. اما استادی خرج شده در این قطعات در این است که چگونه زبان نقش اساسی در درک تعامل بین مکان‌ها (زمین و زیرزمین)، سیستم‌های اعتقادی (مذهب و مردم‌سالاری) و قدرت (سیاست و پول) دارد. «آله‌مان» که خود را در کیتویِ اکوادور زندگی می‌کند، مصیبت‌های اجتماعی، فرهنگی و زیست‌محیطی‌ای را هدف قرار می‌دهد که گریبان‌گیر کشوری هستند که قرن‌هاست غارت شده است.
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🔶یک کلام، اگر به‌دنبال داستان جذابی هستید که نفس در سینه‌تان حبس کند، پاسخ‌تان همین «در چاه تاریکی‌ها»ست؛ رمانی سرتاسر تعلیق. داستانی که به یِمن هوش و استعداد درخشان نویسنده‌ش سرعت لازم و کافی را داراست و در جایی که باید، پایان می‌یابد

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If I can confirm what I've got, you'll have the story of the year."

"Don't be funny...If you manage to get the story, the attention span of our beloved public will be a day, at most. Remember, who want's yesterday's papers? Yesterday's papers are good for wrapping fish guts in the market. I don't care about smoking guns and witnesses. I just want a story and I want it now!"

Alemán's short novel opens with one of the most memorable (and darkly humorous) scenes I've come across in reading ever! The story blends elements of noir, absurdism, and satire into an entertaining and deep story about Ecuadorian politics, land prospectors, organized crime, and the citizens who are just trying to keep their neighborhood safe. A journalist and a community member cross paths as they try to uncover what happened to the missing presidential candidate and why so many women are going missing in the small town of Poso Wells... and what that has to do with the mysterious holes in the ground.

Only downside to this was that the characters were not fully developed and the story was a tad rushed towards the end- I would have liked more time with the story and the characters, and would have easily read double the pages to get that.

[Emily M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was…odd. This book is best described NOT as a “feminist eco-thriller” (as I was expecting) but a satirical novella. There are many bits of sharp commentary and dark humor which I enjoyed, but I wish the author had given it twice as many pages to let us get to know the characters better and to help the plot hang together.

The book itself gives you an immediate head up that this is going to be more of an absurdist romp than a tense and serious thriller when a presidential candidate decides to relieve his bladder by “subtly” peeing onstage and end up electrocuting himself with the microphone cord! The baddies are all pretty incompetent as well, which is funny - though I wish we’d been SHOWN the unarmed peasants capturing the paramilitary group (for example) instead of just being told about it.

In terms of feminism…well, it starts off interestingly, with no one but one reporter and a stubborn slum-dwelling woman named Bella (separately) caring about the hundreds of women who have gone missing from said slum. THAT’S unfortunately a realistic problem! However, the actual explanation for what’s been happening to them is bizarre- though I think it can be read as an exaggerated patriarchy metaphor? - and the ending rather lacking in catharsis (despite being a good one for the women). Because we only barely get to meet one of these women, plus a young sex worker who has a narrow escape from their captors later, it doesn’t really feel like THEIR story. (Content warning for SA, BTW). And Vargas and his poet roommate - who we do get to know better - are helpful, but not exactly free of patriarchal attitudes themselves.

I would have loved to see more on the “forest protector” side too. The conflict between the local residents and the international mining company is interesting but feels like a bit of an afterthought. We start out and spend most of our time in the slum of Poso Wells, which as far as I can tell is nowhere near the cloud forest.

The dog is cute, though! And I loved the badass notary. While his attitude could be read as cold, that kind of aggressive unconcern is really the only way to deal with blackmailers, and shows - I think - greater love for his son than if he’d acted like the photos were a problem.

[Sogand Salehi · Rating 4 out of 5]

با اینکه بعضی قسمت‌های داستان در ابتدا برام گُنگ بود اما به مرور گره ها باز می‌شد وهرچقدر که داستان جلو تر می‌رفت جذاب‌تر می‌شد، هرچند که به بعضی سوال های من درطول داستان پاسخ داده نشد.
گویا پدر نویسنده یکی از دیپلمات های اکوادور بوده و نویسنده به مشکلات سیاسی اجتماعی و جامعه مردسالار اکوادور اشاره میکنه و داستان نسبتا جالبی را از دل این معضلات درآورده، روی‌هم‌رفته اگر به فضای ادبیات آمریکای لاتین علاقه‌مند هستید این کتاب پیشنهاد می‌شه.


پ.ن: من فکر می‌کردم با داستان رازآلودتری روبرو باشم ، اما این کتاب بیشتر نقدی بر معضلات جامعه بود .

[G. Munckel · Rating 3 out of 5]

En esta novelita pasan tantas cosas, aparecen tantos personajes y se combinan tantos géneros literarios, que sorprende lo corta que es.

Poso Wells es el típico lugar que las autoridades solo recuerdan durante las campañas electorales. Un lugar tan miserable como peligroso, donde, cuando oscurece, las mujeres corren el riesgo de ser raptadas por un grupo de ciegos que habitan los túneles sobre los que se construyó el pueblo.

A eso se suman la muerte de un candidato electoral que está a punto de ganar las elecciones y el secuestro de su candidato suplente. Varas, un joven periodista que fue testigo de ambos sucesos, investiga esa desaparición, pero también se interesa por los otros misterios que su búsqueda va sacando a la luz.

Poso Wells también es un reflejo caricaturesco de Ecuador (en realidad, de cualquier país latinoamericano). Hay corrupción estatal y corporativa, hay violencia ejercida desde las autoridades y desde la misma gente, hay pobreza y campañas políticas que se aprovechan de ella.

Pero, sobre todo, se trata de una sátira que invita a encarar el horror con humor. A reírnos de los poderosos, de los políticos y de los que están detrás de los políticos. Aquí, la risa es la herramienta clave para enfrentarse al poder y ridiculizarlo.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is too short to fit all of the ideas it had, which turns out to be a major downside because none of them developed at all or really paid off. i'm sure the characters would have been cool if they had a chance to grow a little. i'm sure the atmospheres could have been creepy, funny, or real, but they didn't ever have time to establish themselves. probably if this book were, uh, three times the length maybe, i would have loved it. but as it is, i did not.

[liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to find a book, and did a search on Hoopla for "fiction" with the tag "humor". It only took me the weekend and it's a great read! I'm very lucky it turned out in my favor, that can be a dicey gamble.

The story is absurd, it opens with a surprising turn of events caused by urine, and it gets wild from there. My knowledge of Ecuadorian society is extremely poor. I took a Latin-American history class and 2 semesters of Spanish Literature in college (in which case, La Profesora tooks 10 points off any test if we used the word "cosas"* instead of using a more "especifico" word, so for that I say gracias). However, there is clear satire happening in the novel, which is its strongest element.

It was a short read, I was surprised to suddenly read the author and translator's bios, realizing ti was over. A fun story, brisk pacing. I especially liked that there was sufficient exposition in lieu of first-hand witness to every part of the plot. I also found it very funny, especially the parts that were supposed to be funny (there's some grim stuff in there too). The translator, let me see... Dick. Cluster.

...

Moving on.

The translator conveyed clear mocking of political corruption, sexism, corporate rule and religious fakery that keeps the story sharp and tight.

So, a good read for people looking for what I did, a humorous tear into some of the uglier sides of human society, easy to take in and will stay with me with its deeper implication.


*"things"

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was really odd but extremely captivating at the same time. Several of the characters are definitely legitimately crazy and the prose has a fantastical air to it sometimes as well. It's a good translation as far as I can tell without reading the original- meaning that the writing is good and doesn't feel the least bit stilted. All while reading I was thinking: This is really weird and I want to know what happens. So I guess it works! Thanks to a new local indie bookshop that had a copy of this because I never would have heard of it otherwise.

[Moran · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first chapter of Poso Wells by Gabriela Alemán could be a short story on its own. Within the span of roughly a dozen pages, Alemán manages to weave a narrative marked by dark humor and social commentary. It’s a wonderful foundation from which to launch into the rest of the narrative but also a high mark from which she needs to build.

And while the first few chapters manage to hold some of that momentum, the overall plot falls short of satisfaction.

The main draw of the book for me was the style in which it was written, which at times reminded me of the humor employed by David Foster Wallace and at other times reminded me of the chaotic multi-narrative plots weaved by Walter Abish.

While the book is not long, Alemán manages to imbue it with a lot of life. There are about eight primary characters and they all feel like they get their fair amount of time.

Despite finishing this book feeling a bit unsatisfied with its resolution, I would be excited to read other works by Alemán. I hope that she continues writing and that more of her works get translated to English.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The opening chapter is brilliant - an absurdist take on a South American election where a slick politician lands in a town forgotten by all until the ballots count and subsequently meets his end due to an (un)fortunate trinity of urine, sweat, and electrical current. It is laugh out loud funny and written perfectly.

The rest of the book, however, never rises to the perfect tenor of that first chapter. It's both too much and not enough at the same time. There's an attempt to cram too much of South American identifiers into one story, and there's not enough depth in any character or plot point to make it really stick. Issues are resolved far too simply, and using a volcano as a deus ex machina might be apt for a place like Ecuador, but it feels like a cop out. What most South American countries need - with the rampant corruption, gaping inequality, and history of paramilitaries - isn't more magical realism but solutions that are grounded in the reality of a functional legal system.

[oshizu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this strange little story, but it seemed to be over before it really got started.
A review I read elsewhere described this book as an absurdist literary mystery, which puzzled me.
I don't believe I grasp exactly what a "literary mystery" is, because Poso Wells did not feel like a mystery novel to me, other than the narrative suspense of unfolding plot developments which (can I say this) seems characteristic of any good narrative.
I'll definitely be watching out for other books by this author.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+
Totally my kind of thing. A strange tale of politics, strangeness, feminism, humor, love, commentary on music/art/life, and more. I'll admit that a few of the smaller tangents didn't quite do it for me, even if they were funny/smart/interesting (ex: the prostitute, whose part was ultimately large in the scope of the novel but whose presence was tiny indeed), but ultimately this was an utter delight. So strange (he says again, for repetition) and so fun. Highly recommended.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Varas pensó que uno no tenía necesidad de matarse para quitarse la vida, solo tenía que quedar atrapado en algún lugar como Poso Wells.

[Kenny Daici · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likeee it was good but not perfect. Overall plot was interesting and I found the social critique interesting, esp w how satirical everything was. I liked the idea of using different perspectives and I liked the different backstories of the main characters but it was sometimes confusing and disruptive when it kept switching back and forth between POVs in the same chapter. Also the whole book felt a little rushed and confusing. Random things kept happening towards the end that were too coincidental and not satisfying, and the ending feels unfinished. Lot of loose ends. Also like.. why were the five old men blind? Wth happened w the election in the end? And the women? I can understand how leaving the story of the women open ended might have been purposeful to signify how the society doesn’t truly care about their disappearances or something but still I finished the book and don’t feel satisfied. Yeah

[Jaime Vázquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent read that also serves as a satire of Ecuadorian politics. I was a fan of the shock factor and various fascinating plot lines running through the book. It is clear that Gabriela Alemán knows Ecuador very well and reading this book reminded me of my conversations with Ecuadorians (both with friends of ours and even random strangers we met during our trip). There’s certainly a lack of social trust in Ecuador to an extent where so many folks are apathetic to politics because most, if not all candidates, are very corrupt. This novel surely speaks to that blatantly.

Wish I could give it 4.5 stars, but my only qualm is that this book is too short and could’ve wrapped up some of the plot lines a little more cleanly. Otherwise, an excellent read especially if you want a grasp on Ecuadorian politics!

[Andy Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first for me, an Ecuadorian writer and a novel set in Guayaquil, and a little in Quito; a place I visited, along with Galapagos, a few years ago.
It has a really powerful opening scene with a politician standing for president in the forthcoming elections arriving into the squalid settlement of Poso Wells by helicopter to make a speech. In little more than a novella, Alemán combines mystery, horror, humour and social commentary to make a political eco-thriller and bizarre literary mystery. Few novels, if any, that start with such strength continue to deliver and that is the case here, but it certainly has its moments. Alemán depicts modern day Ecuador in a time of transition, where corruption, though it exists, is no longer accepted; an awakening that it’s potential copper mining wealth is destroying forests and poisoning the native people. There is a dark optimism about the country’s future, threatened by international entrepreneurs / investors.

[fateme · Rating 3 out of 5]

در یک شهرکی زنان مداوم ناپدید میشن، اوضاع معیشتی داغونه، برق و آبی نیست، در بهبوهه انتخابات یکی از نامزدها برای سخنرانی میاد که دچار برق گرفتگی میشه و میمیره و شانس بعدی انتخابات هم ناپدید میشه، حالا باید بگردیم ببینیم ایشون چه بلایی سرش اومده؟؟

داستان جنایی نیست، معمایی و سیاسیه، ژانر جدیدی برای من بود و پسندیدمش، روند تند و تعلیق بالایی داشت به طوری که در ۳ ساعت تمام شد.
از رانت بازی ها و کثیفی های سیاسیت زیاد میگه، ویراستاری ا�� چندین جا مشکل داره و در آخر هم شسته رفته داستان جمع شده بود ولی چون بنظرم میتونست بهتر باشه انتهاش پس ۳ ستاره میدم.

**جایزه منفور ترین شخصیت هم میرسه به: مردان نابینا

[Gris Cuenca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriela y Fernanda Melchor serían muy buenas amigas. Que gran libro! Aguanten las mujeres latinoamericanas.

[Radwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a bizarre novel. I feel like I didn't fully inderstand it honestly.

It had an amazing first chapter and a compelling first half, but the second half went over the rails, that it was completely bonkers.
In the small town of Poso Wells, we follow several storylines: an election gone wrong after the death of all candidates in electroccution and the kidnapping of the last candidate, the journalist sent to that town to cover that story ASAP but instead he's searching for something deeper, the mysterious disappearance of women in that town, the cult of blind men whose origins are questionable, and how they all converge together.

It was interesting seeing how these all came together, and the portrayl of political corruptedness and nefarious schemes was excellent, but I felt lost towards the end of the novel, and the ending felt rushed.

[Ludovica Ciasullo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo libro è decisamente assurdo.

Quando dico "assurdo", intendo che in questo romanzo succedono un sacco di cose surreali. A cominciare dalla vicenda che dà avvio alla narrazione, in cui un comizio politico nella località squallida e isolata di Poso Wells viene interrotto da un cortocircuito elettrico, scatenatosi per motivazioni ridicole, che carbonizza il candidato presidenziale e tutto il suo entourage, tranne uno dei suoi collaboratori che però scompare. Mentre il partito cerca disperatamente quest'uomo, perché prosegua lui la campagna e non li lasci senza candidato, un giornalista, Varas, indaga. Sulla scomparsa del politico, certo, ma anche sulla strana e inspiegabile sequenza di donne che a Poso Wells spariscono senza lasciare traccia.

La storia prosegue, fra multinazionali senza scrupoli che vogliono appropriarsi della foresta per ricavare rame dal sottosuolo, loschi figuri che mantengono la comunità di Poso Wells sotto scacco e sono in combutta con alcuni politici, ma anche riferimenti al pasillo, genere musicale tipicamente ecuadoriano, e un sacco di descrizioni di uccelli tropicali.

Detta così sembra un pasticcio, ma posso garantire che la storia prende forma dagli ingredienti più disparati e risulta assai coerente. Pur raccontando una serie di brutture indicibili (la corruzione in politica, l'avidità delle multinazionali e le modalità disoneste con cui aggirano i diritti delle popolazioni indigene sulla loro terra, la violenza quotidiana e silenziosa contro le donne), il romanzo riesce a far ridere usando il grottesco e l'assurdo. Credo che sia prima di tutto un'opera satirica e allegorica, e poi una denuncia piuttosto diretta.

Un po' eco-thriller, un po' commedia, il romanzo è breve ma complesso, forse fin troppo ricco. Avrei letto con piacere una versione meno condensata, in cui passare più tempo con i personaggi e conoscerli meglio. Al contrario, i personaggi sono solo strumenti per raccontare dei "temi", il che secondo me contribuisce al fatto che abbia letto il romanzo con un certo distacco. Nonostante la forza e l'importanza degli argomenti che tratta, infatti, non consente di avvicinarsi a un personaggio, ciascuno è solo accennato (quanto avrei voluto sapere di più della combattiva Bella!), e agisce come un ingranaggio nel grande sistema (forse irrimediabilmente inceppato) che Alemàn ci racconta.

Il libro è avvincente e ben scritto, le descrizioni della foresta pluviale soprattutto mi hanno incantata completamente.

Il tema della resistenza indigena mi ha colpito molto. Ho cercato un po' e ho scoperto un po' di cose. Questo articolo del New Yorker racconta della risposta dei Secoya al COVID: vista la risposta lenta (se non del tutto assente) del governo, questa nazione indigena ha creato, assieme alle altre, un portale dove tenero conto della diffusione della malattia, in modo da dirigere le risorse in maniera efficiente. La comunità dei Secoya conta settecento membri in Ecuador, per cui la pandemia rappresenta una minaccia anche alla preservazione della loro cultura e della loro lingua. Come si capisce benissimo nel romanzo, l'articolo racconta come il governo spesso veda le comunità indigene come "un ostacolo all'accesso senza condizioni alle risorse dell'Amazzonia". Le industrie estrattive infatti sono state classificate come "essenziali", il che ha consentito che continuassero ad operare anche durante l'emergenza sanitaria (e si presume che sia questo il canale che ha portato i membri delle comunità indigene a contagiarsi, in una sorta di grottesco promemoria di come la colonizzazione non sia affatto finita). L'auto-organizzazione dei Secoya consisteva anche nella raccolta e distribuzioni di rimedi naturali che alleviassero i sintomi: a questo link un video della spedizione (è molto toccante il discorso finale sull'equilibrio fra uomo e natura).


Infine, una lista della musica che Varas e il suo coinquilino mettono su:
Forrò do Jackson, di Jackson do Pandeiro


Shades di J.J. Cale

Avalancha de Éxitos di Café Tacvba

Julio Jaramillo

[Elizabeth Raines · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a generous three star. Simply, the fault of this was that it was too short of a book. The reader did not get a long enough period of time to get to know the characters, therefore, they were often being confused with one another. There were many things happening in this small town setting and I was intrigued on why they were happening but in the end I did not get a satisfactory result. The writing was the highlight here so I might give Aleman another chance. I can really see the comparisons with Gabriel Garcia Marquez, but I also think if a reader enjoyed 'Mexican Gothic' by Silvia Moreno Garcia, then they should give 'Poso Wells', a go. The plot falls with the atmosphere on not having a lot of answers in the end. This book should have definitely been made longer.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

too ambitious for its own good. also seemed like it was written by a man (i say, derogatorily)

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

it’s giving very discombobulated fever dream… I’m confused to say the least

[olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good and kind of scary! wish it were longer

[Lau Saavedra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reseña en proceso.

[Serendipity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poso Wells is an Ecuadorian novel, and now I’ve finished it I can say that I’ve read one book from every South American country. One continent down (two if you count Antarctica); five more to go in my quest to read at least one book from every country of the world. I’m more than half way through nearly all of the continents- just lagging a bit with Africa.

I’m not sure how to categorise Poso Wells, but I’ve seen it billed as a satirical thriller and that seems as good as anything. It highlights important issues in Ecuador like political and business corruption, military power, femicide, the struggles of poorer communities, and violence but if does so in an absurdist style at times, and with touches that are otherworldly.

The opening chapter is one of the most attention grabbing that I’ve read - at a political rally a candidate is desperate to urinate and for a variety of reasons opts to do so in his trousers. At that moment an electrical malfunction causes not only his electrocution/incineration, but that of the entire entourage. All bar one who then has to become the replacement candidate. Then comes a group of blind men, an international mining company, a network of secret underground tunnels, a journalist trying to get at the truth despite obstructions from his editors, a social activist, and more.

The characters were a bit one-dimensional and I’m not entirely sure all the different elements gelled with me. But the story rolled along at a quick pace, I didn’t want to stop reading. And the ending was oh so satisfying.