'The cherries of the cemetery' is a book I wanted to get into since fifteen years ago, after having read about it in my literature textbook during my last year of high school. My gut tells me I put it on my bucket list because of what I learned on it about Gabriel Miro's work never being recognized, as it displayed an intimacy that was not shared but criticized by many other of his contemporary Spanish writers from the beginning of the XXth century.
For its extension, the novel is perfect to be read during a couple of summer days. It tells the story of Felix, an engineering student who abandons his career in Barcelona to get back home to his hometown, following his dad's advice, concerned about his son's lack of determination and commitment to his future.
It happens during the 1920s, and it is rich in beautiful and detailed nature descriptions, as well as the ethereal, romantic, pure feelings of the characters, specially Felix, an idealist who rejoices himself in the splendidness surrounding him.
The book begins with Felix's journey back home. It takes place on a boat, where he gets to meet the exquisite Beatriz and Julia, mom and daughter from his same hometown who act as a magnet on Felix, making him wonder why these women appeal so much to him. When Beatriz confesses him that she was, in fact, an old friend from Felix's deceased uncle Guillermo, and that he was been brought to Beatriz's home when he was a kid to play with Julia, the sexual tension between them arises as fire.
While their relationship untangles, the story about what happened between Beatriz and Guillermo, as well as the mystery regarding his death, still unacceptable in the rural, pretentious, environment of the little town they're from, will be a constant, making his love impossible, and fatal.
This is a story about the past and the remorse it brings, but it speaks as well of modern characters who take charge and decide to stand up against the rules of a society that attacks them, isolates them, criticizes them. Beatriz is an unhappyly married woman who once desired to have an affair with a brave man who tried to help her, and now has it with his niece, Felix, who shares many of his uncle traits of personality, stories, feelings and fears.
The secondary characters of Felix's family act as a choir of disdain and resentment, and religion is embedded in them as much as the rejection for change. They represent the old, inamovible society, linked to the traditions and fearful of change. And in the midst of their rage, Felix will navigate his feelings and high emotions flirting not only with Julia but with Beatriz and Isabel, his own cousin. He is a dandy and he is a lover's love, overfilled with beautiful words at any moment.
This is a tale of nature, of the man dealing with life, but also with death, a metaphor for which the cherries of the cemetery are the perfect image. These cherries come from the town's cemetery and even if they're big and juicy, are forbidden to be eaten by the rule of the family because of where they grow. But at the end, with the monomyth and the tension peak having been completed, the cherries will be eaten by Felix's women, as a beautiful representation of how close and blurred are the limits drawn around life, love, hope, nowness, and yes, about what the end means if not a new, shiny, tasty beginning.