Status Updates From Berta Isla

Berta argues from Henry V - the King is the infiltrator - the spy amongst his men. When a soldier argues with the disguised king he is later confronted. Berta says the means were false, the King is wrong - he should pardon the soldier. But even I can see a hole. Shouldn't the soldier know to keep his opinions to himself - trust no-one - especially in war. Captain Fluellen switches sides because both are possible.

In front of Berta - Tomás changes his voice. The dangers of disguise - he is hiding behind this voice - just as Berta identified the various prime ministers hiding behind a veil of not knowing - what has been carried out in their name. The utter loss of accountability. The same thing my partner does when he pretends he doesn't understand me or denies he said something - subterfuge. The resort of the weak - IMHO.

The book has simply become a polemic between husband and wife. Tomás asserting on one side the necessity of his secret work and Berta on the other asserting that he is no "different from what the sociales did here. They too devoted themselves to preventing what, for the Franco regime, would have been tragedies. They, too infiltrated and betrayed. And actions can't be erased." P. 265
My thoughts exactly.

I'm a little surprised at the detail, and slow place. Perhaps I'm so used to the spy genre - Le Carre and Mick Herron, even Graham Greene - that we know all the inns and outs - and Marias seems to be covering a lot of "old" ground? This is the feminist version - the wife at home version - Herstory as opposed to His-story? The fun version has been left behind - in the pub - with the boys Tom, T and B.

The interview between Tupra and Tomas + B - funny initially but feeling laboured as it progressed. Many parallels with Saramago's The Double. Nice explanation of the omniscient narrator - the same reasoning I used in my review of Colwin's Happy All the Time - the omniscient voice is bland/ neutral. Tupra points out - 'we believe and trust him because he has no name'. It's a rather powerful perspective.

Enjoying this despite the v male perspective.
The description of Tupra - p. 99 - his lips !
And the Eliot lines - utterly brilliant.