Karellen > Recent Status Updates

Hitherto unknown Argentine author recommended by Casares. Intriguing, so I had to impulsively buy this quite expensive import from Seven Stories. So far it’s lived up to the hype. Nice.

Apparently this novel was written by a legendary Argentine author, of whom I was nevertheless unaware until I discovered this book in my local bookshop. So of course being a devotee of Latin American fiction I just had to buy this quite expensive US import, published by Seven Stories Press. I’m becoming convinced that I enjoy discovering books much more than I do actually reading them.

Nearly finished. Trying not to finish it because this is certainly the best book I’ve read this year. After this everything will seem inferior. Brilliant book by a brilliant writer. Now I’ve got to read more of Dillon - my new literary hero.

“These days almost everything he reads is in translation and this has given him a strange mistrust of anything not translated as if fully inhabiting the language one reads or writes in is a kind of captivity”

Of course anyone that mentions Cohen Dylan Ginsberg Baudelaire and Mark E Smith in the same footnote is obviously worth reading.

This is more like it. A writer in total command. In a different league to most others. Class.

I hated this book. But also at the same time I loved it. Just like everything worth reading

Just over 100 pages left. Determined to get there even though it’s doing my head in. 😡

OMG. Now reached half way in this incredibly long book which is dragging so badly I feel sick but determined to read on. Claustrophobic suffocating atmosphere. Ugh.

Boy this is hard work. But I must persevere. Only 400 pages to the end.
I have to concede, I’m not cut out for long novels like this one.
Tedious book.

This book is undeniably good, but it’s tough going, slow moving. I’ve been reading for a week and only made 150 pages, much slower than my normal speed. I don’t think I’m cut out for long books, for doorstops.

No wonder this book has 562 pages. It’s extremely slow going. I’ve seen faster snails.

This is an epic Dutch novel published in 2019 and later longlisted for the Booker International (in 2026). The premise is reminiscent of the French film Return of Martin Guerre, but with a slightly different storyline. Intriguing. Anyway I still have over 500 pages which suddenly seems like a daunting prospect.

My first encounter with this writer and - yeah it’s cool, I think. Hopefully. Since I’ve also downloaded 2 other books by the same author. But it hasn’t blown me away yet.

“It lasts forever then it is over”
This is a very strange novel. I can’t think of anything remotely like it. Unsettling and disturbing.

This must be the 5th book I’ve read by this author, who never disappoints. Although I’m longing for her to write another novel.

Up to Ch VIII of this enormous book, possibly the definitive account of the origins of modern terrorism from the early 70’s onwards. Impressive and authoritative. I might pause for a while to read something lighter.