Distant Star
( Slight Spoiler Alert ! )
This novel started as about a twenty page story in Bolano’s “Nazi Literature in the America’s”* concerning one of the right wing writers (Carlos Ramirez Hoffman) of that faux anthology. Roberto Bolano decided that this tale could be worked on and more fully developed into “a mirror and an explosion”.
Carlos Ramirez Hoffman starts “Distant Star” as Alberto Ruiz-Tagle, and is considered a bit of a dandy by the other members a of college poetry workshop he attends, although his main interest appears to be the beautiful Garmendia twins, Veronica and Angelica. This is also where the narrator of the book first glimpses him, and those that have read Nazi-Lit, will know that the narrator is Bolano himself.
Alberto seems as an enigma to his fellow poets, a slightly aristocratic individual, adored by the women, yet he comes across as polite but disinterested to the male members of the college circle, who are in fact a bit jealous of him and his cool styling. This is all thrown into disarray after Pinochet's military coup, when poets, writers and other intellectuals are attacked & either thrown into prison, or seek exile as the dictator’s brutal regime begins. The next time our narrator comes across Tagle, now Wieder, it is from the inside of a concentration camp where he sees a Messerschmitt writing obscure messages amongst the clouds and learns later that it was Wieder. Although released without charge Bolano (narrator) finds himself thrown out of college, and with no hope of work under Pinochet’s regime, he begins a nomadic life wandering Europe.
Whilst on his wanderings, he hears of Alberto Ruiz-Tagle, now Carlos Wieder, who is now an officer in the Chilean air force, and whose poetic leanings have evolved into using aircraft to write messages in the sky. It also turns out Wieder is an assassin/torturer for Pinochet’s gov’t, with a side line in photographing his victims corpses.
Whilst all this is going on, Bolano is struggling, leading a hand to mouth existence and as we follow the two individuals (Bolano & Wieder) we learn of the horror, whether physical or spiritual caused by the brutalisation of a country. Through many trials and tribulations, under many aliases & pseudonyms Wieder ends up in Europe. Our narrator gets his next encounter in the form of a visit from an old detective who is being paid to track Wieder down and who will pay him for his help.
This is where the book becomes explicitly what it has played at being all the time, a detective thriller, Bolano and detective track Wieder through magazines, fanzines and film, as it appears he’s been rather busy. There's even a kind of stake out, before the detective does what he’s been paid for.
This book for all it’s Bolanoesque (Yeah I know) diversions, digressions and lateral journeys, comes across, at least in part, as a detective novel (which Bolano was a fan of), it’s not a whodunit, there are to many to count, it’s not who’s the victim, as again when do you stop counting, it is more a case of how do you define the innocent, as to some degree we are all complicit, even Bolano, who willingly points his finger at a fellow poet in return for his pieces of silver, whilst knowing in doing so he has condemned him. Under such circumstances is it possible not to get dirty, although as I’ve said before, Bolano believed that art, poetry etc. mattered, he also knew that didn’t make it clean or pure. Experience had taught him that it could happily turn tricks if called to do so, would readily beg like any half starved dog for it’s masters attention. Yet for all this horror, or maybe because of it, this book is shot through with humour, dark - yes, brutal - yes, uneasy – yes, BUT it’s there, and like Roberto Bolano it’s poking it’s tongue at oppression in all it’s forms.
Translated by – Chris Andrews
*Nazi Literature in the Americas
I am very eager for this one. Definitely going to be my next Bolano read, and I know I won't be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI want this from our library but they ve lost it so annoying ,got amulet that want try and read this month gary ,this does sound wonderful ,all the best stu
ReplyDeleteThe only novel by Roberto Bolano that I read was Monsieur Pain, and I've got to admit that aside from adoring the atmosphere he created, I probably didn't get it. I need to read more of his stuff, and probably immerse myself in the words without getting all caught up in analyzing every last bit.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering why this book has not been optioned for a movie yet. It is very cinematic, with all that stunts of the plane. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the only story (in both novel and short story) in which Bolaño used his own name as a character, if I'm not mistaken). In some others he used another persona, usually that of Arturo Belano. Maybe this has to do with his own ethical concerns on literature as you've perceptively pointed out.
Hi,E.L.Fay,it's a really good read, not to long, so you feel like "i,ll just turn 1 more page" & before you know it the books finished.
ReplyDeleteHello, Stu Amulets good. have you tried to see if your library has a management system such as (Southeast library management system) it's a link up of various libraries covering a certain area, mine(SELMS)charges £2 but it increases your area.
Hi Bellezza, just finished " By night in Chile" which is the deathbed reminiscings of a priest in Chile during Pinochets Gov't. Its short enough to plough through, but thought provoking enough to allow you access to Bolano's world view.
Hello Rise, I believe you're right concerning his use of name, it's normally similiar, but this time it was explicitly him & as usual I'm using my one stop link to all things Bolano, so thanks.