AUTHOR: Elvira Sastre
PUBLISHER: Seix Barrall
GENRE: Novel
READER’S NAME: Ángeles Estrada
DATE: June 6, 2020

The author reminds me of Coelho, not in the quality of writing, Sastre is the better writer by far, but in the sense that both their writing wax philosophically about life. And if Coelho has inspired a devoted following worldwide, I don’t see why Sastre should not receive the same acclaim. 

The book is not immediately engaging, but after the first 30 pages or so, it takes off with a sustained and cohesive narrative, alternating between two storylines, the grandmother’s life, and the protagonist’s journey through infatuation, disillusionment, and the rekindling of an old love.

The novel is strewn with nuggets of wisdom, dispensed by the charismatic grandmother, who speaks in confidence to her grandson, and by the young narrator himself, as he overcomes a heartbreak.  We follow the two separate entries, the reminiscence and the present-time retelling, together with the characters’ philosophical ruminations about life and humanity --much in the Coelho style; and in doing so, we learn life-lessons and benefit from both characters’ experiences. 

The author manages to keep the story light and intimate, rather than overbearing. There is a spirituality about the work, but most importantly, the novel communicates a love for life, and an acceptance of life’s highs and lows.

In terms of translation, I don’t see any problem, in fact I am interested in translating this book. One thing to keep in mind is that, although Sastre’s writing is not pretentious, it is by no means simple; it is actually lyrical at times.

The author is a poet, no doubt about it.  Even in the acknowledgements section we find poetic language:

Thank you, readers… “your company is a quiet engine in noisy days.” (Vuestra compan?i?a es un motor silencioso para los di?as de ruido).

Thank you, Andrea …“for reading me before I write.” (porque me lees antes de que escriba).

Thank you [to the author’s grandparents] …“I love you so much, there is no haste.” (Os quiero tanto que no hay prisa).

The book also makes use of clever visual imagery:

“the impatience of things that get consumed without a flame” (Esa impaciencia que guardan las cosas que se queman antes de arder, pg.73)

There is not much dialogue; but the audience is witness to the inner dialogue of both protagonists —their individual thought processes—, as well as the monologues by the grandmother as she talks to the protagonist.

The book deals with common themes: love and overcoming adversity. It also talks about the value of embracing the painful aspects of life.

“Sadness is a feeling of loneliness, but it is also soothing. Yet the latter is known only by those who have been truly saddened. (La tristeza es un sentimiento solitario y tambie?n es un consuelo. Pero eso es algo que so?lo sabemos los que hemos estado tristes de verdad. Pg. 229)

Sadness claims acknowledgment; and the people we have loved, who are no longer with us, still have a place in our lives.  What is important is “… learning how to live with the end of something, without giving up on new beginnings.” (…es decir, aprender a vivir con los finales sin renunciar a otros principios Pg. 60)

The novel talks about the importance of following your heart, in love and in your vocation.  The function of fear and the value of the mistakes we make in life. “He taught me how to be afraid; to welcome fear, and how to handle it; to address it and tolerate it; and even trust it.  Because fear teaches us who we are.” (…me ensen?o? a tener miedo. Me ensen?o? a recibirlo, a saber co?mo llevarlo, a hablar con e?l, a tolerarlo, a manejarlo e, incluso, a confiar en e?l, porque el mie- do nos ensen?a cosas de nosotros mismos, pg 142)

“Whatever you hide from, will follow you through life.” (Aquello de lo que huyes te persigue toda la vida. Pg. 201)

“…Stones are on our way so we can stumble over them, not to walk around them” (… las piedras esta?n ahi? para tropezar con ellas, no para hacernos cambiar de camino. Pg. 215)

This is a 28-year-old author speaking with the shrewdness of someone beyond her years. Yet, despite the good counsel, this is not a moralistic tale, just a love-story –two love-stories intertwined.

I enjoyed the insightful writing and the mind of the author-poet.