2666

i finished roberto bolano’s 2666 on wednesday and have been at a loss of what to write/do with myself ever since. much like the savage detectives, 2666 is not a novel that lets you settle into the work and get comfortable. the landscape shifts, narration jumps from character to character without explanation and all you can do is trust that in the final pages bolano will piece it all together.

the book is broken out in five different parts, with minor clues as to how the parts fit together in the larger scheme of the work. the section i found most compelling was “the part about the crimes.” if you come into 2666 without any knowledge of the killings of women in the deserts of sonora, bolano fills in any gaps in your education with detached yet painstakingly detailed accounts.

my shoulder is still recovering from lugging the 900+ page volume around in my bag for the last few weeks—i recommend picking up the paperback edition that is sold in a set of three smaller books.

have you read it? i’d love to hear your impressions.