Title: Los enamoramientos
Author: Javier Marías
First published January 1, 2011
401 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9788420407135 (ISBN10: 8420407135)
Rating: 3.54
Overview
Javier Marías’ latest novel, Los enamoramientos, opens with the mysterious death of Miguel Desvern. The protagonist, Maria Dolz, knew nothing about him until she saw his photo in the newspaper.
With his death shrouded in confusion, Maria is left to reflect on the nature of love and the power it holds over us. Marías’ writing is as captivating as ever, exploring the complexities of our emotions and the consequences of our actions.
This book is a meditation on the human condition and the often-unpredictable ways in which our lives intersect. With its powerful prose and thought-provoking themes, Los enamoramientos is a must-read for fans of contemporary literature.
About the Author
Javier Marías, a Spanish novelist, translator, and columnist, was an accomplished writer whose works have been translated into 42 languages. Born in Madrid, his father was the philosopher Julián Marías, who was briefly imprisoned and banned from teaching for opposing Franco.
Javier spent parts of his childhood in the United States, where his father taught at various institutions including Yale University and Wellesley College. Sadly, his mother passed away when he was just 26 years old.
He received his education at the Colegio Estudio in Madrid.
Javier’s passion for writing began at an early age. At 14, he wrote “The Life and Death of Marcelino Iturriaga,” one of the short stories in his collection While the Women are Sleeping (2010).
He wrote his first novel, “Los dominios del lobo” (The Dominions of the Wolf), at age 17, after running away to Paris.
In addition to his writing, Javier also operated a small publishing house called Reino de Redonda. He wrote a weekly column for El País, and an English version of his column “La Zona Fantasma” is published in The Believer magazine.
In 1997, Javier was honored with the Nelly Sachs Prize for his contributions to literature.
Editoral Review
Los enamoramientos by Javier Marías is a complex and thought-provoking novel that explores the nature of love, morality, and perception. Marías is a well-known Spanish author with a reputation for his elegant and sophisticated writing style, and this book is no exception.
The novel centers around a woman named María Dolz, who becomes infatuated with a couple she sees in a café near her workplace. When one of the couple dies in a sudden and violent manner, María is drawn into a web of intrigue and deception that challenges her beliefs about love, truth, and justice.
Marías weaves a intricate tapestry of interconnected themes and motifs, touching on everything from sexual obsession to political corruption to the nature of memory itself. The characters are vividly drawn and multi-dimensional, with their own motives, fears, and flaws.
The setting is equally rich, with the streets of Madrid serving as a backdrop for the characters’ struggles and conflicts. One of the most striking aspects of Los enamoramientos is Marías’ use of language.
His prose is rich and dense, filled with poetic imagery and philosophical musings. The novel is full of long, winding sentences and digressions that might put off some readers, but those who persevere will be rewarded with a deep and nuanced exploration of the human psyche.
The pacing of the novel is deliberate and sometimes slow, which may not appeal to those looking for a fast-paced page-turner. However, this deliberate pacing allows Marías to explore his themes and characters in depth, and the result is a novel that rewards careful attention and reflection.
While Los enamoramientos is set in modern-day Spain, it has a timeless quality that makes it relevant to readers from all backgrounds and cultures. Marías’ exploration of the nature of love and morality speaks to universal human experiences, and his insights are as profound as they are subtle.
Overall, Los enamoramientos is a powerful and rewarding novel that showcases Marías’ talent as a writer and thinker. It is not without its flaws – some readers may find the prose too dense or the pacing too slow – but these are minor quibbles in the face of the novel’s many strengths.
For readers who appreciate literary fiction that challenges the mind and speaks to the heart, Los enamoramientos is a must-read.
