The writer Javier Cercas is one of those people we always like to listen. Not only for his work, also for his opinions about today and, of course, for his great passion for literature.
Not long ago, we kept an interesting interview with him taking advantage of his new book, God’s madmanthe best selling in Spain at this time. In the talk we ask, in addition to his trip with Pope Francis, of course, for his literary recommendations, both classic and current. And he did not hesitate to recommend, of course, one of the great classics of universal literature such as Don Quijote de la Mancha: “This book gives people terror and should be the opposite because it is a hooligan book, hilarious, ultra popular, it was a best-seller In his time. You just have to make a little linguistic effort because the language is a bit old. But as soon as you get used to it, it is a thug book, of a total freedom, a book for people, did not write it for the cults of the time. “
As for a current book, the author born in Cáceres but raised in Catalonia did not hesitate to point out a novel by an author who has left a deep mark on his thinking. We talked about South African JM Coetzee, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003, and his latest novel, The Polish.
The Polish
Cercas especially highlights its ability to mix emotion and music in a deeply human narrative: “It’s a small masterpiece, a love story that is born with Chopin’s music. Highly recommended.”
The Polish It is a novel where Chopin’s music is intertwined with a love story that explores memory and pain. Coetzee immerses us in the life of Witold, a Polish pianist of a certain age who, during a visit to Barcelona, falls in love with a much younger woman, Beatriz, a cultured and reserved official. What in principle seems like a late love story becomes a subtle meditation on unrequited desire, the limits of language and cultural differences. Witold tries to conquer it not only with words, but with Chopin’s music, convinced that beauty can transfer the barriers that separate them.
The work, loaded with sensitivity, uses a prose that invites us to reflection, and its universal themes such as yearning, lack of communication and the passage of time are treated with a unique depth. Fence does not hesitate to recommend this work as a literary jewel that, despite being recent, feels like a timeless piece.
J. M. Coetzee.
Beyond The PolishJM Coetzee’s work has been acclaimed by criticism for his moral rigor, his sober style and his exploration of issues such as power, guilt and redemption. Some of his books like Misfortune, Waiting for the barbarians o Childhoodthey are fundamental in contemporary literature and, of course, of obligatory reading. His ability to address ethical issues without falling into dogmatism has made him one of the most influential writers of the last decades.
Therefore, if you have not yet done so, we recommend that you pay attention to fences and immerse yourself so much in the history of The Polish And, when you finish, you will give a good review of the immortal Quijote. You will thank us, sure.
Don Quijote of La Mancha
