Scan barcode
A review by kingabee
In the Beginning Was the Sea by Tomás González
4.0
I wanted to love this book because the original Pushkin edition is so pretty that I wanted to keep it. And I’m only allowed to keep books that I loved. For this reason I probably was more forgiving towards it. The same way a man is allowed to be just a little bit more stupid if he is very handsome (although I find myself to be stricter about this as I grow older – great abs don’t last forever).
‘In the Beginning Was the Sea’ also had a great premise – Colombia, 1970s, a couple moves from the city to the seaside to live a ‘simpler and wholesome life’, tragedy ensues. I suppose this could be compared to the man having a good and interesting job which convinces you he clearly must be intelligent and interesting himself.
Then there are stellar reviews and award nominations, which we could compare to a string of exciting ex-girlfriends which make you think there is something amazing about this guy that you must discover. So when the first date is perfectly pleasant but overall underwhelming you think it must be you. Maybe you didn’t hold up your end of the bargain. You will probably see him again once or twice but it is clear you’re not meant to be.
And this was my story with this book. I did like the menacing atmosphere, the elliptic nature of story structure and the beautiful writing. I had a perfectly good time with this book but I will be seeing other books now and this will go to the second-hand bookshop together with many others. Even if this edition is devastatingly pretty.
The story’s conclusion is not very original – it’s a fairly known trope of people harbouring illusions of the beauty and simplicity of the country life and not realising its hardships, the poverty and boredom. The couple are both rather unlikable but it’s Elena who is truly despicable, whereas J. has some redeeming features and seems more of a victim of his own naivety. It’s hard not to suspect they are presented that way because the whole story is based on real events and J. is modelled on the author’s younger brother. If you like this sort of tales, then I’d definitely recommend this book. Maybe you will hit it off.
Fun fact: this book was originally published in 1983 by a NIGHT CLUB (where the author worked as a bartender).
‘In the Beginning Was the Sea’ also had a great premise – Colombia, 1970s, a couple moves from the city to the seaside to live a ‘simpler and wholesome life’, tragedy ensues. I suppose this could be compared to the man having a good and interesting job which convinces you he clearly must be intelligent and interesting himself.
Then there are stellar reviews and award nominations, which we could compare to a string of exciting ex-girlfriends which make you think there is something amazing about this guy that you must discover. So when the first date is perfectly pleasant but overall underwhelming you think it must be you. Maybe you didn’t hold up your end of the bargain. You will probably see him again once or twice but it is clear you’re not meant to be.
And this was my story with this book. I did like the menacing atmosphere, the elliptic nature of story structure and the beautiful writing. I had a perfectly good time with this book but I will be seeing other books now and this will go to the second-hand bookshop together with many others. Even if this edition is devastatingly pretty.
The story’s conclusion is not very original – it’s a fairly known trope of people harbouring illusions of the beauty and simplicity of the country life and not realising its hardships, the poverty and boredom. The couple are both rather unlikable but it’s Elena who is truly despicable, whereas J. has some redeeming features and seems more of a victim of his own naivety. It’s hard not to suspect they are presented that way because the whole story is based on real events and J. is modelled on the author’s younger brother. If you like this sort of tales, then I’d definitely recommend this book. Maybe you will hit it off.
Fun fact: this book was originally published in 1983 by a NIGHT CLUB (where the author worked as a bartender).