This small novella packs a punch! While lightheartedly telling an old man’s story, it brings subtle and humorous criticism of colonialism and the environmental disaster it brings. One can get fooled by the simplicity of the plot and the characters, yet this book is so much more than it seems.

Antonio José Bolívar Proaño is a widower who lives in a remote Ecuadorean Amazonian village, El Idilio. Originally from the Andes, he moved to the jungle with his wife, searching for a new life. After her death (a fever rampaged the settlers), he lived for a while among the indigenous Shuar people, learning their ways and surviving the harsh environment. In his old age, he finds comfort in reading romance novels, which he acquires from the local dentist, his only link to the outside world.

However, a series of events disrupt his quiet life. A gringo (white outsider) is killed by an ocelot (a wild cat), leading to a hunt for the animal. It becomes clear, though, that the true cause of the animal’s aggression is the intrusion and disrespect of the settlers who disrupted the natural balance of the jungle. As the only one with the knowledge and respect for the jungle’s way, Antonio is forced to track down the ocelot. Through this journey, he reflects on his life, his relationship with Shuar, and the destruction of their environment. The hunt is a metaphor for the broader themes of colonial exploitation and the clash between modernity and indigenous wisdom. Antonio’s respect for the animal and its pain (its cubs had been killed by the gringo) and his deep connection with the jungle ultimately lead to a poignant conclusion, emphasising the need for harmony between humans and nature.

Sepúlveda’s lighthearted and humorous storytelling is sprinkled with serious themes. Antonio’s love for romantic fiction is a counterpoint to the harsh realities of the encroaching oil industry and the exploitation of the Amazon. The author doesn’t blast environmental destruction, he subtly shows it through the actions of the greedy gold prospectors and the enraged ocelot, a symbol of the disrupted natural order.

Also, the shadow of colonialism looms over the story and its people. The portrayal of the arrogant mayor of the village, who represents the destructive aspects of Western civilisation (such as the colonisers owning the land that belonged to nobody before) contrasts Antonio’s respect for the Shuar indigenous people and their ways. Antonio’s past living among them, as one of them, adds a layer of complexity and shows a different way man can live in harmony with nature, without destroying it. Antonio is not a white savior, but a survivor who recognises the wisdom and intelligence of the Indigenous culture, a perspective often missed in such stories, in contrast with the “civilised” West that brings death and destruction in their wake.

The book addresses multiple themes of the negative impact of colonialism, such as the overt racism that the townsfolk show the Shuar, which reflects real-world prejudice. However, Anotion’s genuine connection with them, particularly the young boy Nushino, offers a glimmer of hope for understanding and coexistence. The part I loved the most, the funniest part, was the conversation Antonio had with the Shuar people about their differences. In the eyes of the Shuar, our ways are illogical and incompatible with the ways of nature.

This small book, about which I could continue writing pages and pages, is more than an adventure tale and delivers on its promise. It’s a subtle yet powerful indictment of human greed and a celebration of resilience - both of the natural world and the human spirit. Sepúlveda reminds us that love, in its various forms, can be a potent force for change, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Antonio’s journey is a metaphor for the power of hope, respect for nature, and the transformative potential of human connection. A little over a hundred pages give you so much! I hope you get to read this book.