Sampleletter For Dental Appeal

So close to life in exile

Santiago Roncagliolo (Lima, 1975) is usually regarded in the lists of the best American writers of today (such as recently published by Granta ), although his work so far fails to convince a large segment of criticism. His new novel, So close to life (Alfaguara, 2010), larger and more ambitious than the previous three is an original mix of thriller and science fiction.

The story told is that of Max, a logistics expert who travels to Tokyo to a convention of the Gemini Corporation. Max there, as the protagonist of the film Lost in Translation, it feels strange and misplaced, and almost accidentally starts a romance with a young hotel maid. Action is in the midst of discussions about artificial intelligence and robots that look like living beings (both people and animals), referring to films like Blade Runner and Artificial Intelligence.

As happened in Shame (2004) and Abril rojo (2006), again lost Roncagliolo gimmicky and irrelevant situations (Max games in the bathroom of the hotel), in references to films and audiovisual narratives, and neglect the more properly literary strength of the figures, the Working with language, the depth on important issues. So close to life is the best book of the author, but an enjoyable and interesting reading.


Related
can read the first pages of the novel in Alfaguara. Other articles on
So close to life : Ricardo González Vigil (El Comercio).
Interviews: Pedro Escribano, Carlos Sotomayor . Here at Books
there comentarioos all Roncagliolo novels: Modesty , Abril rojo and Memoirs of a Lady .
The following is an interview with American Home.