2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
FIne fiction, February 7, 2011
This review is from: Learning to Lose (Paperback)
A very thoughtful, touching and painful exploration of the lives of 4 people, fighting their way through difficult adjustments. Even the worst of the four, the father and son of two other central characters, was sympathetically drawn. These people can be foolish, and sometimes selfish, but through it all their relationships with each other and others rendered them three dimensional and painfully real. I was sorry to see them go. The writing, by the way, is very understated, so much so that this book takes some patience, which is very well rewarded.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Living and Losing, June 1, 2010
This review is from: Learning to Lose (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
David Trueba has written an interesting intergenerational family saga translated from the Spanish by Mara Lethem. At nearly 600 pages, this book is truly a tome. It follows the adventures of 16 year old Sylvia, a high school student, her father Lorenzo, and her paternal grandfather, Leandro. The book is also about a professional soccer player named Ariel. The story is told in chapters that alternate between the perspectives of these four characters.
As the book opens, Aurora, Sylvia's grandmother, breaks her hip. Leandro takes her to the hospital for care. While he is waiting with her he peruses the sex pages in their daily newspaper. A particular advertisement about a `chalet' draws his attention. He has no formal intention of visiting this brothel but he ends up there anyway. Thus begins a sex addiction that escalates out of control. Leandro is obsessed with a particular Nigerian prostitute and is spending down his retirement in almost daily visits to her.
Leandro was once an aspiring pianist who tried to make it professionally but did not succeed. Instead, he ended up teaching piano at a prestigious Spanish school. The book talks about many conductors, pianists, and professionals in the music field.
Sylvia is 16 years old and very insightful for her age. As she is crossing the street one evening, she is run over by 20 year old Ariel, a professional soccer player who has recently immigrated to Spain from Argentina. Sylvia ends up with some contusions and a broken leg. Later on, Ariel and Sylvia begin a passionate affair. The book discusses a lot about soccer and this will appeal to soccer fans.
Lorenzo has just killed his cheating ex-business partner, Paco, when the book opens. Because of Paco, Lorenzo has been wiped out financially. Lorenzo is Sylvia's primary parent, as his wife has left him for another man and Sylvia resides with him. We are privy to Lorenzo's concerns about the police and his thoughts about the murder. We are voyeurs to his somewhat kinky sexual appetites. He worries about Sylvia but is not good at connecting with her. Lorenzo begins to date Daniela, a childcare worker in his building.
The novel raises interesting questions about morality, ethics, loss, love, and intimacy. The narrative is a bit blunted and not as fluid as I would have liked. I presume this is due to the translation. However, the reader will be kept turning pages, wondering whether Lorenzo will be caught by the police. Will Aurora find out about Leandro's sex addiction? Will Sylvia and Ariel's affair become public? If so, will they be harmed since Sylvia is a minor? There is a lot going on in this novel and I look forward to reading more of David Trueba's work.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4.0 out of 5 stars
Riveting, January 11, 2012
This is a fascinating tale set in Madrid. Its more the story telling that is likely to capture your imagination than the story itself. Treuba invests his characters with flesh, blood and so many frailities that you can't but care for each of them.
When I was reading the book, I thought this was one that was waiting to be made into a movie because of the visuals it can evoke in a reader. That said, it will need someone very accomplished to make a movie of the book , because while the story is more about characters than plot, the larger lessons on life linger around it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
