Wednesday, February 18, 2009

2666 - post I

This is such a mammoth book not just in terms of the actual word count but also the font and leading on the page make it a dense reading experience.

A collection of characters are introduced all with the interest and passion for studying a reclusive German author in common. The academics from Germany, Spain, Italy and England meet regularly at conferences and start to investigate the possibility of tracking down the man they have dedicated so much of their lives to studying.

In terms of style it is clearly determined to make the reader think and some of the terms used to describe the academic world of obtuse literary conferences is something that from the start you have to work to stick with.

But the hope is that a story perhaps more interesting than trying to track down a reclusive author will emerge with the quartet of main characters.

More when I finish section one...