«2666» , Roberto Bolaño

I decided to read this impressive, monumental novel because it had already been hailed as the “novel of the century.” For me, it didn’t quite live up to that title, but it was entertaining, to say the least.

In short, the entire book consists of several unrelated plotlines that eventually converge in the Mexican town of Santa Teresa on the border with the United States. It’s a troubled town: women have been brutally murdered there for many years. And the problem clearly isn’t just one serial killer or some magical evil forces. It’s about us and what we accept as normal. What has gone wrong in the world, since everyone, though despondent, has grown accustomed to this long-standing violence? And Bolaño doesn’t hold back, searching for causes literally all over the world—in politics, economics, and culture.

Part 1 – about the friendships and romantic relationships among four literary critics, well-fed European intellectuals united by their interest in the mysterious writer Benno von Archimboldi. In their search for their incognito idol, they eventually end up in the town of Santa Teresa.

Part 2 - about Professor Amalfitano, who moves to Santa Teresa with his daughter and slowly loses his mind.

Part 3 - about journalist Feit, who came to Santa Teresa to cover a boxing match and couldn’t ignore these mysterious murders.

Part 4—is essentially a chronicle of the dozens (or hundreds?) of murders of women in Santa Teresa. By the end of this massive section, you realize the full scale of what’s happening there.

Part 5—finally, the story of that very Benno von Archimboldi. Although, by the time you reach this part, you realize that he isn’t really the main character or the central plot of the book; he’s merely a pretext to discuss something more important.

Chilean writer Roberto Bolaño didn’t manage to finish his novel, and it shows. I didn’t feel satisfied that, after a long and not always easy read lasting 1.5 months, I was rewarded with a spectacular ending. This is probably one of those cases where the journey is more important than the destination. In the book’s five parts, he addresses themes that are vitally important to him: the chasm between First and Third World countries, the dark side of capitalism, gender inequality, abuse of power, the meaning of war, and the meaning of life... He mixes real events (like World War II) with fiction in the book, but to distinguish one from the other and understand all the hyperlinks and intertexts, you need to possess extraordinary knowledge. That’s why I read some of the lengthy descriptions without even trying to find meaning in them: it’s not my cup of tea.

Perhaps such a fundamental work deserves the highest rating, but I’m just a reader who thinks in terms of “liked it / didn’t like it,” so my rating is: 4 out of 5.