28.8.11

Javier Cercas - El Inquilino (The Tenant)


A short novel about the games that the mind of one mediocre university scholar play: "The Tenant" was written back in 1989 by Javier Cercas (now world famous for his book "Soldiers of Salamis"). Himself a lecturer in Spanish Literature at the University of Gerona, Cercas manages to draw - with big brushes, but attention to detail - the picture: Linguistics lecturer Mario Rota turns his ancle while running. As he returns home, he finds out that his new neighbour is the new professor of Linguistics in his University. In the following week, Mario will find out that his salary, his job and his girlfriend will be very affected by this new arrival.

It brought to memory an assistant professor from my college. It has taken me hours to remember his name, but still no luck. You get the idea. Damn good writing, simple and incisive. Go fetch.

Big thanks to my friend Angel for sharing the book.

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