A hypnotic novel in which an American student's quest to find the greatest living tango singer leads him deep into the labyrinth of Argentina's pas...
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Oct 29, 2010
Charlaralotte
rated it: 
Was bogged down for weeks trying to get through this thing.
Possibly it was a terrible translation. Entire pages would have sentences that began with "I." Possibly in Spanish, with "Yo" left out, this would be bearable. As it is, the narrator comes across as extremely egocentric. He really thinks he can write his thesis on a Borges story set in Buenos Aires without seizing the opportunity to actually go there?
Mostly I stuck with the book for the descriptio More...
Possibly it was a terrible translation. Entire pages would have sentences that began with "I." Possibly in Spanish, with "Yo" left out, this would be bearable. As it is, the narrator comes across as extremely egocentric. He really thinks he can write his thesis on a Borges story set in Buenos Aires without seizing the opportunity to actually go there?
Mostly I stuck with the book for the descriptio More...
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May 27, 2011
Anna P
rated it: 
Tomás Eloy Martínez arunca o privire nostalgica asupra tot ce inseamna tango, spectacol, Buenos Aires, sunt povesti care duc la alte povesti si contureaza sub forma unei panze de paianjen perioade din istoria Argentinei.
Cautarea lui Julio Martel se transforma in cautarea acelui Buenos Aires querido al anilor ’20-‘30, orasul lui Carlos Gardel in care legendele se nasc la tot pasul, in cafenelele si librariile unde se danseaza milonga sau in peisajul dezolant al stradutelor orasului ve More...
Cautarea lui Julio Martel se transforma in cautarea acelui Buenos Aires querido al anilor ’20-‘30, orasul lui Carlos Gardel in care legendele se nasc la tot pasul, in cafenelele si librariile unde se danseaza milonga sau in peisajul dezolant al stradutelor orasului ve More...
Aug 04, 2011
Natasa
rated it: 
Hmmm very complex book. A very rich language with a lot of detailed descriptions. Great character study. Definitely not an easy read. Never been to BA, so I cannot judge how well it is described, but I really liked the way the author describes this metropolis. The story itself - somehow for me without the end and shifting focus from one story to the other and again and again. If it would be just shorter novels I guess I would appreciate it more, as the characters are so strong, that they need no
More...
Jan 11, 2011
Tom
rated it:
Wonderful!
I love Buenos Aires and I have found some interesting places there from tracking down some of the locations in this book, which is wonderfully evocative of the place and the culture. The fact that it's completely insane (does it count as magical realism? I really don't know) is a significant part of its charm - much like the place and the culture it describes.
Only 4* as if you have no interest in Argentina, I think the book is unlikely to appeal - but you could give More...
I love Buenos Aires and I have found some interesting places there from tracking down some of the locations in this book, which is wonderfully evocative of the place and the culture. The fact that it's completely insane (does it count as magical realism? I really don't know) is a significant part of its charm - much like the place and the culture it describes.
Only 4* as if you have no interest in Argentina, I think the book is unlikely to appeal - but you could give More...
Feb 21, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
I really wanted to like this book: it received outstanding reviews; the author is well-respected; and, the subject matter is off-beat and somewhat exotic.
After 100 pages, I decided it wasn't for me. As other reviewer's mentioned, the pace is somewhat slow; I expected that to be a parallel to the tango, or the Argentinian culture, and kept waiting for the pace to quicken and the story to heat up. Either I didn't give it enough time, or it just wasn't going to happen, but I was not dra More...
After 100 pages, I decided it wasn't for me. As other reviewer's mentioned, the pace is somewhat slow; I expected that to be a parallel to the tango, or the Argentinian culture, and kept waiting for the pace to quicken and the story to heat up. Either I didn't give it enough time, or it just wasn't going to happen, but I was not dra More...
Nov 14, 2010
Suzy
rated it:
Very interesting and unique story-although the storytelling was a bit unusual and I didn't have any great fondness or empathy for the main character-the city of Buenos Aires and her stories were really the main character and I enjoyed reading about her and her people, the layout of the city and the hard times her inhabitants went through repeatedly through her history.
Jan 28, 2009
Rosemary
rated it:
I enjoyed this book. It combines elements of magical realism with interesting characters. The action moves rapidly across the city of Buenos Aires in seach of the elusive tango singer. It provides aa immersion in the culture and ambiance of Argentina and the mythical tango and its importance.
Aug 03, 2011
Sónia
rated it:
gostei bastante....lê-se num instante....é uma descrição interessante da Buenos Aires dos nossos dias...só é pena nao o ter lido enquanto passeava em Buenos Aires pois parece-me o livro ideal para umas férias argentinas!
May 12, 2009
Mary
rated it:
The perfect book to read in Buenos Aires! Part fantasy, part reality, it gives a wonderful sense of the many moods of that huge city.
Jan 29, 2012
Writerlibrarian
rated it:
Quite enjoyable. Really interesting, literary (Borges), mysterious (the narrator is on a quest to find and listen to a mysterious, legendary tango singer as great as Carlos Gardel) and with (bonus for me) an emphasis on Buenos Aires' architecture. The young man, writing his thesis on tango and Borges travels to Argentina to find inspiration, write in the all night numerous cafés and dream of the many, many faces of the city.
Oct 21, 2008
Birgitte
rated it:
I thought it was a nice insight into Buenos Aires and the literature of Borges. The "chaotic" and restless way of writing fits with the theme, but somehow I thougt it was also a drag on the story, because I didn't get quite into the characthers. I got the feeling, but felt that the writer left me a little behind, there was too much insider information, that you were expected to know.
Jan 05, 2012
Dan
rated it:
I first read this a couple of years back and, although I enjoyed it well enough, it did not really pull me in. I recently reread it having read a lot more Argentine history and literature and having visited Buenos Aires. With that background, I found the book mesmerising. It is a homage to the city and its culture.
Jul 20, 2011
David
rated it:
This book pulled me into the the simple tale of the hero trying to find the mythical Tango singer in the sprawling Buenos Aires. In a sense it was a travel guide to the city. Beautiful and haunting, one just kept reading for the mystrery and tthe sheer pleasure of it. Loved this gem of a story.
Jun 02, 2008
Featherbooks
rated it:
NYU grad student heads to Buenos Aires in search of an elusive tango singer and also is looking for Borges' Aleph to complete his dissertation. Quirky characters, chilling descriptions of Argentina's recent political turmoil (5 presidents in 1 year) entwined with the songs of the tango.
Jan 24, 2008
Karen
rated it:
Very interesting novel that educates the reader about the recent history of Argentina. I enjoyed it but it was not a "page-turner."
Sep 09, 2007
Jenny
rated it:
I read the Spanish version of this. Appropriate for anyone interested in the modern history of Argentina, or the works of Borges.
Jul 06, 2008
a little slow moving. Good street scene descriptions of the most recent crash in BA
Apr 19, 2009
Linda
rated it:
I read it to color my trip to BA. It was a fabulous resource for snippets of history and fun to be reading while I was there - as all the streets and most of the sites are still around. What an accurate portrayal of BA and its conflicted culture! As a read - not such a fan. It almost had a dream-like quality to it.
Feb 11, 2012
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