Stuart's comments (member since Oct 06, 2008)

Stuart's comments from the Latino and Latin American Literature group.

No Way, dude.

Here's my take on Marquez:
Great openings. Weak endings. Great whimsy. Great characters. Loose ends that never get tied up. He's great, but he's got his flaws.

Borges: Dry but rich, always finishes what he started. Rigid logic is always carried through to the end. Frequently mind-blowing in a way that other writers aren't.

It's a matter of temprament, but I'll go with Borges.

Pedro Paramo, by Juan Rulfo. Indispensable and breaks all the rules.
The Book of Sand, by Borges (definitely not a bore!)
Cien Anos de Soledad, by Garcia Marquez
Los Detectives Salvajes, by Roberto Bolano. Not as important as some of the others, but such an original narrative strategy that it should be read. And it's fun.

Galimberti, the biography of the famous Argentine revolutionary of the 70's (Montoneros) who began as a Montonero, helped pull off the largest ransom for a kidnap victim ever, later became business partners with his captive and ended up being an informant for the CIA, is a fascinating portrait of a person and a time period. One of the great works on the Revolutionary impulse. Can't remember the 2 authors and I don't think it's been translated from its Argentine Spanish. Great biography.
Also excellent, about the ERP (People's Revolutionary Army, same time period) is Todo o Nada, by Maria Seoane. Again, fascinating person and heartbreaking story.
I agree that Los Que Aman, Odian, by Silvina Ocampo and Bioy-Casares is worth reading. The character of the blowhard Porteno (Buenos Aires native) is also carried through hilariously in the Bioy Casares/Borges colaboration, 6 Problemas para Don Isidro Parodi (not 100% sure about the title)
The Secret Life of Alejandro Mayta, by Vargas Llosa, is a good one.