The Navidad Incident: The Downfall of Matias Guili

by Natsuki Ikezawa

A modern classic of Japanese magical realism and political satire.

In this sweeping magical-realist epic set in the fictional south sea island Republic of Navidad, Ikezawa gives his imagination free rein to reinvent the myths of the twentieth century Japan. The story takes off as a delegation of Japanese war veterans pays an official visit to the ex-World War II colony, only to see the Japanese flag burst into flames. The following day, the tour bus, and its passengers, simply vanish. The locals exchanges absurd rumors—the bus was last seen attending Catholic mass, the bus must have skipped across the lagoon—but the president suspects a covert guerrilla organization is trying to undermine his connections with Japan. Can the real answers to the mystery be found, or will the president have to be content with the surreal answers?

Genres: Japan, Japanese Literature, Fiction, Novels

350 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1993

About the author

Natsuki IKEZAWA (池澤 夏樹) is a Japanese writer and translator.

Reviews

[Ocean G · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating tale! I discovered this author in the issue of "Monkey", which had one of his short stories, and this made me curious about his novels. I'm really glad I followed up on this.

A tad of magical realism, and a lot of "island culture" and some history and, yes, a disappearing bus.



https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Read Win: I received this a few day's ago. At first I thought I would not be fond of this book, but my gosh I was so wrong. I turned out to love this book. I could not put it down for a second. I loved the time it took place and how it captured my attention through the whole read. The plot was good and the idea behind the whole story was very interesting. I just love anything that has to do with world war 2 and the Japanese. Plus bonus the title cover is amazing. I am now planning on seeing if the author has more book I think I may just check them out. Also a great thank's to first reads for the book. Without you guy's I may have never picked up this great find.

[Carrie Laben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me a bit of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which is always a good thing. But instead of looking at an underdog, The Navidad Incident goes into the halls of power to look at a man who, aside from likewise having to navigate a divided identity, could not be more different from Oscar.

The sly humor and the ultimately devastating portrait of a self-justifying man caught in the currents of history really grabbed me. Matías Guili is an actual anti-hero, not just a protagonist who mopes a bit while being secretly noble. And the islands’ history, folklore, and politics are well-drawn enough that I regret that Navidad’s not real and I can’t read more about it.

[Emily]

I was really intrigued by this book, and not only because I got it for free. A disappearing bus! An interesting post-colonial (but largely ignored) setting. But halfway through the book's 334 pages, I just can't do it. I would still really like to see what ends up happening, but I can't keep wading through long digressions about the president's past, with no clue that these are leading somewhere.

Friends! If you enjoy this book, please let me know. I will pick it back up if you give me hope.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book just wasn't that great. From the blurb I was expecting more magic realism, but really it felt more like magic boredom. The world that Natsuki created was very interesting, but the character of Matias Guili wasn't as engaging. In fact, he seemed stereotypical. The idealist politician turned tyrant who thinks that his way is the only way.

I wouldn't recommend this as there just wasn't enough in this book to keep me entertained.

[Sae-chan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really afraid I couldn't finish it. It was really dragging. I really don't know what I was reading. Apart from the instant noodle craze, I seem to forget it already.

[Jan Moens · Rating 5 out of 5]

8,5/10

[Jun Amano · Rating 4 out of 5]

春樹ワールドに近いものを感じる。しかし、風刺じみた物語の構成には緻密な社会分析がある。人類学、社会学、民俗学的な観点からナビダード国の歴史を描きながら、頽廃の美を描いている。

[Phoenix Carvelli]

Review copy won on Goodreads.com on 3-23-12.