1977After the Boom
Palinuro of Mexico
Fernando del Paso · 1935–2018 · Mexico
Originally Palinuro de México (Spanish) · translated by Elisabeth Plaister
Why it matters
A medical student's love affairs, memories, and political awakening are conjured through wordplay, catalogues, and dazzling encyclopedic excess, all set against Mexico City's charged year of 1968. One of the era's most maximalist Latin American novels.
At a glance
postmodernsatire
Difficulty 9/10slow pace465 pagesMaximalist wordplay, catalogues, and encyclopedic digression demand sustained close reading.
Where to go next
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Mario Vargas Llosa · 1963The Time of the HeroLvl 6Medium pace