“As he listened to Giorgio give Malagueta Nenuco’s number and instructions about what kinds of tea Linda liked, Argensi caught sight of the canvases he hadn’t touched in days, the paint dried on the used brushes which he’d neglected to clean because he’d been busy giving sips of water to a one-armed buccaneer who was shitting all over himself in the infernal swamp in his continuous and exhausting other life.”
Often reading like a fever dream, "Tentacle" features a frenetic pace and manic jumps across three different timelines and many characters, making following along a true challenge. However, Rita Indiana's fresh, boundary-pushing writing and imagination make the effort worthwhile.
“Katherine sounded like a woman beaten down by piles of dirty dishes and a construction worker husband who showed his affection by not spitting on the rug.”
The themes are nearly all-encompassing (pick your -ism), as the book documents environmentalism, racism, sexism, classism, eco-tourism, gender, immigration, and capitalistic issues. Indiana is incredibly explicit, but her words are poignant, timely, and brave, overcoming a translation that can feel balky on occasion.
“Lies, thought Acilde, are like beans, they have to be well seasoned or no one will swallow them.”
"Tentacle" is a wild ride, packing weighty topics in a short amount of space -- and challenging the reader in unexpected and confusing ways.
“You’re going to do fine: in this country being white is a profession.”
No comments:
Post a Comment