Comments on: Roberto Bolaño: The Skating Rink

By: Trevor

Trevor — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:42:29 +0000

I just saw that New Directions has uploaded some reading guides to some of their books. One happens to be for this one. Click here.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:48:05 +0000

John, I haven’t read Amulet yet — except for the first five or so pages a few times at the book store — but I look forward to it. I’m anxious to see how you take your Bolaño. I’m wondering if there are drugs in there somewhere that create some sort of untraceable addiction — but maybe that’s just New Direction’s approach :)

I think you’ll like this one too, Randy, though I didn’t like it as much as I liked By Night in Chile. It’s very different and strangely so similar. The strong personalities are still there and they’re still often vile though varied. I’ve been waiting to read The Savage Detectives until I’m through with some of the minor novels because I think it will prime me for maximum enjoyment (and hopefully understanding . . .)

By: Randy

Randy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:43:36 +0000

Ah, another Bolano title I will have to add then. I shared that precise same sense you hit on in my second reading of By Night In Chile..I will note the recommendation to sequence Skating Rink before Savage Detectives…

By: John Self

John Self — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:30:14 +0000

In the UK, Picador have picked up the rights to ten of Bolaño’s books, which they’re issuing at a rate of two or three a year. Next month comes Amulet, which I have an advance copy of and which I hope to read and review soon. It will be my first Bolaño…