| I wanted to read something by Bioy Casares and photography is one of my hobbies. Even though I didn’t expect photography to play a major role in this novel, this was reason enough to choose this book. Let’s start with the photography. The short scenes in which photography is the topic show enough detail to make clear that Bioy Casares probably had an interest in photography himself. This is nice and having the protagonist wander through La Plata taking photos facilitated my access.
The Adventures are a breezy thing. Short chapters, providing always new facets and glimpses into the mindset of the photographer Nicolasito Almanza, the members of the family Lombardo or various friends. The plot is slightly surreal. Almanza arrives in La Plata and immediately is addressed by Lombardo senior, asking him to help each other in a foreign city to avoid being cheated. His motives aren’t clear, his grip on Almanza becomes increasingly choking. Then, there are Lombardo’s two daughters, both of them starting intimate relationships with Almanza. And there is an obscure friend of Almanza, a spy or a secret agent for an unnamed organization. The question quickly arising is whether Almanza will be able to escape from the net he got entangled in. Will he be able to leave La Plata again. Suffice to say that the ending is as strange as the whole setup. If there’s one theme I could identify it’s that things aren’t what they appear. Images show the facade. People say or do something but the meaning behind might be something different. Roles aren’t clear, better control than trust people. Being written shortly after the end of the military regime in Argentina probably is important in this context as well. I really liked this novel and devoured it in two sessions. Mysterious but not too obscure, interesting and not overstaying its welcome. |