Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Warm-Enthusiasm-9534 t1_j5z5fe0 wrote

I'm might be the wrong person to answer, since I think 2666 is a masterpiece, but:

The second part is the least memorable. For the third and fourth parts, you can't really say "nothing ever happens".

I wouldn't say it's about "a mysterious serial killer". While the murders are central to the story, it's not a murder mystery. It's more about the relationship between the murders and the broader society.

53

McGilla_Gorilla t1_j5z9xh9 wrote

>It's more about the relationship between the murders and the broader society.

100%. I think it’s a really masterful way of looking at crime - although a lot of time is spent on the individual victims and (potential) perpetrators of the crimes, the real focus is on the global economic, cultural and political systems which create the environment for these crimes to occur.

18

BR1N3DM1ND t1_j608uja wrote

Since I, like OP, have ground to a halt mid-book (a true rarity for me, I assure you), would you be so kind to encapsulate what Bolaño posits regarding said systems, in the context of connecting the murders to "broader society"?

In other words, is your first name Cliff? Can I see your notes? ("Cliff McGilla, Gorilla-at-Large" is pretty fabulous, just saying)

3

ipcriss t1_j62ruvu wrote

As I read it, it's not anything particular you can pick. The whole book paints portrait of society and life in the area. Interactions of characters are there to show and illustrate those discourses and atmosphere of the society. And people's places in social structures.

For example. In the first part, I felt the locals were main focus and how these foreign professors people can justify to themselves going with the flow and exploit people. As societal structures make it possible.

1