Index Card, 006 - Pillow Books
Cronopios and Famas, by Julio Cortazar
It was my first literary crush. When I started reading Cortazar, I felt the need to read all of his books. It was like rediscovering the possibilities of words. My addiction started with Cronopios and Famas, a compilation of absurd, irreverent, and hilarious short stories. One part of the book, the one that gives name to its title, goes about some curious characters named Cronopios, those wet green objects, and their counterparts, the Famas, who apparently live a square life. The stories of Cronopios and Famas are suitable for a broad audience. As an early teen, they captived my attention and still make me laugh nowadays while I approach my forties.
Many years later, when I finished reading Cortazar’s bibliography, I realized I never felt the initial rush again. Cronopios and Famas stayed as a one-of-a-kind book, a beautiful exploration of language and the possibilities of literature. It is one of the books responsible for turning me into a reader, which means that it’s also responsible for saving my life. I’m grateful for this book, and I wanted to share it as the last pillow book because it was my first.
︎︎ Read Cronopios and Famas
Many years later, when I finished reading Cortazar’s bibliography, I realized I never felt the initial rush again. Cronopios and Famas stayed as a one-of-a-kind book, a beautiful exploration of language and the possibilities of literature. It is one of the books responsible for turning me into a reader, which means that it’s also responsible for saving my life. I’m grateful for this book, and I wanted to share it as the last pillow book because it was my first.
︎︎ Read Cronopios and Famas
