Index card 018 - Tarkovski Sound Machine
The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares
Adolfo Bioy Casares is one of the most valuable voices in Latin American fiction of the XXth century. Translated to nearly twenty languages and with more than 50 books that include collaborations with Jorge Luis Borges, Bioy is a fundamental piece of literature. While most Latin American writers explored magical realism, Bioy was experimenting with his voice. His first published work, The Invention of Morel, is the first and maybe the most extraordinary sci-fi novel from Latin America. The book is written as a diary of a castaway on an island and slowly submerges us into dreamlike scenes.
I fell in love with Bioy's literature while I was in college. Instead of going to classes, I spent most of my time in the library building, reading Latin American fiction I pulled out of the PQ aisle. I was determined to read the entire aisle alphabetically, but I barely reached the F. I was fortunate to find Borges, Bioy, and Cortazar (my fav Argentinian writers of the time) before I gave up on my challenge. Bioy is still on my shelves, so many years after.
Even though the book is only 100 pages long (3-4hr long), it can mean a challenge for novice readers. I suggest this book to any literature lover, sci-fi enthusiast, literature student or teacher, and anyone who enjoys movies from the Nouvelle vague. After careful research, I found a very accurate translation that includes a prologue by Jorge Luis Borges (PDF in the link below).
︎︎ Read The Invention of Morel
I fell in love with Bioy's literature while I was in college. Instead of going to classes, I spent most of my time in the library building, reading Latin American fiction I pulled out of the PQ aisle. I was determined to read the entire aisle alphabetically, but I barely reached the F. I was fortunate to find Borges, Bioy, and Cortazar (my fav Argentinian writers of the time) before I gave up on my challenge. Bioy is still on my shelves, so many years after.
Even though the book is only 100 pages long (3-4hr long), it can mean a challenge for novice readers. I suggest this book to any literature lover, sci-fi enthusiast, literature student or teacher, and anyone who enjoys movies from the Nouvelle vague. After careful research, I found a very accurate translation that includes a prologue by Jorge Luis Borges (PDF in the link below).
︎︎ Read The Invention of Morel
