La razón de los amantes. (The Reason of Lovers)
Reviewed by Carlos Rodríguez Martorell, East Elmhurst, NY -- Críticas, 9/15/2008
Simonetti, Pablo.
Mexico: Planeta. 2008. 300p. ISBN 978-970-37-0663-1. pap. $24.95. FICTION
Manuel, a bank employee, and his wife, Laura, lead a calm, bourgeois life with their young daughter in Santiago de Chile—until they meet Diego Lira, the charming director of an Internet newspaper with whom they both become infatuated. The three embark on a complicated love triangle that makes it difficult to grasp who’s manipulating whom and ends in tragedy. The novel deals with sexual identity, family relationships, and class anxiety in Chile during the last months of the 20th century, when General Augusto Pinochet was imprisoned in London, a presidential election was narrowly won by leftist Ricardo Lagos, and the dot-com bubble loomed in the background. The main characters’ foibles reflect the country’s own recent history, in which an impressive modernization streak has often clashed with an oppressive past. In this fascinating second novel, Simonetti, author of the Chilean best seller Madre que estás en los cielos (“Mother Who Art in Heaven,” 2004), demonstrates an uncanny eye for personal relationships. Cleverly portraying intimate fears, regret, and guilt, he achieves the rare feat of baring not only his character’s emotions but also the reader’s. This is such an absorbing, first-rate novel that its flaws (weak supporting characters, repetitiveness) are easily overlooked. Strongly recommended for both libraries and bookstores.
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