El Detalle: Tres Novelas Breves

Barcelona, Spain: Grupo Editorial Random House Mondadori, SL, 2005. F3 - A Spanish language edition trade paperback ex-library book in good+ to very good- condition. A tight, clean, sound copy in illustrated wraps with minor overall shelf wear with the usual library stamps and labels on the top outside paper edges and the back free endpaper. José Carlos Somoza was born in Havana in 1959, but has lived in Spain since 1960. He is the author of the novels 'White Silence' (Vertical Smile Award, 1996), 'The Painted Window' (Best Café Gijón, 1998), 'Letters of an Insiginficant Murderer' (Debate, 1999), 'Dafne Vanished' (finalist Nadal Prize, 2000), 'The Cave of Ideas' (awarded 2002 Gold Dagger for best thriller in England), translated into over twenty languages and to international critical acclaim, 'Clara and Gloom' (Fernando Lara award 2001 and Hammett Award for best crime novel 2002, chosen by the magazine 'Lire' as one of the ten best books published in France in 2003), 'The Lady Number Thirteen' (Areté, 2003) and 'The Ivory Box'(Areté, 2004). He has also written several stories, a radio script and several plays. In 'El detalle' (The Detail), for the first time in one volume, are the only three short novels that José Carlos Somoza has written to date. These works are not related only by their length. They are also united by the author's description in each of a particular obsession. In 'Planos' (Planes), the obsession is Marcelino Roimar's, a young doctor who travels to the village of Roquedal to work there for one summer. His visit is transformed into a terrifying fantasy when he experiences a glimpse into another world and the strange creature that lives there. 'The Details' is narrated by the mad Roquedal 'official', Baltasar Párraga. Despite his reputation as alienated from most people, his obsession, paradoxically, is much more rational than Roimar's. Acting as an amateur detective, Párraga investigates a series of deaths in his village that have all been attributed to natural causes. 'La Boca' (The Mouth) is not set in Roquedal and the story is also constructed differently. Its form is as strange as is the obsession of its protagonist. The story consists of a single sentence with hardly a pause. Its narrator is a dentist with a prosperous practice. His life, including his love life, seems to be mundane and predictable, but his monochrome existence is suddenly transformed when he makes, for him, the wondrously strange discovery that our exterior flesh surrounds bones. José Carlos Somoza nació en La Habana en 1959, pero desde 1960 vive en España. Es autor de las novelas 'Silencio de Blanca' (premio La Sonrisa Vertical, 1996), 'La ventana pintada' (premio Café Gijón, 1998), 'Cartas de un asesino insignificante' (Debate, 1999), 'Dafne desvanecida' (finalista premio Nadal, 2000), 'La caverna de las ideas' (premio Gold Dagger 2002 a la mejor novela de suspense en Inglaterra), traducida a más de viente idiomas y con una extraordinaria acogida en la crítica international, 'Clara y la penumbra' (premio Fernando Lara 2001 y premio Hammett a la mejor novela policíaca 2002, elegida por la revista 'Lire' entre los diez mejores libros publicados en Francia en 2003), 'La dama número trece' (Areté, 2003) y 'La Caja de marfil' (Areté, 2004). Ha escrito también varios relatos, un guión de radio y varias piezas teatrales. En este libro ven la luz por primera vez, en un mismo volumen, las tres únicas novelas cortas que José Carlos Somoza ha escrito hasta la fecha. No se relacionan solo por su extensión: también las une la intención, porque cada una de ellas cuenta la historia de una obsesión. En 'Plano', la obsesión de Marcelino Roimar, un joven médico que viaja al pueblo de Roquedal para realizar una sustitución de verano, se transforma en una fantasía terrorífica: la de vislumbrar otros mundos dentro de este y conocer a la extraña criatura que los habita. 'El detalle' está narrada por el loco 'oficial' de Roquedal, Baltasar Párraga. Pese a su fama de enajenado, su obsesiôn, paradô-jicamente, resulta mucho más racional que la de Roimar. Haciendo de improvisado detective, Párraga investiga una serie de muertes acaecidas en su pueblo y atribuidas por todos a causas naturales. 'La boca' no se desarrolla en Roquedal y su estructura es tan extraña como la obsesión de su protagonista, porque consta de una única frase, monstruosa, sin apenas pausas para el aliento. El narrador es un odontólogo que atiende una consulta próspera, vive una vida familiar gris y tiene una relación desgastada con una amante, pero su monocroma existencia cambia de improviso cuando hace un descubrimiento singular: por dentro alberga huesos. 5.4"x9", 182 pages. Satisfacción garantizada (satisfaction guaranteed).. Spanish Language Edition. Trade Paperback. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Ex-Library.