BOOKS
' LATlN AMERICANA
The Nanny And The Iceberg Wate rsto n e’s
Ariel Dorfman (Sceptre £10) ir at at ‘k v:
Edinburgh WED EAST END
KEN 7%,“ McCLURE
Resurrection (Simon & Sohuster £16.99)
Donor (£5.99)
‘ Watcrstonc’s
WED WEST END
TONY flee, WHEELER
Lonely Planet Edinburgh City Guide (£6.99)
TUE EAST END
x w 13 BRIAN McNEIL APR To Answer The
. ', w A . (a . 7'OOPM PeaCOCk(Black Ace £14.99)
UthOt or DEATH AND THE MAtDEN
. , ~ TH u EAST END If any one thing characterises South American literature, it is a generosity of 1 5 F
imagination, spanning Borges' flights of fancy to Garcia Marquez's enduring
novels. Ariel Dorfman's latest offering is no exception. Axl) GAN
Dorfman is one of the few writers who can adeptly capture the
melancholia of exile — he fled Chile following General Pinochet's coup in 7 - J u S 1973 — and use it as a vantage point from which to chart the absurdities of T E 1 8 99 political corruption and the human condition. ( horsons - ) This book is no extended polemic, however. Beginning as a long suicide note, it forms a headlong rush through the picaresque life of Gabriel 6 I I G EORG E STREET FREE McKenzie and is packed with enough ideas to fill at least five separate novels by lesser writers. h Tgis em'barrasslmenLofhliteiary richdes is govern throggh'a typically dens: t ”| never trave| without my diary_ an invo ving p ot w ic ta es in — eep reat — Ga rie '5 attempts to ri ____ himself of his virginity; the death of Che Guevara; a sexual wager spanning one ShOUId alwayr‘; have 25 years; a nanny who may be the link to a lost Patagonian tribe; and the something sensatlonal to read
Chilean government's plan to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus'
discovery of the New World by transporting an iceberg from the South Pole on the tra'”-
to Seville. , , . c , ,
It is a lot to take on board but Dorfman's fluency, humour and rapid NEAR, PAR’ PURPI HhR’ HELP! intellect ensure the unusual themes flow together with ease to create a 0Ur Edinburgh 8! Glasgow Stores have powerful, satirical and utterly enjoyable novel. Existing admirers will find picked out the best of the selection of this an elegant addition to Dorfman's canon while the uninitiated will warm recommended guide books to a" four
to the intelligence, grace and humanity he displays on every page. A
strangely brilliant book. (Clark Dunn) comers Of the world'
First week is ”Near“ — From 6 April
Jesse May’s writing style is suitably at ross the table. Non-gamblers however tense and sharp, his prose runninq With are likely to be non plussed. ill) the rhythm of the deal, fluent when on a Winning streak and VI( iously .sta((ato CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE: when fortune turns and ever (ard Siinone Baird, [HIP Carr, Thoin Dibdin, dealt is a (ut. Gamblers Will l¥‘('()(}lil8(.‘ Brian Donaldson, Clark Dunn, iVliles [C]: 0131 226 2666 the irresistible mix of fear and Fielder, Rob Fraser, Kirsty Knaqqs, Colin East End 13-14 Princes Street. l‘Zdlllblll‘gh
anticipation, greed and guilt, \thK h ivlontqoinery, Alison Stroak, Jonathan WATFRSTONE'S tel; ()13] 556 303455 (.‘naracterises the ebb and flow of chips Trew
83 George Street. Edinburgh tel: 0131 225 3436 West End. 128 Princes Street. Edinburgh
l ibi‘xl)? 1999 THE “ST 97