Argentinian writer Selva Almada’s The Wind That Lays Waste is published by Charco Press, a small publisher set up by Carolina Orloff and Samuel McDowell to champion Latin American literature in the English-speaking world. Orloff’s a translator which is perhaps why Chris Andrews’ name appears on the book’s cover, just as it should. I wish more publishers would do this. Almada’s novella is the tale of an encounter between a charismatic evangelist and the mechanic who spends much of a long hot day mending the preacher’s car.
Reverend Pearson and his daughter are on their way to see Pastor Zack, busy converting indigenous people deep in the Argentinean forest. Pearson has spent a decade touring the country, putting the fear of God into as many people as he can, dragging the reluctant Leni around with him and living out of his car. Leni still remembers kneeling on the backseat watching her distraught mother as her father drove them away. At sixteen she’s both admiring of her father’s skills and disapproving of what he does. When their car breaks down in the harsh heat of the day, a kind stranger tows them to Gringo Brauer’s. Gringo sets to work with his assistant, Tapioca, the unacknowledged son left with him when Tapioca was six. Gringo and Pearson are each other’s antithesis: one a passionate believer in God and himself as God’s instrument; the other an atheist, dismissive of religion. As the day wears on, Pearson spots an opportunity resulting in a confrontation which reaches its climax as the skies crack open and the storm breaks.
Perhaps it’s because both novels end in a deluge or maybe it’s their shared economy of style, striking use of language and fable like quality, either way The Wind That Lays Waste reminded me a little of Luis Carrasco’s El Hacho, one of last’s year’s favourites. Almada unfolds her story in short chapters written in plain yet evocative often poetic prose, anchoring it in the parched Argentinean outback.
Although he had barely used his muscles, lying still all day, the blood that went coursing through his body had made the pit so hot not even the fleas could stand it anymore
Her characters are sharply observed: Tapioca’s naivete is convincingly drawn while Pearson is full of righteousness, oblivious to the misery he’s caused his daughter by separating her from her mother and forcing his beliefs on her.
His mission on earth was to wash dirty souls, to make them sparkling clean again, and fill them with the word of God
It’s an impressive piece of fiction, thought-provoking and absorbing. Almada’s is the latest in a long string of novellas I’ve read which demonstrate the power of the form. Much left unsaid for the reader to infer, and all the better for it.
Indeed, I really appreciate the more sparse style that leaves things for the reader to discover, rather than hammering home the point over 700 pages!
Oh, me, too. Attempting to read some of those chunksters can feel like being bludgeoned although some writers manage it well.
I was impressed with the one Charco Press novella I reviewed last year, Die, My Love by Ariana Harwicz. This one sounds right up my street with the religion theme.
I think you’d enjoy this one, Rebecca, and thanks for the heads up on Die, My Love. I’ll chack that out.
One of the booksellers in Foyles recommended this to me during a recent trip to London, so I’m pleased to see that you rate it so highly too. It sounds very thoughtful, the sort of book that lingers in the mind over time.
Very pleased to hear that booksellers are recommending this one, Jacqui. I think you’d like it.
Lovely review, this certainly sounds like an evocative piece of writing.
Thanks, Ali. Highly recommend this one. The writing is gorgeous and I was so pleased to see the translator’s name so prominently displayued on the cover.
I loved this book – in fact, it may be my favourite Charco title yet, which is saying something. Despite something classical about the structure I was never sure where the story was heading.
It’s my first, but definitely not my last. Actually, without wanting to give anything away, it didn’t take quite the turn I was expecting.
This sounds excellent and as you know a sparsely written novella always gets my vote! I’ve not heard of Charco Press but I’ll have to look into their catalogue, they sound interesting.
I think this one would be right up your alley. This is my first Charco Press title but I’m sure it won’t be my last.
This sounds like it has some great characters giving readers lots of persepctives to ponder!
It takes a direction I wasn’t expecting, too.
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Perfect. I too love well written novellas, long enough to have a story and character development but nothing extraneous. The writer has to use language and choice of detail precisely. I was lucky enough to take some short courses reading Spanish language novellas recently and fell the richer for it. Thanks for the review.
You’re welcome, Christine. I agree absolutely with your observations on novellas’ economy of style. One of my favourite fiction forms.