Not Even the Dead (2023) by Juan Gomez Barcena

 Book Review

Not Even the Dead (2023)

by Juan Gomez Barcena

   I checked Not Even the Dead out from the library (digital version) because of this lede from the New York Times book review:

             We’ll never know what the late Cormac McCarthy might have thought of Juan Gómez Bárcena’s “Not Even the Dead,” but I wager that the novel would have appealed to him, and also to Roberto Bolaño and Joseph Conrad, if for no reason other than their egos. Each of them would have seen strong evidence of their influence on Bárcena, whose previous work — a story collection and a prizewinning novel, “The Sky Over Lima” — has already established him as a leading writer in Spain. His latest book, splendidly translated by Katie Whittemore, only adds to his standing, thanks to its successful blend of ambitious literary dynamism with contemporary social and political commentary.  (New York Times)

   I'm not sure any human on earth could read Not Even the Dead and not have McCarthy and Bolaño at the top of their mind.  Conrad, yeah, sure, but def McCarthy and Bolano.  The McCarthy comparison is interesting because I've yet to come across a Spanish language writer who was anything but ornate and verbos.  Right now I'm thinking of Bolano, of course, but also Javier Marias- who wrote spy novels that read like Proust.   

  There is lots going on in Not Even the Dead, that same New York Times review calls it a "transhistorical" epic- which I didn't even notice at the time, but now realize is important to understanding the book.   I was hoping, I suppose, for less Bolano and more McCarthy, but the book moves in the opposite direction- the first 100 pages are McCarthy plus, and the last two hundred are Bolano minus- that's just my opinion.  Still worth reading if you are a reader of the McCarthy/Bolano/Conrad school of adventure literature.

1001 Novels A Library of America: New Hampshire

 1001 Novels: A Library of America:

 New Hampshire

1. Affliction (1989) by Russell Banks

2. Unlikely Animals (2022) by Annie Hartnett

3. Peyton Place (1956) by Grace Metalious

4. A Prayer for Owen Meany (1989) by John Irving

5.  The Dearly Departed (2001) by Elinor Lipman

6. Baby Love by (1980) Joyce Maynard

7. A Separate Peace (1959) by John Knowles

8.  Leah, New Hampshire:  The Collected Stories of Thomas Williams (1992) by Thomas Williams

9. Lake People (2013) by Abi Maxwell

10. Live Free Or Die (1990) by Ernest Hebert

11. Fortune's Rock (2001) by Anita Shreve 

12. Before and After (1992) by Rosellen Brown

13. Salem Falls (2001) by Jodi Picoult

   I've been to New Hampshire maybe 15-20 times at this point, always to the Seacoast/Portsmouth/Dover area, with one trip across the south of the state to Vermont.  That territory covers only 2 of the 13 books from New Hampshire in the 1001 Novels: A Library of America list.  The greatest number of books are in the central part of the state, surrounding Lake Winniepesaukee and its environs.  This is an area that resembles inland Maine, with summer recreation/tourism and winter depression/social disorder from drinking and general depression.  This is front and center in Affliction, The Dearly Departed, Leah, New Hampshire, Lake People and Before and After.  There is very little industrial activity in any of these books and all the characters, in all the books, are either dour locals or spritely out-of-towners. 

   Annie Hartnett is the only writer on the list who could be considered a young or emerging literary talent and she is only one of two writers representing New Hampshire who had their book published after 2001.    Nothing from the 19th century and nothing from before 1959 in the 20th century.

   New Hampshire is, based on the examples of these titles, a fairly dour, depressing place that people mostly want to escape.  Those who have not escaped have either never considered it or consider themselves bound to the region for reasons related to family ties.