Imaginative and fantastical, this work is sadly deeply rooted in the recent history of South America, possessing a certain magic. However, I didn't enjoy it to the same extent as his more recent book, The Dust That Falls from Dreams. The likely reason for this is that the cruelty of the South American dictatorships looms extremely large. What makes me ashamed to admit is that my own government has undoubtedly colluded with them. This aspect casts a long shadow over the entire narrative, perhaps making it a bit harder for me to fully embrace and lose myself in the story. It's a complex and somewhat uncomfortable read, but one that forces us to confront the harsh realities of history and the actions of those in power.
I have a great fondness for Louis de Bernieres' writing. He has the remarkable ability to handle extremely difficult themes and make it seem effortless. This is truly the hallmark of an expert in his field. Somehow, he skillfully combines humor with deeply sad or violent situations.
And indeed, such situations are abundant in his work. The level of cruelty among men depicted in Louis' books is truly appalling. There is an overwhelming amount of graphic torture, violent deaths, rapes, and more, which is truly terrible.
Yet, despite all this, I still like his work. However, I usually give myself a significant amount of time before picking up another of his novels. (So far, I have read three of them.)
I will add just two more points here, not because they provide profound insights into L d B's work, but simply because I want to.
The first instance occurred when I was reading his description of a passionate sexual encounter between two characters. It had been building up, and when it finally exploded, I suddenly realized how Louis was playing with his literary tools. He painted the characters' personalities like coloring the faces of puppets, and then pulled their strings to make them dance to his tunes. I'm certain he takes great pleasure in bringing his creations to life.
Secondly, the title is excellent, but it has almost no direct connection to the story. Then again, what title could possibly encompass this particular tale? I'm not sure, just as I have no idea why overgrown cats play a prominent role in the plot. Some mysteries are just meant to remain unsolved.