A review by djnb
2666 by Roberto Bolaño

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

The book was extremely well written and the overall subplot, themes, and locations that tie the 5 separate works together create an impressive and intriguing puzzle. Its truly like reading every type of novel in one. Sometimes a mystery, sometimes a romance, sometimes almost a horror novel. I will say it can be an incredibly difficult read at times. Not for any other reason than the directness with which it presents violence. At a time where there has been international calls to bring attention to femicide, I am torn between liking this book for relentlessly highlighting the real fears women face every day and hating it for never giving the reader a break from them. Even the less violent sections of the book still carry an unsettling sense of not being quite safe. I think there's maybe one single character in the almost 900 pages whose life choices I could actually stomach, and I believe the author intended to portray most characters in a negative or questionable light.
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