Aguirre, Forrest - The Varvaros Ascensions
“… we build cities with stories and with people’s interpretations of such stories.”
A chances mention of a masters thesis, arcane or deranged, arouses curiosity then obsession.
The bookshop that proves to be a gateway, followed by a descent into the chaos of knowledge.
The soon-to-be grad student sees his future in sight, his professional landscape mapped out. Until the aforementioned descent which ignites a flame that purifies as it annihilates.
This book would make an ideal, if heady, introduction to the Romanian publisher of commonplace upheaval.
Mr. Aguirre shows an efficient yet unerring word sense, his descriptions evocative, often multi faceted.
Time and again, even with mundane activities, a single sentence can dance with observations:
“… I headed up a narrow stairway to an over-rated, underlit café that served overpriced sandwiches made by under-paid students …”
The second half of the book delves into what can only be called dark science, of which I shall say no more.