Diablo guardián

by Xavier Velasco Narrated by Xavier Velasco

Overview

VI Premio Alfaguara de Novela 2003.

Por el autor de Puedo explicarlo todo y La edad de la punzada, Xavier Velasco.

«Me siento oscura y luminosa, provinciana y newyorka, violada y violadora; traigo un motor adentro y me dan muchas ganas de usarlo para estrellarme contra una pared.»

Violetta tiene quince años cuando cruza la frontera con más de cien mil dólares robados a sus padres, asimismo excelentes amigos de lo ajeno. Azarosamente desembarcada en Nueva York, sobrevive durante cuatro años a todo tren, gastando varios kilogramos de dinero malhabido.

Para mantener ese ritmo, acelerado todavía más por el polvo blanco que introduce por su nariz en cantidades generosas, se enseña a enganchar hombres en lobbies de hoteles lujosos. No sabe, ni le interesa, la cantidad de leyes, límites y preceptos a los que pasa por encima. Tampoco sabe que Nefastófeles, el supuesto rico heredero que la deslumbra, será como una daga clavada en su bella espalda hasta que, ya de vuelta en México, se tope con Pig, y llegue entonces la hora del Diablo Guardián.

Pero lo que Violetta sí sabe es que es tiempo de arrojar los dados y cerrar los ojos, casi con ganas de que a todo se lo lleve el diablo; y que, generalmente, eso lo haces solo cuando de plano crees que ya te va a llevar.

Editorial Reviews

Criticas

Mexican author Velasco (Cecilia, Doble A, 1994) set out to create "an intense piece of writing" in this latest novel, winning this year's coveted Premio Afaguara de Novela. Fast paced and energetic, the novel centers on the lives of two hedonistic, reclusive characters: 15-year-old Violetta and Pig, a middle-aged Mexican journalist who later becomes her guardian devil. Tired of living the life of a modern Mexico City Cinderella, the ever restless Violetta runs away to New York City, taking with her more than $100,000 she has stolen from her parents, a couple of white-collar criminals who in turn snatched it from the Red Cross. Chronicling debaucheries, the novel's chapters alternate between Violetta's and Pig's separate but equally excessive, self-destructive life, leading up to Violetta's less than triumphant return to Mexico, where their two worlds collide. Velasco shifts perspectives but is at his best when taking on the voice of Violetta. Her fresh, vibrant language highlights the richness of both Mexican and English slang, often fusing the two unapologet-ically. "Era yo una naca en upgrade process" ("I was a 'ghetto' girl in upgrade process"), says Violetta at her mildest, and at her foulest she spews out obscenities as fast as she can spend thousands of dollars in shopping sprees at Saks Fifth Avenue. Although Violetta's antics become tiresome at times, Velasco's quick and urgent style drives readers toward a powerful conclusion. Dark and humorous, this novel is highly recommended for all public libraries and bookstores.
—Cesar Cazales, Osseo, MN Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170108527
Publisher:	Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial
Publication date:	03/01/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged
Language:	Spanish

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