Effortlessly readable and fizzing with energy, this novel is by turns quirky, funny and thoughtful.—Mail on Sunday
Effortlessly readable and fizzing with energy, this novel is by turns quirky, funny and thoughtful.—Mail on Sunday
Incisive and bittersweet.—Independent
Incisive and bittersweet.—Independent
Breezy, bittersweet and tangential, Trueba's prose captures the rueful regrets of a man who's searching for meaning and redemption in a life that's short on both.—Daily Mail
Breezy, bittersweet and tangential, Trueba's prose captures the rueful regrets of a man who's searching for meaning and redemption in a life that's short on both.—Daily Mail
What holds the attention is the evocation of a culture trying to break free of rural, religious and Franco-ist ties. Dani's wistful search for validation - from music, sex, or his father - adds a thoughtful dimension.—Evening Standard
What holds the attention is the evocation of a culture trying to break free of rural, religious and Franco-ist ties. Dani's wistful search for validation - from music, sex, or his father - adds a thoughtful dimension.—Evening Standard
David Trueba's skilfully crafted novel is fast-moving and full of sparkle, but with a deeper pull beneath the surface ... It is a novel that tackles the chaos of life nakedly and nobly—Literary Review
David Trueba's skilfully crafted novel is fast-moving and full of sparkle, but with a deeper pull beneath the surface ... It is a novel that tackles the chaos of life nakedly and nobly—LITERARY REVIEW
Funny, poignant, full of honesty and warmth—The Sun
Funny, poignant, full of honesty and warmth—The Sun
Trueba writes about everyday life with a redemptive epic while avoiding sentimental pornography and cynicism. He wants to know who he is while we the readers try to figure out how is it possible that his experience of life looks so much like ours.—Carlos Zanón, El País
Trueba writes about everyday life with a redemptive epic while avoiding sentimental pornography and cynicism. He wants to know who he is while we the readers try to figure out how is it possible that his experience of life looks so much like ours.—Carlos Zanón, El País
The narrative richness of the book is outstanding. Trueba has an instinct to extract from the language its paradoxes with a grace that comes only from a delicate attention to people's conversations (...) The novel shines even brighter as life flirts with death and the ballad becomes sad.—J.M. Pozuelo Yvancos, ABC
The narrative richness of the book is outstanding. Trueba has an instinct to extract from the language its paradoxes with a grace that comes only from a delicate attention to people's conversations (...) The novel shines even brighter as life flirts with death and the ballad becomes sad.—J.M. Pozuelo Yvancos, ABC
A funny and bitter novel, full of intelligence and energy. It shows some of the miseries and the modest grandeur of life. The character's self-criticism is brave, exciting, and realistic. With a skillful and stimulating taste for risk, it combines many issues and registers: from rock mythology to family melodrama, from John Irving to Rafael Azcona.—Daniel Gascón, Letras Libres
A funny and bitter novel, full of intelligence and energy. It shows some of the miseries and the modest grandeur of life. The character's self-criticism is brave, exciting, and realistic. With a skillful and stimulating taste for risk, it combines many issues and registers: from rock mythology to family melodrama, from John Irving to Rafael Azcona.—Daniel Gascón, Letras Libres
An effortless, fast-paced and light-hearted yet tremendously good piece of fiction.—Rafael Ruiz Pleguezuelos, Qué Leer
An effortless, fast-paced and light-hearted yet tremendously good piece of fiction.—Rafael Ruiz Pleguezuelos, Qué Leer
A stunningly lucid novel, well written and elegant, but never cold.—Juan Ángel Juristo, La Vanguardia
A stunningly lucid novel, well written and elegant, but never cold.—Juan Ángel Juristo, La Vanguardia
The novel can be read from several perspectives, all of them enriching the reading experience: the difficulty of growing up with no roots; the deep marks left by love and desire; identity as a work in progress; and the porous connection between life and art.—Domingo Ródenas, El Periódico (Book of the week)
The novel can be read from several perspectives, all of them enriching the reading experience: the difficulty of growing up with no roots; the deep marks left by love and desire; identity as a work in progress; and the porous connection between life and art.—Domingo Ródenas, El Periódico (Book of the week)
A beautiful novel that blends drama and irony.—Elisabetta Pagani, La Stampa
A beautiful novel that blends drama and irony.—Elisabetta Pagani, La Stampa
Lively and bittersweet.—Il Manifesto
Lively and bittersweet.—Il Manifesto