La maldición de Jacinta Pichimahuida, de Lucía Puenzo

por la primera mitad. pero ya con la idea la tenía ganada.

Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections

"Maybe, if she'd been a better person, she would have left Robin alone. Maybe she wanted to make Robin like her simply to deny her the satisfaction of disliking her -to win that contest of esteem. Maybe she was just picking up the gauntlet. But the desire to be liked was real." 397

"From that day forward, Denise became a stealthy advocate of infidelity. She learned that by defending Brian's minor insensitivities she could spur Robin to more serious accusations with which she then reluctantly concurred. She listened and she listened. She took care to understan Robin better than anyone else ever had. She plied Robin with the questions Brian wasn't asking: about Billy, about her dad, about church, about her Garden Project plans (...)" 407

"-Mother.
-If he's really sick, Gary, I understand, he can´t come. But if he gets over his fever...
-Believe me, we're all disappointed. Especially Jonah.
-No need to make any decision righ this minute. Tomorrow is a completely new day.
-I´m warning you it will probably just be me." (469).

david lodge, small world

"Meanwhile, why don't you come to Jerusalem this summer?"
"Who, me? To your conference?"
"Sure. You could knock off a paper on the future of criticisim , couldn´t you?"
"I don't think it has much of a future," said Philip.
"Great! It will controversial. Bring Hilary along for the ride."

La vida nueva y La cena

En uno, el editor, figura entrañable y siempre en peligro de extinción...
En el otro, el regreso de los muertos vivos, los chacareros y la gente de pueblo...

pedro juan gutierrez, trilogía sucia de la habana

de los tres, me quedo con el último.
pero... ¿qué fuerzas me hicieron llegar tan lejos, además del morbo y la nostalgia de la habana? porque los relatos no sólo son asquerosos y deprimentes; también son todos iguales.
quizás es que uno (argentino) se identifica con los esfuerzos de supervivencia de los personajes. o quizás sea algo mucho más básico: el encanto de la narración buena y fácil, capaz de volver agradable lo monótono y lo repulsivo.