photo credit: Pierre-Philippe Marcou
Dear Señor Fuentes,
I read 3 obituaries about you since your passing this May.
They all mentioned your elegance, your role in Latin American literature, your political life, your humanitarian values, your family.
There was something missing though.
None mentioned Christopher Unborn (Cristobal Nonato).
It was the first of your novels that I read. I read it as an undergraduate student and it introduced me to a new way of reading, a complex world with layered meanings, and cultural references (to be honest, some I understood, some I didn’t).
It taught me to read, to reread, and then to reread again. It made me a more humble reader; it made me a stronger reader.
Why is its absence in those obituaries so surprising to me?
I think I subconsciously read every one of your other books as a sort of extension of that first one.
I think I searched for every character you created in your other novels for signs of those early ones.
credit: Wikimedia Commons
“‘Because I am happy,’ my father bellowed. ‘I am happy!’ he shouted even louder, turning to face the Pacific Ocean. ‘I am possessed of the most intimate, reactionary happiness!’ Ocean, origin of the gods!” Fuentes, Christopher Unborn
(click the above text to read The NY Times obituary on Carlos Fuentes)
reading interrupted. 
Avery beautiful seascape and a important post. Thank you
Thank you, much appreciated!
Now I want to read Christopher Unborn…thanks to this post. The journalists aren’t interested in digging deep and sifting layers. You have learned to do so. Thank you for sharing these thoughts.
That’s great; I hope you like the book as much as I did. It was really one of those books that changed the way I read. Thanks for your kind words!
the question you posted is, in itself, a fitting tribute to a beloved writer.
Thanks; it’s hard to do justice to such an amazing writer!
I’ve never read Carlos Fuentes, but now I’ll check him out . Thanks
I hope you like his writings!
You make me wanna rush down to the library to read his novel.
What a lovely compliment 🙂
I was so happy that you wrote about Cristobal Nonato and Carlos Fuentes, specially adressing him directly…
It was lovely and a tribute to this great writer
Thank you
Francoise
The book meant so much to me as a reader; I felt I had to address him directly. I know you feel the same way…
Beautiful tribute! I have goosebumps!
Thank you, Britt!
Excellent commentary and tribute to an amazingly insightful and gifted man. he was posessed of so many layers, yet not so much complex as multi-dimensional perhaps, in my opinion. I really enjoyed your thoughts and presentation. Thank you.
“Multi-dimensional” is a perfect description, I agree!
Yes, I think his gift with the written word was shaped by his early environment and then later by life experiences but always overlaid with the original approach to express himself without boundarys.
I have never read any of the work of Carlos fuentes. Now I shall go to the library to find this one. Thank you 🙂
I hope you like it!
Now you’ve piqued my interest about Carlos Fuentes. Off to read more about him.
He was an interesting fellow…
Hi Letizia, how beautiful is this tribute to Carlos Fuentes. Like the other commentators here, I am compelled by the power of your post to explore his work further. Thank you.
Thank you, I’ve been touched by everyone’s kind words. Fuentes’s book meant a lot to me. It’s not the easiest read because it has so many culturally-specific references, which is why, I think, most readers start with his other novels. Whatever book one starts with though, I think he’s worth exploring!
Ooo, I shall have to read the copy of Terra Nostra that I have somewhere now, mau=inly because i am to tight to buy Christopher Unborn, that’ll be on my christmas list though.
Terra Nostra, another great one…
I’ve never read his works, but now I want to. Nice tribute.
Thanks; I hope you like his works.
And “Aura” is little gem. He was an important cultural figure for Mexico. A great loss to the country and the world of writers.
I haven’t read ‘Aura’ yet so definitely will – thanks for the recommendation, Tom. I agree, a great loss to the world of writers.
Curious, in the translation it’s missing the bit about ‘tireless waves.’ What a strange thing for the translator to leave out.
I’m ambivalent about Carlos Fuentes: after reading Terra Nostra and A Change of Skin, I recognize the talent with words, but I also find the novels rather hollow, with very little feeling in them.
You’re right, I double checked my English translation, but there was no mention of it, how odd!
I didn’t love Terra Nostra as much as Christopher Unborn and haven’t read A Change of Skin so perhaps you may connect more with his other novels. One can love an author and not love all his works. Or perhaps Fuentes is not for you, which is very possible, of course!
Thanks for visiting my blog and for the interesting comment.
I am so happy I found you and your blog. I will reread this book today.
oh and we cried when he died, all our family was sad, thank you.
It was sad to lose such a great artist. Fortunately, we have his novels to read and reread….
Thanks for visiting and following my blog (and leading me to your great one!).