Four Spanish novels, with two penned by the same author, were ranked among the top literary works of the 21st century.
In the realm of contemporary literature, two authors stand out for their unconventional narratives and powerful storytelling: Benjamín Labatut and Fernanda Melchor.
The Chilean author, Benjamín Labatut, made a significant impact with his unclassifiable novel, "Blind Light," published in 2020. This groundbreaking work propelled him to the forefront of his generation. The novel weaves a narrative that incorporates historical documentation and fiction, revisiting the great scientific discoveries of the 20th century. Each chapter opens like a riddle, with the blue of Prussia serving as a thread for reflections on the ambiguities of progress. Characters such as Einstein, Heisenberg, Schrödinger, and Grothendieck are depicted in a tension where genius flirts with madness.
On the other side of the spectrum, Fernanda Melchor, the author of "The Hurricane Season," published in 2020, offers a unique perspective. Her novel, titled "The Witch," is described as a work of rare power. The plot is inspired by a true story and revolves around the discovery of a woman's body in an irrigation canal, nicknamed "the Witch." Behind the crime story, a stark portrait of contemporary Mexico and its fractures emerges, as well as a rehabilitation of the ancestral figure of the witch. The narrative is polyphonic, with the voices of the village of La Matosa successively revealing parts of the drama. Themes such as drugs, poverty, aborted desires, rumors, violence, and a murder mystery are woven seamlessly into the fabric of the story.
Both "Blind Light" and "The Witch" are part of the four best Spanish novels of the 21st century, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and shaking up genres. Melchor's writing style in "The Witch" is torrential, raw, and musical, capturing the social violence and stifling heat of the Mexican countryside.
Meanwhile, Roberto Bolano's novel, "The Wild Detectives," published in 2007, ranks 38th on the list. This novel is a generational fresco about two marginal poets, Ulises Lima and Arturo Belano, and their quest to find a vanished poetess, Cesarea Tinajero.
In the realm of international recognition, Melchor's novels have been translated into French, but the author who has celebrated with four novels on the New York Times bestseller list in recent years and published the book "Blind Light" in France in 2020 is not clearly identified in the available search results.
In conclusion, the works of Benjamín Labatut and Fernanda Melchor offer a fresh and daring perspective in literature, challenging traditional narratives and pushing the boundaries of storytelling. Their novels, "Blind Light" and "The Witch," are must-reads for anyone seeking a unique and thought-provoking literary experience.
