Author : Peter LaSalle
What is it about : A collection of wide ranging short stories from college academic life, business man on an Latin outing, a love story in Paris and many more of the mundane everyday happenings but with a touch of philosophy, a bit of an adventure and a dose of the wry humour. The author made interesting usage of time-travel, not the Back To The Future type, but as a tool to add dimensions to otherwise ordinary tales; giving the impressions and effects of hindsight, fore-telling and non-linear story-telling. By the way, that's Jorge Luis Borges in the title, a well known Argentine writer, poet and philosopher.
Some thoughts after having read the book : I particular liked the in-depth and convoluted relationships and conversations between the characters and of course the use of "time" as a tool to challenge, out-wit and out-flank the readers perceptions, keeping the readers guessing when the events would actually eventually take place. The stories exploded with genuine flavors, sights and sounds of the countries involved, giving an authentic feel to the events - a hotel room, a local bus, a seaside town or a university campus.
Would I recommend this book to you : Readers should not expect a cheap fast thrill, but nostalgia, lingering regrets and heart breaking events. Read it slow and enjoy the strolling pace, oddly enough, I found reading the book was like watching a cricket match - gentle applause along the way, a few sparkles and turns at un-expected times and entertaining overall.
