Staff Pick
Set in the aftermath of Colombia's horrific drug wars, Vásquez's elegant novel provides an intimate look at a generation still coming to terms with the crimes of a not-so-distant past. Written from the perspective of a law professor who unknowingly befriends a drug mule, The Sound of Things Falling offers a wholly original story told with an intensity that reverberates. Recommended By Renee P., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
From a global literary star comes a prize-winning tour de force an intimate portrayal of the drug wars in Colombia.
Juan Gabriel Vásquez has been hailed not only as one of South America's greatest literary stars, but also as one of the most acclaimed writers of his generation. In this gorgeously wrought, award-winning novel, Vásquez confronts the history of his home country, Colombia.
In the city of Bogotá, Antonio Yammara reads an article about a hippo that had escaped from a derelict zoo once owned by legendary Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The article transports Antonio back to when the war between Escobars Medellín cartel and government forces played out violently in Colombia's streets and in the skies above. Back then, Antonio witnessed a friends murder, an event that haunts him still. As he investigates, he discovers the many ways in which his own life and his friends family have been shaped by his country's recent violent past. His journey leads him all the way back to the 1960s and a world on the brink of change: a time before narco-trafficking trapped a whole generation in a living nightmare.
Vásquez is one of the most original new voices of Latin American literature,” according to Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, and The Sound of Things Falling is his most personal, most contemporary novel to date, a masterpiece that takes his writing and will take his literary star even higher.
Review
"[A] Brilliant new novel...gripping...absorbing right to the end. The Sound of Things Falling may be a page turner, but it's also a deep meditation on fate and death." Edmund White, The New York Times Book Review
Review
"Deeply affecting and closely observed." Hector Tobar, Los Angeles Times
Review
"Like Bolaño, [Vasquez] is a master stylist and a virtuoso of patient pacing and intricate structure, and he uses the novel for much the same purpose that Bolaño did: to map the deep, cascading damage done to our world by greed and violence and to concede that even love cant repair it." Lev Grossman, Time Magazine
Review
"Compelling…genuine and magnificently written." Library Journal, Starred Review
Review
“Literary magic of one of Latin Americas most talented novelists…a masterpiece.” Booklist, starred review
Review
“An exploration in the ways in which stories profoundly impact our lives.” Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
“Languid existential noir, one that may put you in mind of Paul Auster.” Dwight Garner, New York Times
Review
"If you only read one book this month..." Esquire
Review
“An undoubted talent….Introspective and personal.” The Wall Street Journal
Review
“The Sound of Things Falling is a masterful chronicle of how the violence between the cartels and government forces spilled out to affect and corrode ordinary lives. It is also Vásquez's finest work to date….His stark realism — the flip side of the magical variation of his compatriot Gabriel Garcia Marquez — together with his lyrical treatment of memory produces both an electrifying and a sobering read.” Malcolm Forbes, San Francisco Chronicle
Synopsis
Don't miss Juan GabrielVasquez's new novel REPUTATIONS, available September 2016
* National Bestseller and winner of the 2014 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award *Hailed by Edmund White as "a brilliant new novel" on the cover of theNew York Times Book Review
* Lauded by Jonathan Franzen, E. L. Doctorow and many others
From a global literary star comes a prize-winning tour de force an intimate portrayal of the drug wars in Colombia. Juan Gabriel Vasquez has been hailed not only as one of South America s greatest literary stars, but also as one of the most acclaimed writers of his generation. In this gorgeously wrought, award-winning novel, Vasquez confronts the history of his home country, Colombia.
In the city of Bogota, Antonio Yammara reads an article about a hippo that had escaped from a derelict zoo once owned by legendary Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The article transports Antonio back to when the war between Escobar s Medellin cartel and government forces played out violently in Colombia s streets and in the skies above. Back then, Antonio witnessed a friend s murder, an event that haunts him still. As he investigates, he discovers the many ways in which his own life and his friend s family have been shaped by his country s recent violent past. His journey leads him all the way back to the 1960s and a world on the brink of change: a time before narco-trafficking trapped a whole generation in a living nightmare.
Vasquez is one of the most original new voices of Latin American literature, according to Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, and The Sound of Things Falling is his most personal, most contemporary novel to date, a masterpiece that takes his writing and his literary star even higher.
"
Synopsis
An intimate portrayal of the drug wars in Colombia, f
rom international fiction star Juan Gabriel Vasquez. Juan Gabriel Vasquez has been hailed not only as one of South America's greatest literary stars, but also as one of the most acclaimed writers of his generation. In this New York Times-bestselling, award-winning, gorgeously wrought novel, Vasquez confronts the history of his home country, Colombia.
In the city of Bogota, Antonio Yammara reads an article about a hippo that had escaped from a derelict zoo once owned by legendary Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The article transports Antonio back to when the war between Escobar's Medellin cartel and government forces played out violently in Colombia's streets and in the skies above. Back then, Antonio witnessed a friend's murder, an event that haunts him still. As he investigates, he discovers the many ways in which his own life and his friend's family have been shaped by his country's recent violent past. His journey leads him all the way back to the 1960s and a world on the brink of change: a time before narco-trafficking trapped a whole generation in a living nightmare.
Vasquez is -one of the most original new voices of Latin American literature, - according to Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, and The Sound of Things Falling is his most personal, most contemporary novel to date, a masterpiece that takes his writing--and his literary star--even higher.
Synopsis
* National Bestseller and Dublin Literary Award winner
* Hailed by Edmund White as a brilliant new novel on the cover of the New York Times Book Review
* Lauded by Jonathan Franzen, E. L. Doctorow and many others
An intimate portrayal of the drug wars in Colombia, from international fiction star Juan Gabriel Vasquez.
Juan Gabriel V squez has been hailed not only as one of South America's greatest literary stars, but also as one of the most acclaimed writers of his generation. In this New York Times-bestselling, award-winning, gorgeously wrought novel, V squez confronts the history of his home country, Colombia.
In the city of Bogot , Antonio Yammara reads an article about a hippo that had escaped from a derelict zoo once owned by legendary Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The article transports Antonio back to when the war between Escobar's Medell n cartel and government forces played out violently in Colombia's streets and in the skies above. Back then, Antonio witnessed a friend's murder, an event that haunts him still. As he investigates, he discovers the many ways in which his own life and his friend's family have been shaped by his country's recent violent past. His journey leads him all the way back to the 1960s and a world on the brink of change: a time before narco-trafficking trapped a whole generation in a living nightmare.
V squez is "one of the most original new voices of Latin American literature," according to Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, and The Sound of Things Falling is his most personal, most contemporary novel to date, a masterpiece that takes his writing--and his literary star--even higher.
About the Author
Juan Gabriel Vásquez s previous books include The Informers, which was short-listed for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, and The Secret History of Costaguana, which won the Qwerty Prize in Barcelona. His books have been published in seventeen languages worldwide. He lives in Bogotá.