Adam in Eden

November 12, 2012
This satire of contemporary Mexican society by the celebrated late Mexican novelist and critic centers on Adam Gorozpe, a well-connected Mexico City lawyer and businessman. He is married to Priscila Holguin, the daughter of a wealthy bakery magnate with whom the couple resides. Adam also keeps a mistress named “L” and with her feels happy and relaxed, in complete opposition to how he feels with his wife. His brother-in-law, Abelardo, wants to be a writer, which angers Abelardo’s father. However, Abelardo is granted an audience with the great poet Maximino Sol, who urges him to join Sol’s camp if he wants his work noticed. Instead, Abelardo gets work writing soap operas. Elsewhere in the city, an 11-year-old named the Boy-God has started to preach at a busy intersection and, much to Adam’s chagrin, the newly sprouted shantytowns have been dubbed “Gorozpevilles.” Adam Gongora, a high-ranking official, has begun to abuse his power, drawing the ire of namesake Gorozpe. But Gongora’s interest in Priscila sets in motion events that test Gorozpe to the limit. This is a minor work by a major author, but Fuentes’s humor and keen eye make it quite rewarding.

November 1, 2012
An interesting novel is one that escapes from the writer's hands, says title character Adam, directly referencing this novel, which he himself is also reading. While metagimmicks like this often fall flat and feel hack, late Mexican author Fuentes, a key trailblazer for the Latin American boom in literature several decades ago, schools the lesser novelist, masterfully injecting an airy tone into this brief but spirited read. Originally published in Spanish in 2010, this translated edition will indeed win over new English-speaking fans for Fuentes. The story here follows Adam, a happily married hotshot executive with a mistress on the side. All is well until the national security director, also named Adam, shows up, enchanting his wife and otherwise meddling in all the wrong things. Readers may have trouble finding something or someone relatable to latch onto, but sticking around until the final page will reward readers with a rather cute and satisfying conclusion. Also a delight is Fuentes' deft form, straddling the line between comedy and dramathat line where things work extraordinarily well.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)