Dejemos hablar al viento

Dejemos hablar al viento follows the story of Medina, a police commissioner in Santa María who previously worked as an art teacher in Montevideo. The narrative moves between these two periods of his life and the two cities where they take place. The book centers on Medina's relationships, his work in law enforcement, and his connections to characters from earlier Onetti works set in the fictional city of Santa María. His interactions with a young woman named Olga and his former mentor Larsen form key parts of the story. Through Medina's perspective, the novel presents themes of identity, memory, and the blurring between reality and fiction. The book serves as a meditation on storytelling itself, examining how narratives shape both individual lives and entire communities.

Readers describe the book as challenging but rewarding, with a complex narrative structure that requires focused attention. Many note the dark, nihilistic tone and psychological depth of the characters. What readers liked: - The poetic, dream-like writing style - The exploration of identity and self-destruction - The connections to Onetti's other works - The vivid descriptions of Santa María What readers disliked: - Difficult to follow multiple timelines and perspectives - Slow pacing, especially in the first half - Dense, sometimes confusing prose - Abrupt shifts between reality and imagination Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (137 ratings) Amazon: Limited English reviews available From reader reviews: "Like walking through someone else's fever dream" - Goodreads reviewer "Requires patience but delivers a haunting payoff" - Goodreads reviewer "The fragmented narrative mirrors the protagonist's fractured psyche" - Literatura.us forum member

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🌊 "Dejemos hablar al viento" (Let the Wind Speak) was published in 1979 while Juan Carlos Onetti was living in exile in Spain during Uruguay's military dictatorship. 🏙️ The novel takes place in Santa María, a fictional city that appears in many of Onetti's works, inspired by both Montevideo and Buenos Aires. The city ultimately burns down in this book, marking a significant turning point in Onetti's literary universe. 📖 The book's protagonist, Medina, first appeared as a minor character in Onetti's earlier novel "La vida breve" (1950), demonstrating the author's technique of interconnecting characters across his works. 🎨 The main character works as both a police officer and a painter, reflecting Onetti's fascination with dual identities and the blurred lines between reality and fiction. 🏆 Onetti received Spain's prestigious Cervantes Prize in 1980, shortly after publishing this novel, cementing his place as one of Latin America's most important 20th-century writers.