WBBC Reviews: Ghosts by César Aira

[@anenthusiasticreader]

This is great. And you made me want to read the book.

[@WeirdBookBookClub]

Glad you liked it, Sonya! If you do end up reading it, please give me a heads up because I'd love to hear your thoughts. I've become kind of an Aira addict this year--most of his stuff published in English is novella-length, so they're easy to consume quickly and they always leave me wanting more. Like literary potato chips!

[@KnowledgelostOrgOnline]

I am ashamed to admit that I’ve not read César Aira yet, but Laura from Reading in Bed has recommend Ghosts to me, so I will have to get to him soon. Also was this book translated by Chris Andrews? (I will always remind people to name translators)

[@WeirdBookBookClub]

You are correct, the translator of my edition was Chris Andrews--I've been meaning to be more diligent in crediting translators, so thanks for the reminder. And you have nothing to be ashamed of! I had never read Aira until the beginning of this year and then went on sort of a binge: Birthday, How I Became a Nun, Ghosts, and The Literary Conference. (Once you get started, it's easy to keep going, even for a slow reader like me, since his stuff tends to be novella-length.) Ghosts was definitely the most focused and emotionally effective of what I've read so far, but all have been worthwhile. When you do get around to him, I'll be curious to hear your thoughts!

[@KnowledgelostOrgOnline]

I remind everyone to mention translators. I’m reading a lot of Argentinian literature lately so Aira is on my list. I got an ebook copy of Ghosts but I may need to grab a paperback edition if I actually want to give it some priority

[@shawnbreathesbooks]

😂😂😂😂 Loving this - more substantive comments later!!

[@WeirdBookBookClub]

Glad you liked it, Shawn! I was kind of worried you might be questioning whether or not you'd made a mistake committing to a buddy read with me after all this ridiculousness.

[@LauraFreyReadinginBed]

OMFG I love this book and I love this!! 🍆👻

[@WeirdBookBookClub]

Thanks, Laura! If you ever feel like buddy reading some Aira, please let me know. I'm trying to slowly make my way through his back catalogue of translated works. Funnily enough, due to technical difficulties, I actually had to record this entire video twice. If anyone should be griping about overexposure to 🍆👻, it should be me. (Evidently, though, I'm insatiable.)

[@LauraFreyReadinginBed]

@@WeirdBookBookClub I would love that! What else have you read? I've read Varamo and Ghosts, loved 'em both

[@WeirdBookBookClub]

@@LauraFreyReadinginBed So far I've read Birthday, Ghosts, How I Became a Nun, and The Literary Conference. Some have definitely felt... more focused than others, but randomness is part of his charm for me. Any of his other stuff you're particularly interested to try? I think The Musical Brain wins the prize for coolest cover art, but I'm down for whatever.