The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño
"The Savage Detectives" is a novel that follows the lives of two Latin American poets, Arturo Belano and Ulises Lima, who are founders of a literary movement called "visceral realism." The book is divided into three parts and is narrated by multiple characters, providing different perspectives on the protagonists. The narrative spans over 20 years, following the poets' journey from Mexico City to Europe, Israel, and Africa, as they search for a mysterious poetess and navigate through the world of literature, sex, drugs, and the complexities of life.
The 355th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 949
This book was first published in 1998
21 Lists
- score: 117 -- The 100 Best Books from 1900 to the Present - 2024 (Weight: 190)
- score: 113 -- 100 Best Books of the 21st Century - 2024 (Weight: 173)
- score: 111 -- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers - 2024 (Weight: 170)
- score: 109 -- Fifty French Writers Choose Their Favorite 10 Books - 2022 (Weight: 170)
- score: 70 -- 25 acclaimed international writers choose 25 of the best books from the last 25 years - 2013 (Weight: 160)
- score: 69 -- The best books in Spanish for the last 25 years - 2016 (Weight: 120)
- score: 62 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 55 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 55 -- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers - 2006 (Weight: 170)
- score: 46 -- 100 Best Novels Written in Spanish in the Past 25 Years - 2007 (Weight: 110)
- score: 40 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 100)
- score: 31 -- 4chan’s Literature Board’s Aggregate Top 100 Books for the Decade 2014 - 2024 - 2024 (Weight: 50)
- score: 18 -- 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 - 2014 (Weight: 36)
- score: 16 -- The 10 Best Books Through Time - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 79)
- score: 12 -- The 100 Novels You Must Read in Your Lifetime - 2023 (Weight: 20)
- score: 11 -- 50 Books to Read Before You Die - 2012 (Weight: 26)
- score: 3 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- Novels that Changed The World - 2022 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 500 Must Read Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Top 20 Latin American Books To Read Before You Die - 2014 (Weight: 1)