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 260th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 1183
This book was first published in 1998
12 Lists
- score: 150 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 150)
- score: 126 -- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers - 2006 (Weight: 126)
- score: 113 -- The best books in Spanish for the last 25 years - 2016 (Weight: 96)
- score: 108 -- 25 acclaimed international writers choose 25 of the best books from the last 25 years - 2013 (Weight: 108)
- score: 96 -- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers - 2024 (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- The 10 Best Books Through Time - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 96)
- score: 90 -- 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 - 2014 (Weight: 87)
- score: 84 -- Top 20 Latin American Books To Read Before You Die - 2014 (Weight: 69)
- score: 81 -- 50 Books to Read Before You Die - 2012 (Weight: 81)
- score: 72 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 72)
- score: 69 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 69)