FICTION

Stay This Day and Night with Me

City Lights. Mar. 2023. 188p. tr. from Spanish by Mark Schafer. ISBN 9780872868939. pap. $16.95. F
COPY ISBN
Shortly after 22-year-old student Mateo runs into sexagenarian mathematician Olga in the public library, he asks her to help him fill out an application for a job at Google. Instead of the customary résumé and cover letter, however, they collaboratively prepare an unconventional paper application; their written transcript and the report of the Google intern recruiter that comprise this book give a metafictional effect to its structure. Ultimately, however, Olga learns she has a fatal incurable disease and travels to Switzerland to deliver the application, but Mateo stays behind, leaving in doubt the execution of his plan of violent revenge against Google. The static narrative flits back and forth between the meager plot and essay-like digressions and metaphysical discussions. Their Socratic method of conversation focuses on topics relating humankind to technology such as the epistemological nature of each and the commonality of communication and connections between them.
VERDICT Spanish screenwriter/novelist Gopegui (The Scale of Maps) relies on an intergenerational discourse defending Google’s avowed altruist purpose against a not very harsh or convincing criticism of its dehumanization, but the often tedious dialogues that serve as mouthpieces for these opposing views lack verisimilitude.
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?