Review: By Night in Chile

After reading The Savage Detectives and 2666, I was so sure that Roberto Bolaño could do no wrong. Then I picked up By Night in Chile, and I’m still wondering what exactly I read. The book is about a Chilean priest, Father Sebastián Urrutia Lacroix, on his deathbed giving a monologue recounting some aspects of his life, including his beginnings in literature, falcons, Marxism, and more.

The recurring theme is that the Father was surrounded by things that were not morally or religiously sound, yet he was able to look away while they carried on. In life he was selectively blind to what was happening right underneath his feet, literally in some cases. He silently sides with an authoritarian regime, and separates himself from harsh treatment applied to others when it has nothing to do with him.

What makes this such a confusing book, and difficult to read, is that its one long paragraph across 130+ pages. When you combine that structure with practically little to no plot, that is hard to follow, it does not read well at all. The priest isn’t so explicit about anything ‘wrong’ happening, rather he seems to justify his life and choices, which makes him that much worse for it.

I know literary critics adore By Night in Chile, but all in all, I cannot recommend this book to anyone. I see the potential art and genius of it, but I took no enjoyment in reading this, it felt painful and arduous.