For me, Alberto Vazquez-Figueroa He was one of those authors of transition in youth. In the sense that I read him avidly as a great author of exciting adventures, while I was preparing to make the leap towards more thoughtful readings and more complex authors. He would say more. Surely in his apparent thematic lightness there was something of anthropology, of more elaborate psychological profiles, of ecological awareness, of course. Aspects that other readings more typical of a youthful age did not provide, at least not in such an elaborate compendium.
Coincidences do not exist and in that leap of a young reader towards other books, Vázquez Figueroa acted as a lever. I have recently returned to Vázquez Figueroa and have verified that his narrative capacity remains intact.
We are talking without a doubt about one of the longest-lived writers, with a career that exceeds 50 years! It is probable that, in dictionaries, when we look for the word "writer" its face associated with that profession will already appear. A golden anniversary with the pen that has gone a long way.
But I have to choose, once again, those three books, the podium of the novels of Alberto Vázquez Figueroa. Go for it.
3 Recommended books by Vázquez Figueroa
Tuareg
I'm not usually a big fan of applauding trilogies, bilogies or multilogies (take the new terms now), but you cannot do without this composition of several novels about the world of the Tuareg people.
The first of the three books that he dedicated to this African people led me to starry nights in the desert, accompanied by welcoming people who, in this extremely cruel space, compose a moral ideology and a way of life of incomparable authenticity.
Once you have entered the story, its sequels "The eyes of the Tuareg" and "The last Tuareg invite you to continue a fascinating journey. The first of the installments introduces us to the noble inmouchar Gacel Sayah, the absolute protagonist of this novel.
He is the absolute master of an infinite expanse of desert. One day two fugitives from the north arrive at the camp, and the Immouchar, faithful to the centuries-old and sacred laws of hospitality, welcomes them. However, Gacel ignores that those same laws will drag him into a mortal adventure ...
Heading for the night
One of the last novels of the author. Work that gives a good example of creative evolution and its ability to tell very different stories. It is also necessary to point out the undeniable point of social commitment of this work with a point of denunciation of corruption. Caribel works as a prostitute in a luxury brothel. She is a cultured and intelligent woman, who handles herself coldly in her trade with the sole objective of accumulating money and retiring after a few years.
Until one night he hears a strange noise coming from a colleague's room and when he goes to investigate he finds her body bloody. Caribel then decides to risk everything to find out what really happened to her friend.
Her investigations will take her to Panama, and there she will be involved in a complex plot that extends its tentacles to the United States, where the election of a new president threatens to alter the world order: his name is Donald Trump.
The beautiful beast
An exciting foray into history through a macabre character, that of Irma Grese, that guardian from Auschwitz ... During a conference on the future of the digital book, Mauro Balaguer, editor with a long professional career, is approached by an elegant and beautiful An old woman who hands him a card on the back of which is written in red "The beautiful beast", at the same time that, showing him a tattoo, comments: "I was his slave and this is the proof. If you want more details, call me.
Intrigued and fascinated by what he senses could be his last great publishing success, Balaguer postpones all his commitments and begins an intense relationship with the old woman in order to learn a unique and overwhelming story: that of Irma Grese, better known for «The beautiful beast ', Guardian-supervisor in the terrible concentration and extermination camps of Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen and Ravensbrück.
Beautiful, sadistic, violent and the organizer of thousands of executions of women and children, Irma had the dubious honor of being tried, convicted and executed for "crimes against Humanity" when she had just turned twenty-two.
The old woman will tell Balaguer how she met her and how she forced her to become her confidante, servant, cook and sex slave. A tough but humane novel in which Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa portrays one of the most bloodthirsty and evil characters in history.
And these are my three best Vázquez Figueroa novels. Stories from different times that make up a small sample of the creative gift of this writer. If you have never indulged in any of Alberto Vázquez Figueroa's books yet, be careful with his hooking capacity, think that he has hundreds more ...
Other interesting books by Alberto Vázquez Figueroa
The bison of Altamira
Art is more so on the first occasion. Because of the discovery, the first time. The protoman of Altamira was to be the envy of all subsequent creators. A kind of pride could splash into his consciousness when he saw himself capable of emulating life, hunting scenes in an improvised mural... The other painters simply copied his idea...
The fictionalized story of a very remote ancestor, here named Ansoc, the great painter who around 15.000 years ago turned a cave into the most amazing setting for the artistic vocation and exceptional creative talent of human beings.
Thousands of years later, artists of all styles and origins continue to turn their eyes with admiration to that cave and to that creator, who inspired the revealing words attributed to Pablo Picasso: “from Altamira everything is decadence.”
Good evening, I have been reading Alberto Vázquez Figueroa since I was very young and I will tell you that I like all his books and novels, in fact, every time he publishes a book I buy it. It only remains for me to say, read all the books you can, it's worth it.
Well, Leon Bocanegra left me a very good impression on this author
Ali in Wonderland !!!!!!!!
Great book
Thank you very much for your contribution, José Luis.
Non lo trovo in Italian language
I think it has better than Rumbo a la Noche and La Bella Bestia; specifically Manaus, Ali in Wonderland, Bora Bora ...
Either that or that he has the ability to always write great.
Since I was twenty years old, I have been a regular reader of Alberto Vásquez Figueroa and I have read almost all his books. For me, I particularly like everything he writes and publishes. Every time he takes out a book, I buy it and thus I have made a collection of his very important books. I recommend everyone to read all of his books.