Have you read any Mexican literature lately and would you be surprised if it is about death? 'The Death Of Artemio Cruz' by Carlos Fuentes is the most notable work of the author during the Latin American Boom period. It is an interweaving of Artemio's deathbed and flashback scenes from his long life in Mexico and abroad. These include his multiple personas as a corrupt politician, lieutenant, lover, orphan, sugar daddy and father. The themes of the book examine the ignominy of a slow death and judging if someone is their present, past or future.

I summarised the book as follows. "It's a toss and tumble book that is all over the place, but in a calculated and precise form. It contains the heart of Mexico in its core, particularly that of death, rebellion and corruption. I personally struggled to connect with Artemio or really anyone in his close circle, I found them all a bit shallow and repulsive. Reading the book in Spanish was more difficult than I expected due to the Chilango (Mexican slang) and the quick switching back and forth between the present and past."

As always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!

Timeline:
(0:00) - Synopsis
(2:11) - Death: An inglorious decay
(5:02) - The Soul: Who is Artemio Cruz?
(8:00) - Personal Observations
(10:02) - Summary
(12:21) - Pragmatic Takeaway: More thoughts on judging and criticising

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