The second part of Los siete locos was not much better than the first part. I was bored to tears but that is not what I really want to focus on. The character profiles during the second part were more in depth than the first two chapters of the book, and the reader gets to see into the minds of other characters besides Erdosain, such as the Astrologer and Ergueta. It was definitely a fresh change from the ever whiny existential ponderings of Erdosain, yet this only revealed how crazy these characters also are. The Astrologer is completely delusional and his idea of what society should be is, well crazy. He definitely has that whole God complex going on inside his head. The whole notion of their secret society is silly and I definitely agree that they are doing this out of boredom, because who spends that much time concocting strange plans of world domination?
The ending was another factor of the book that added to its weakness. It was a non ending, it is kind of analogous to the ending of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, the reader is expecting some sort of culmination and wrap up, but is left entirely disappointed because there is no tying up of loose ends. You have to wait to read Los lanzallamas in order to see what occurs at the end of the plot. It is really frustrating to be left with nothing at the end of the book, especially when it is such a disappointing book in general.
lit 
March 13, 2007 at 11:32 pm
What you say in your blog raises a few questions for me.
1)What if we all spent our bored time concocting crazy plans like the astrologer’s?
2) What if we used this collective-bored-plan-concoction-time for good instead of evil?
3) How often, with my TV, my phone, my ipod and my computer, do I actually feel bored?
I feel disillusioned often but then I can always rent a movie about disillusioned youth and alleviate some of my own personal dilillusion. But bored? Maybe that’s why I have trouble completely understanding Erdosain’s problem. Maybe I’m just totally unaccustomed to being bored.
March 14, 2007 at 4:09 am
the fact that there is a sequel to this book and that it does not tie up loose ends into a definite ending creates a good possibility for audience reception to the next book. in the context of today, this is a good and easy strategy to get a book sold, and i don’t know what arlt’s reasoning may have been. but the fact that there is no ending to the book makes sense to me….there could only be an end to the boredom, disillusion, and anguish if a change takes place…..and maybe not even then. if the book had a definite ending, it would not be realistic or as relatable to by the audience if the same conditions remained….the 7 locos cannot change unless something else changes….read the sequel to find out !
March 15, 2007 at 12:46 am
“there could only be an end to the boredom, disillusion, and anguish if a change takes place…..and maybe not even then”
i thinks this is an interesting idea and really good point for why the ending is open, i guess the book keeps to be faithful to despair. Erdosain he is not even given the “redemption” of becoming a murderer. you start wishing he would commit suicide by the second part of the book.
ana