The Depopulation

Closing this book, my final thought was: "I can't believe I read the whole thing." Because Marina Closs's THE DEPOPULATION (2026, translated from Spanish by Thomas Bunstead) was so NOT my kind of book. Set deep in the wilderness of 17th century South America, a Jesuit mission with two resident priests, Maceta and Ruiz, is suddenly visited by a stranger, Overa, who claims to be the Son of God (Jesus's brother). Initially the priests resist this proclamation, but then kinda get used to him, and marry him off to Anastasia, an equally mysterious vagrant woman with a past (she is not a virgin) and a cow. Anastasia, pregnant, later disappears and Overa is bereft. He's still Jesus's little brother though and lets himself be carried around the show more village and mission by a large native he calls "the Mule." Meanwhile Father Ruiz, a mystic of sorts given to strange fits and mini-raptures (Fr Maceta, who "loves" Ruiz, looks after him), studies Overa, questions him and keeps notes. Then word of savage intruders (Mesticos) armed with arquebuses and gunpowder approaching, causes the mission and village to evacuate and flee into the jungle. Oh, and Overa finds another woman. And there's a lot of superstitious stuff and pagan beliefs by the primitive Guarana people. So the priests and Overa and their followers wander in the jungles for a long time, seeing other missions reduced to smoking ruins by the evil Mesticos until finally they can't run any further and ... Ah well, you'll just have to read the book. I did, and I guess I just didn't get it. Or maybe there's nothing here to get? (Something lost in translation?) But then I was never a fan of Tolkien or all the Harry Potter stuff either. Ya like fantasy, or so-called "magical realism" - or fairy tales? Maybe you'll like this book. Not me. Nope. Not recommended.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER show less