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Mac and His Problem

By Enrique Vila-Matas
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Check link for latest rating. ( 765 ratings, 129 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Mac and His Problem follows the story of an aspiring writer named Mac, who takes on the task of completing a never-started book. Amidst the literary world of Barcelona, Mac navigates a web of challenges, inspiration, and whimsical encounters while exploring themes of creativity, reality, and the boundary between fiction and life itself. As he grapples with personal and artistic dilemmas, the novel playfully blurs the lines between author and character.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this novel if you're fascinated by stories that blur the lines between fiction and reality, combining intellectual depth with a dose of humour. It's perfect for readers who appreciate a narrative that delves into the creative process and the struggles faced by writers, all while exploring existential themes.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A funny, erudite novel from one of the great European storytellers, with the process of writing and creation playfully at its heart.

Mac, over sixty and recently unemployed, lives on his wife's earnings from her furniture restoration business. An avid reader, he decides at the age of sixty to keep a diary. Mac's wife, Carmen, a dyslexic born of dyslexic parents, thinks he is simply wasting his time and risking sliding further into depression—but Mac persists, and is determined that this diary will not turn into a novel. However, one day, he has a chance encounter with a near neighbour, a highly successful author who once wrote a collection of enigmatic, wilfully obscure stories...

Mac and His Problem is a delight for those who appreciate the nuances of writing and storytelling. Vila-Matas engages in a playful exploration of the writing process itself, offering a narrative that is both witty and thought-provoking.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Mac and His Problem by Enrique Vila-Matas is often praised for its intricate narrative and metafictional elements, mirroring the complexities of storytelling. Critics appreciate the book for its intellectual depth and humour, though some find its self-referential style challenging. The novel effectively blurs the line between fiction and reality, capturing readers with its playful yet profound exploration of writing and identity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780143788454

Publisher: Random House Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 April 2019

Country: Australia

Imprint: Vintage (Australia)

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 154.0mm

Height: 233.0mm

Weight: 304g

Pages: 224

Collections

Enrique Vila-Matas Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

Enrique Vila-Matas is widely considered to be one of Spain's most important contemporary novelists. His work has been translated into 30 languages and has won numerous international literary prizes, including the Herralde Prize, the Prix Medicis etranger and the Premio R mulo Gallegos. Vila-Matas' books have been longlisted (Montano) and shortlisted (Dublinesque) for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, and Never Any End to Pariswas a finalist for the US Best Translated Book Award.

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