With his newest work "A Gypsy Wedding and a Scottish Funeral", Angulo's literary career continues going from strength to strength. This historical novel set in 1980s Spain masterfully balances colorful characters, hilarious misadventures, and sobering commentary on poverty and prejudice. Critics praise Angulo's Dickensian scope and insight into the human condition. But most of all, readers will get swept up in the story of two friends and their quixotic dreams of a better life. Angulo's compassionate eye for humanity's flaws and hopes makes this rip-roaring adventure tale a must-read.
"I had to write fourteen horror novels before I could write one of humor."
Nothing in Agustín's life had been easy. He had worked since he was fifteen and knew very well what it was to earn every penny by the sweat of his brow. Contrary to what most people in so-called first world countries may think, hunger is also suffered there, although one may not die from it, as it is always possible to survive on stale bread or, as Agustín had been doing for the past two years, on macaroni rinsed with a little fried tomato sauce on top - nothing fancy, no sausages or premium Orlando tomato sauce. While people here may not die of hunger, they do die of depression and disgust...
Surrounded by poor wretches, alcoholics, drug addicts, dealers, and yet he considered them his people, as he had seen how those unfortunate souls were capable of stealing your wallet only to later spend the money on buying food for the neighbor's children. When the family living on the first floor had their electricity cut off in the middle of winter, Luisito, the fourth-floor drug dealer, who survived on bread soaked in oil, bulk cheap wine, and packs of African cigarettes - "selling marijuana didn't provide enough to live on" - ran a hose from his apartment down to the first floor, sharing his electricity.
He often remembered what a sergeant told him when he entered the army for compulsory military service:
- Don't worry about hazing, here the nasty tricks are done by us.
When the blows come from within, when your own government is the enemy, minorities, outcasts, and the oppressed unite like brothers. Hell is more welcoming when the devils accept you into the family.
A toast to the sun with cheap wine: The New Year's resolution of the addict, the alcoholic, the dealer, the pickpocket, and the prostitute to start a new life. But no one escapes hell, perhaps except _Dante Alighieri in The Divine Comedy, _ and even that was fiction, a novel, a comedy.