In Memoriam Ernesto Sabato

Argentinian writer Ernesto Sabato died today age 99 at his home in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, where he was held for years due to health problems.

From The Independent yesterday: In the year of its author’s 100th birthday, an Argentinian classic joins Penguin’s modern hall of fame. Published in 1948, this brief, fierce breakthrough novel by a writer who trained as a physicist belongs among the existential landmarks of postwar fiction. The Tunnel, by Ernesto Sabato.

The Tunnel was one of the books that marked my generation. Sabato was awarded with the Cervantes Prize in 1984 and was a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature 2007.

Ernesto Sabato at Wikipedia.

The Tunnel at Goodreads.

2011 Reading Challenges – Update.

In a rush of insanity, only temporary, I trust, I decided to participate almost in every 2011 Reading Challenge. I’m not sure I’ll be able to complete any, but anyway it’s fun to participate. Here is my progress for the first quarter.

2011 Aussie Author Challenge

Read three books by Australian authors before 31 December. I’m currently reading Diamond Dove by Adrian Hyland

2011 Crime Fiction Alphabet

My latest post here: The Alphabet in Crime Fiction, O is for Orsi, Guillermo Orsi

2011 Eastern European Reading Challenge

Read 4 books before 31 December. Read so far Entanglement by Zygmunt Miloszewski (Poland).

2011 Global Reading Challenge

Read two novels from each of these continents in the course of 2011: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America, South America and The Seventh Continent.

Read so far: Europe (Three Seconds by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström (Sweden) and Darkside by Belinda Bauer, UK), one South America (Blanco Nocturno de Ricardo Piglia, Argentina), one North America (B-Very Flat by Margot Kinberg, USA) and I’m currently reading one Australasia (Diamond Dove by Adrian Hyland, Australia)

2011 Ireland Reading Challenge

Read 3 books before 30 November 2011. So far I’ve read Borderlands by Brian McGilloway

2011 Nordic Challenge

Read 20+ books before 31 December 2011. So far: Three Seconds by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström, Yours Until Death by Gunnar Staalesen, The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo, Red Wolf by Liza Marklund, El chino de Henning Mankell (The Man from Beijing), Nadie lo ha visto de Mari Jungstedt (Unseen), The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, The Leopard by Jo Nesbo.

2011 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge

Read 4-6 books written before 1960 from the mystery category. So far I’ve read: The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe and A Study In Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Agatha Christie Reading Challenge

I’ve submitted only one book so far Hickory, Dickory, Dock by Agatha Christie

British Books Challenge 2011

Read 6 books by British authors in 2011. So far I’ve read Darkside by Belinda Bauer and Hickory, Dickory, Dock by Agatha Christie

Ficciones 2011 Argentina Reading Challenge

Read at 5 books. So far Blanco Nocturno de Ricardo Piglia and Nadie ama a un policía de Guillermo Orsi (No-one Loves a Policeman)

Italy in Books -reading challenge 2011

Read 12 books set in Italy by 31 December. So far: The Wings of the Sphinx by Andrea Camilleri and Testigo Involuntario de Gianrico Carofiglio (Involuntary Witness).