Among the notable writers from the Southern Cone who have been influenced by Borges—such as Ricardo Piglia, César Aira, and Roberto Bolaño—Juan José Saer stands out as a clever iconoclast. He alternates between embodying the typical Latin American abstract style and being a solitary figure engrossed in his self-contained world. In his works, most narrators are philosophical recluses who question everything except the present moment, infusing even the most ordinary events with uncertainty. In Saer’s final story, “The One Before,” the narrator’s sensory experiences are reminiscent of Proust’s famous madeleine moment, although in a more tragic turn, the narrator fails to evoke any memories from the past.
Published in 1976, amidst Argentina’s political turmoil following a military coup, “The One Before” challenges the prevailing collective amnesia of the time. Saer’s narrative is filled with qualifiers like “so to speak” and “if you will,” reflecting the inherent limitations of language and emphasizing the unheard voices and infinite possibilities excluded with each word choice. The storytelling style, prioritizing immediacy over linear progression, both captivates and exhausts readers. The narrator’s acute observation of mundane details and intricate descriptions add to the enigmatic aura of the narrative.
Saer excels in capturing the transitory nature of moments and the gap between experience and memory. Throughout his works, characters grapple with the complexities of translation, remembrance, and the elusive nature of lived experiences. The finality that descends upon the stories echoes like a hammer, jolting readers with a Proustian intensity. The intricacies of memory and the interplay between past and present are masterfully explored, culminating in moments of profound realization and introspection.
Saer’s narratives often hover in the realm between consciousness and perception, where the boundaries between what is known and what is yet to be understood blur. The tales resonate with the idea that memory is a luxury for those who do not dwell on it excessively, while for others, only the tangible present holds certainty. In Saer’s world, the act of dipping cookies in tea serves as a quiet yet potent reminder of the simplicity and beauty found in everyday rituals.
