Reviews
"Critics have drawn comparisons between París's latest novel (his first to be translated in the United States) and the work of his blockbuster predecessor, Roberto Bolaño." -- Brooklyn Magazine, Praise for Daniel Saldaña París "Full of odd twists and surprises. Among the high points are Saldaña París'' exasperated but affectionate paeans to ''the immense, beautiful city'' that is Mexico''s capital. Though a study of slothfulness and its discontents, a welcome book on which the author has clearly expended energy." --Kirkus "Saldaña París's first novel to be translated Stateside is a leisurely story of slacking off that's nicely conveyed in a sharp, cynical tone. . . . Read this messy, shaggy picaresque for its ample page-by-page pleasures, which include devilishly clever syntax, a charming tendency to digress, and satisfying flashes of Rodrigo and Marcelo getting their act together." --Publishers Weekly "It's a novel that comes at you from odd angles, making a memorable impression as it goes." --Vol. 1 Brooklyn "In an easygoing, oddly entrancing style, Pari´s presents a meandering plot . . . but the events of the narrative pale in comparison to the surprising pleasure of the thoroughly offbeat prose. . . . Pari´s has mastered the art of spinning an outlandish, entertaining tale." --Booklist "It is impossible to read Among Strange Victims without being charmed by its wit and disarmed by its fierce and mysterious languor. In this novel, Daniel Saldaña París asks how one should cope with the impossible burden of living your own life--and gives a graceful riddle of an answer that will linger with you long after the book is done." --Alexandra Kleeman, author of You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine "Saldaña París is a Montreal-based poet, essayist, and novelist, born in Mexico City, and, as this darkly humorous and thoughtful novel -- both in the sense of being contemplative and packed full of an onrush of thoughts -- proves, is a welcome infusion of vitality into North American literature." --Bookslut "Daniel Saldaña París's Among Strange Victims , translated by Christina MacSweeney, immediately pulls the reader into its universe. It does so with such thorough and seamless skill that the reader becomes a victim of this strange, off-kilter world." --Cleaver Magazine " [Among Strange Victims is] an impressive work by a talented young writer." --Largehearted Boy, "Book Notes" "As I read [ Among Strange Victims ], I felt I was witnessing a great performance. It reminded me a little of young Mozart showing off at the emperor's golden harpsichord, giggling and improvising variations on Salieri's welcome march, startling all the wigged and powdered Viennese stiffs. And I sensed something desperate and inflamed in the writing too, as though the author assumed all along that nobody would ever read his book. That's probably what I like most about it--the cocky, indulgent, nihilistic virtuosity." --BOMB "Quirky and absurd, it's a funny, shambling look at the benefits (and drawbacks) of living life at your own lazy pace." --Men's Journal "Saldaña París writes with a gifted and confident prose that is as much the star of this singular novel as its unforgettable characters and delighting plot. This young Mexican writer (and poet, too) is surely one to watch, and if Among Strange Victims is but a harbinger of what's to come, then Saldaña París may well have a long, fruitful, and fantastic career ahead of himself." --Jeremy Garber, Powell's Books "Critics have drawn comparisons between París's latest novel (his first to be translated in the United States) and the work of his blockbuster predecessor, Roberto Bolaño." --Brooklyn Magazine "Daniel Saldaña París, following in the tradition of di Lampedusa, shows that non-writers--that is to say, those who don't exclusively cultivate what's known as a literary life--are the ones who make the best books." --Mario Bellatin, "It is impossible to read Among Strange Victims without being charmed by its wit and disarmed by its fierce and mysterious languor. In this novel, Daniel Saldaña París asks how one should cope with the impossible burden of living your own life--and gives a graceful riddle of an answer that will linger with you long after the book is done."-- Alexandra Kleeman, author of You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine "Saldaña París writes with a gifted and confident prose that is as much the star of this singular novel as its unforgettable characters and delighting plot. This young Mexican writer (and poet, too) is surely one to watch, and if Among Strange Victims is but a harbinger of what's to come, then Saldaña París may well have a long, fruitful, and fantastic career ahead of himself."-- Jeremy Garber, Powell's Books "Daniel Saldaña París, following in the tradition of di Lampedusa, shows that non-writers--that is to say, those who don't exclusively cultivate what's known as a literary life--are the ones who make the best books."-- Mario Bellatin "Full of odd twists and surprises. Among the high points are Saldaña París' exasperated but affectionate paeans to "the immense, beautiful city" that is Mexico's capital. Though a study of slothfulness and its discontents, a welcome book on which the author has clearly expended energy." -- Kirkus "Critics have drawn comparisons between París's latest novel (his first to be translated in the United States) and the work of his blockbuster predecessor, Roberto Bolaño." -- Brooklyn Magazine "In an easygoing, oddly entrancing style, Pari´s presents a meandering plot . . . but the events of the narrative pale in comparison to the surprising pleasure of the thoroughly offbeat prose. . . . Pari´s has mastered the art of spinning an outlandish, entertaining tale." -- Booklist "Saldaña París is a Montreal-based poet, essayist, and novelist, born in Mexico City, and, as this darkly humorous and thoughtful novel -- both in the sense of being contemplative and packed full of an onrush of thoughts -- proves, is a welcome infusion of vitality into North American literature." -- Bookslut, "Full of odd twists and surprises. Among the high points are Saldaña París' exasperated but affectionate paeans to "the immense, beautiful city" that is Mexico's capital. Though a study of slothfulness and its discontents, a welcome book on which the author has clearly expended energy." -- Kirkus "Critics have drawn comparisons between París's latest novel (his first to be translated in the United States) and the work of his blockbuster predecessor, Roberto Bolaño." -- Brooklyn Magazine "In an easygoing, oddly entrancing style, Pari´s presents a meandering plot . . . but the events of the narrative pale in comparison to the surprising pleasure of the thoroughly offbeat prose. . . . Pari´s has mastered the art of spinning an outlandish, entertaining tale." -- Booklist "Saldaña París is a Montreal-based poet, essayist, and novelist, born in Mexico City, and, as this darkly humorous and thoughtful novel -- both in the sense of being contemplative and packed full of an onrush of thoughts -- proves, is a welcome infusion of vitality into North American literature." -- Bookslut