The Book of Mistaken Journeys – by Clara Obligado

Clara Obligado’s The book of Mistaken Journeys is described as a book of linked short stories. Perhaps? I’m not sure that’s what is going on here. Originally written in Spanish (El libro de los viajes equivocados), I read the English translation because the author was coming to a bookstore near where I live, and the English version was easier to acquire quickly. I’ll read the Spanish version later to see if something was lost in translation, but the English translation appears to be quite good, and the stories are still haunting me. I will read this book again and again.

 I hadn’t read anything by Obligado, but a quick search told me she’s been quite prolific (at least since 1996). I’ll definitely read more of her work. The linked stories in Mistaken Journeys have recurring characters or perhaps I should say recurring names across the ages (inherited family names from ancient generations?). I’m not yet sure. But that’s one of the things I loved about the book. It made me think of the nature of time. The theory of time called Externalism or Block Universe Theory posits that time and space are concepts, that time doesn’t pass or flow through a continuum as we experience it. All points in time yesterday, today and tomorrow are happening at once. If you’re interested in such things, details can easily be found online. I, personally, love to imagine that our “present” is an illusion, or at least not the whole story!