Realidad nacional desde la cama

By Luisa Valenzuela

A woman returns to her homeland, a Latin American country that has just returned to democratic rule. A friend suggests she recuperate from her journey at a local country club. Soon after arriving, she realizes the club overlooks the training grounds of soldiers plotting to bring back military rule. A comedy of manners in which the military jump in and out of the kingsize bed faster than you can say coup. This is Luisa Valenzuela at her best ? ironic, political commentary laced with sex and humour.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1852423137
• ISBN13: 9781852423131
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Serpent's Tail
• Length: 121 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A surreal satire

In "Bedside Manners," Luisa Valenzuela tells the story of a woman who returns home to an unnamed Latin American country after having lived away. The protagonist's visit to a country club soon becomes a surreal comedy in which sex, politics, militarism, and economics are all mocked and deconstructed.Along the way, Valenzuela satirizes the U.S. military presence in Latin America, the use of television as a narcotic, and other aspects of 20th century culture. A bizarre cast of characters--the imperious maid Maria, a megalomaniacal military commander, and more--enact scenes that are often funny, often disturbing. And throughout the unsettling refrain is repeated: "Don't think. . . . Thinking's bad for you."Luisa Valenzuela just might leave you thinking. This is an important work by a major writer of Argentina.