The narrator in his 1992 novel “A Heart So White”: “The world is full of surprises and secrets. We think we know the people close to us but time brings with it more things that we don’t know than things we do.” Which is about as close to a description of a Marías novel as you’ll find in a Marías novel: We think we know the people in our lives. "Thus Bad Begins" by Javier Marías Knopf "Thus Bad Begins" by Javier Marías "Thus Bad Begins" by Javier Marías (Knopf)Eduardo verbally abuses Beatriz and refuses any offer of love from his wife. DeVere does indeed follow and befriend Doctor Van Vechten and in doing so becomes obsessed with Eduardo’s wife, Beatriz, as well. Here is DeVere (and Marías) again on secrets: “That’s the trouble with secrets, one can never ask forgiveness.” Which of course makes secrets sinful.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 04, 2016 15:00 UTC