Mercería Merche, by Dolores Fragueiro

That the year of Corona gave a lot, is no surprise.

Lots of thinking, rambling and laughing, on top of everything we already know.

Yes, because within tragedy, the most fatal of tragedies, there will always be room for humor. Few books remind us that this is simply how it is. At first and as a fragrant example, it comes to mind Easy Reading of the great Cristina. And it is no coincidence, because this little hidden treasure (it would not be a treasure if it were not hidden; I am already tired because I have repeated this motto too many times, but it would not be a motto if…) which is titled Merche Haberdasheryremember LF in the cursed tone and the crazy attitude beyond good and evil, and the collage-style illustrations of the book, which none of them have any loss, although not so much in the plot. Better said, in the plots, because they are several stories, stories so to speak, written by the mysterious Dolores Fragueiro. However, now that I think about it, there is also some of the thesis argument of LF in some of the stories of Merche Haberdashery. Like the wonderful scene of the “disabled people” who give a concert and which I transcribe a little below, and which is so reminiscent of the divine “disabled women” of LF. This native of Cedeira, a very particular little town in Ferrol, certainly did not read LF When she wrote the book (because of the influence)… she read it much later and loved it because she told me so herself. In any case, okay. It may be an influence but unconscious/synchronous, something very common in stagnant times. And that’s it, let this isolation that surrounds the island last before tourism arrives, which I would be encouraged to say, given the writer’s youth, will be at some point. The first 5 stories that make up Merche Haberdashery:

1. Prologue by Víctor Erice. (Believe it or not, but don’t even think about being so “I omit the ugly word” as to buy it just for this reason, it would be unforgivable).

2. The puma hamster.

3. My protective animal is a barnacle.

4. Objetiviwonder and the Crazybrothers.

5. Pilot episode of a sitcom with possibilities.

As I tend to express myself through a very opportune and direct quote from the author in question when I criticize, I transcribe some of those dialogues that, once read, are carried with them for life. Like a garment that is never abandoned, even if it is all moth-eaten and already smells like hell, no matter how much you wash it with the most smelly Marseille soap:

–There is no right! There isn’t! I should be able to go to the festivals in my town, to quietly enjoy my fucking free weekend with my friends! After breaking my fucking back working all fucking week, it’s not fair! It’s not fair to come down and find this! You should be ashamed of using sick people to make fun of them like this, of them and of us! With children in front! At my town’s festivals! You deserve a beating! – the “weekend junkie” vented.

After the little speech, everyone started chanting it in a much more pathetic and uncoordinated way than the Crazybrothers and Objetiviwonder. Peska stood up from the drums and asked for calm, but Manuel quickly stopped him from speaking.

– My name is Manuel and these are my brothers and my friends. I’m here because I want to. Nobody forces me! I like music and both me and my brothers are enjoying doing this. We are tired of people treating us differently, we are people just like you and we have the right to express ourselves as we please. Come on, brothers! Let’s shout together! Equality Equality!…

After these words the Crazybrothers began to shout at the same time, angering the public, who could no longer contain themselves due to the possible anonymity of a mass beating.

– Do you want equality? Well, we are going to give you equality – shouted the great farlopero father who started the debate. While he armed himself with a beer casing and ran towards the stage.

Objetiviwonder and the Crazybrothers. PP. 67/68.

As I said, a good quote from the book mentioned is worth more than 10 pages of analysis, or on many occasions: nonsense. All the more so, if it helps us to finish a review.

Extracted from: Rosanna Moreda: The 10 best ways to criticize without causing staff to die from boredom in the attempt, (in development).