The Sound of Things Falling

In the novel by Juan Gabriel Vásquez, the most famous contemporary writer of Colombia—“Marquez’s heir,” as the press calls him—there’s everything that quality literature suggests: a sharp, tightly wound plot, a psychological drama, tropical flowers and scents, and complicated romantic relationships. Colombia is only just recovering from the harsh war between the government and Pablo Escobar. People are still dying in the streets of Bogotá. A young law professor, Antonio Yammara, becomes a witness to the murder of former pilot Ricardo Laverde and begins an investigation. The novel’s scenes stir the imagination: a murdered hippopotamus from a drug lord’s zoo; a former prisoner, listening to a cassette tape with tears; the crash of a plane… And yet the book is about more than fear and pain—it’s also about friendship, loyalty, and the happiness of having a child. A great Colombian novel about overcoming the traumas of the past. The book is published in two Russian translation versions, with different titles and covers. The publisher gives the reader a unique opportunity to choose their own translation. This book was translated by Masha Malinskaya, a translator, Spanish language teacher, author of textbooks. © Juan Gabriel Vásquez, 2011 © Masha Malinskaya, Russian translation, 2021 © Livebook Publishing, design, 2022 © Everbook