Guano

This debut novel from Qu%C3%A9bec-based author Carmain is an elegantly constructed "story of love and war." The author relies on the Spanish lust for empire in the late 19th century to provide structure to this dreamy, lonesome tale. Divided into four eras%E2%80%94one for each admiral who leads an expedition to South America%E2%80%94the story mainly focuses on Sim%C3%B3n Cristiano Claro, whose love of words elevates him to ship's scribe and communicator. From the very beginning of the tale, truth and fiction converge, allowing Carmain to delineate how much history is rewritten by the winners. But history does not occupy a man's soul, and while Sim%C3%B3n attempts to impress the Spanish monarchy with sometimes invented details, he is also busy falling in love with Monste, a woman whose deep passion for words matches Sim%C3%B3n's own. Carmain brilliantly contrasts the kinds of courage and determination that are required of war versus those required by love, privileging neither. (Nov.)