Description
Double Lives
Book Summary
An ensemble comedy that strips away the secrets of a seemingly normal family. The Sanchidriáns live in harmony, but each member hides a double life that threatens to erupt. From a taxi driver who becomes a debt collector to buy his license, to a teacher who joins a cult to fight depression, and a young seducer who drops out of university to open a pickup artist academy. With irony, cheeky humor, and hilarious situations, this novel offers a scathing portrait of everyday contradictions and the masks we all wear.
What is it about?
The novel follows the adventures of the Sanchidriáns, a family whose members are trapped between who they appear to be and who they really are. Germán, a taxi driver, secretly moonlights as a debt collector to save up and buy his own license. His wife Verónica, a popular high school teacher, suffers from depression that leads her to secretly join the "Princes of Energy" cult, where her mentor Vittorio Cannavaro takes a special interest in her. Their son Roberto, a twenty-something with success among women, secretly drops out of his labor relations degree to found a Seduction Academy. Sonia, the daughter, is a newly graduated journalist who works as a gossip reporter for a prime-time show, but dreams of more committed journalism; to vent, she starts an anonymous blog that goes viral and causes her major problems. Finally, Luis María, Sonia's fiancé, is a serious 48-year-old editor who is an amateur comedian in his spare time, a facet he hides from his girlfriend and future in-laws for fear of losing his formal image. The plot intertwines these stories with humor, irony, and edge-of-the-seat situations.
Main Themes
- Social masks and the gap between public and private identity.
- Mid-life crisis and the search for personal fulfillment.
- Humor as a survival mechanism in the face of failure and contradictions.
- Social and family pressure to maintain an image of success and normalcy.
- A scathing critique of superficial media and self-help cults.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers looking for a light, fun novel with agile dialogue who enjoy ironic humor and zany situations. It is ideal for those who appreciate ensemble plots with recognizable characters, as well as those interested in stories that satirically explore family secrets and the double lives of ordinary people. Also for fans of contemporary Spanish fiction with a cheeky, laid-back touch.
What this book offers
- An entertaining and lighthearted read that hooks you from the first pages with its pacing and comedic twists.
- Complex and human characters that are easy to relate to, despite their eccentricities.
- A light but accurate reflection on social hypocrisy and the difficulty of being oneself.
- Multiple plots that intertwine in surprising ways, offering an ensemble and complete vision of a family.
- An agile narrative style, with lively dialogue and situations that provoke constant smiles.
Technical Specifications
- Author: López-Linares Riera, Ferri
- Publisher: La vocal de lis, S.C.P.
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION
- Collection: FONDO
- Binding: Other
- Publication date: May 2019
- Number of pages: 338
- Weight: 624 g
Editorial Assessment
Double Lives is a solid proposal within contemporary Spanish comedy. Its main success lies in the ensemble portrait of a dysfunctional family whose secrets generate an effective and funny narrative mechanism. The work successfully combines social satire with situational humor, making the reader feel complicit in the miseries and aspirations of the Sanchidriáns. With no higher pretensions than to entertain, the novel more than meets its goal and offers an agile read, full of sparkling dialogue and hilarious moments. Recommended for those looking for escapism without giving up a critical look at modern life.