Description
I Will Call You X
Book Summary
A contemporary humorous fiction novel that explores the existential crisis of a thirty-something with no direction. After discovering his own insignificance while emptying his mailbox, the protagonist decides to reinvent the life of a stranger instead of his own. What begins as a game of observation turns into a wild and uncontrollable lie, where hidden forces and frustrated ambitions transform an unremarkable retiree into a custom-made character. An acerbic and funny story about identity, inertia, and second chances.
What is it about?
A thirty-something with alopecia, no degree, no job, and no partner discovers his own insignificance one morning while emptying his mailbox. Faced with the difficulty of reinventing his own life, he decides to invent the life of another: X, an uncharming retiree who, every day at the same time, has his Biterkas at Flora's bar, oblivious to everything. What the protagonist does not suspect is that he is also being watched and manipulated. Without hardly moving from his couch, hidden forces operate at their whim to transform him into a custom-made character. Senseless family hopes, frustrated ambitions, and the weight of inertia lead him to star in a wild and uncontrollable lie.
Main themes
- Identity crisis in one's thirties: the difficulty of reinventing oneself when lacking personal and professional achievements.
- Lying as an escape mechanism: how fiction imposes itself on reality when one's own life seems unsustainable.
- The weight of inertia and family expectations: the social and family pressure that pushes one toward absurd decisions.
- Observation and manipulation: the hall of mirrors between the observer and the observed, without knowing who is really controlling the situation.
- Acerbic and contemporary humor: an ironic look at mediocrity and the search for meaning in everyday life.
Who is it recommended for?
Readers of contemporary fiction with a sharp sense of humor, especially those who enjoy ironic and acerbic stories about the crisis of one's thirties, lack of direction, and absurd situations. Ideal for those looking for a light but profound read that combines entertainment with reflection on identity and social expectations.
What this book offers
- A fun and biting take on the existential crisis, which invites you to laugh at your own frustrations.
- An original and surprising plot, where the lie becomes an uncontrollable hall of mirrors.
- Everyday characters full of humanity, reflecting the contradictions of modern life.
- An agile and entertaining read, perfect for unwinding without sacrificing literary quality.
- A reflection on identity and the ability to reinvent oneself, even when all seems lost.
Technical sheet
- Author: Poncela, Pachi
- Publisher: Editorial Pez de Plata
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Modern and contemporary fiction, Humor
- Collection: La risa floja
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: September 2020
- Number of pages: 156
- Weight: 417 g
Editorial review
A brief but impactful novel that intelligently combines humor with social critique. Pachi Poncela builds a story that, starting from an everyday premise, drifts into a game of lies and manipulations that keeps the reader hooked. Ideal for those looking for a read that is both fun and reflective, without the need for high literary pretensions. A title that fits perfectly into the "La risa floja" collection due to its lighthearted tone and its ability to make you smile while questioning your own existence.