Description
BOLLO
Book Summary
A contemporary novel that narrates the life of Nat, a lesbian woman who works as a waitress at the Queers bar and lives with the spirit of her deceased grandmother. After discovering she is HIV-positive, Nat begins a process of acceptance and personal transformation while navigating her romantic and sexual relationships. The work intertwines her story with references to literary figures such as Elena Fortún, Emily Dickinson, Virginie Despentes, and Rita Indiana, offering a lucid and emotional look at desire, illness, and resistance in contemporary Madrid.
What is it about?
The novel follows Nat, a lesbian woman who works at the Queers bar and maintains an open relationship with Ratja. Her life changes when she receives an HIV-positive diagnosis. From that moment on, Nat must face the start of antiretroviral therapy while integrating into a mutual support group for HIV-positive women. The work explores how she manages her new reality with her past and present lovers, in the context of a lesbian world seeking both pleasure and survival in a transforming Madrid. The narrative is constructed in dialogue with authors such as Elena Fortún, Emily Dickinson, Virginie Despentes, and Rita Indiana, whose voices and works resonate in the protagonist's experience.
Main themes
- The experience of an HIV diagnosis and the start of antiretroviral therapy in lesbian women.
- Open romantic and sexual relationships within the lesbian community.
- Grief and living with the memory of deceased loved ones.
- The construction of mutual support networks among HIV-positive women.
- Nightlife and spaces for lesbian gathering in contemporary Madrid.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in contemporary fiction with an LGBTIQ+ perspective, especially those seeking narratives about the lesbian experience, sexual diversity, and the realities of living with HIV. Also for those who appreciate works that engage with the female literary tradition and explore identity from an intimate and political perspective.
What this book offers
- An honest and uncommon representation of the experience of an HIV-positive lesbian woman in contemporary fiction.
- A reflection on the management of open relationships and intimacy in the context of illness.
- A literary dialogue with classic and contemporary authors that enriches the reading.
- A look at the spaces of resistance and pleasure of the lesbian community in the city.
Technical specifications
- Author: PENNA TOSSO, MELANI
- Publisher: DOS BIGOTES
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, LESBIAN STUDIES
- Collection: DOS BIGOTES
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: April 2021
- Number of pages: 150
- Weight: 248 g
Editorial review
A novel that addresses with sensitivity and raw honesty a reality rarely treated in fiction: the experience of a lesbian woman facing an HIV diagnosis. The author builds a narrative that combines emotional intimacy with literary references that broaden the meaning of the story. Its direct tone and setting in a transforming Madrid make it a relevant work for those seeking fiction that makes visible the complexities of desire, illness, and community.