Description
THE LAST SAUNA IN THE WORLD
Book summary
November 2020. In the midst of a state of alarm, Jon, a 23-year-old student, and César, a 43-year-old truck driver, embark on a clandestine journey from Navarre to Seville. Flouting health restrictions, the two seek the last remaining sauna in the country, a secret establishment rumored about in the darkest corners of the internet. Aboard a dilapidated truck and with a fragile bond forged through Grindr, Jon becomes obsessed with unraveling César's true identity, imagining all the possible lives his companion might be hiding. A novel about escape, desire, and the search for intimacy in times of lockdown.
What is it about?
The novel begins in November 2020, during Spain's second state of alarm. Jon, a young student, and César, a truck driver older than him, decide to skip health restrictions to embark on a road trip. Their goal is to find the last sauna in the world, a clandestine spot in Seville that, according to internet rumors, remains in operation despite the mandatory closure of all similar establishments.
Jon barely knows César. They have met a couple of times through Grindr and he doesn't even know if "César" is his real name or a false identity used to hide a double life. During the trip, as they cross Spain from north to south in an old truck, Jon becomes obsessed with the idea of discovering who his companion really is. He begins to imagine all the possible lives César could be hiding: a perfect marriage, a mortgage, a dog. The search for the sauna becomes a metaphor for the search for intimacy, truth, and human connection in a world paralyzed by the pandemic.
Main themes
- The search for intimacy in times of lockdown and health restrictions.
- Homosexual desire and sporadic relationships mediated by apps like Grindr.
- The construction of identity and the concealment of a double life.
- The journey as an escape from reality and a search for freedom.
- The obsession with knowing the truth about the other and the projection of imagined lives.
Who is it recommended for?
This work is recommended for readers interested in contemporary Spanish narrative that addresses the LGBTQ+ experience from a realistic and unfiltered perspective. It is ideal for those seeking stories that reflect the impact of the pandemic on human relationships, as well as those who enjoy road novels with a strong psychological and introspective component. It will also appeal to readers who appreciate plots that explore desire, identity, and the search for authentic connections in an adverse context.
What this book offers
- A raw and authentic look at how the pandemic affected the LGBTQ+ community and its spaces for socialization.
- A psychological exploration of obsession, distrust, and the need to know the other in a fleeting relationship.
- A travel narrative that uses the physical journey as a metaphor for an inner journey toward truth and intimacy.
- A reflection on double lives, deception, and the masks people construct to protect themselves.
- A story that captures the atmosphere of uncertainty and clandestinity of the lockdown.
Technical details
- Author: AZCONA, JULEN
- Publisher: DOS BIGOTES
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION
- Collection: DOS BIGOTES
- Publication date: October 2023
- Number of pages: 120
- Weight: 214 g
Editorial review
A brief but intense novel that accurately captures the atmosphere of clandestinity and desire during the lockdown. Julen Azcona constructs a narrative that combines the physical journey with the psychological exploration of his characters, offering a reflection on identity, intimacy, and the need for connection in times of isolation. The work stands out for its ability to generate tension through the protagonist's uncertainty and obsession, keeping the reader on edge until the very end. An interesting proposition for those looking for a read that addresses the LGBTQ+ reality from a contemporary and uncompromising perspective.