{"product_id":"9788412653588","title":"THE LAST SAUNA IN THE WORLD","description":"\u003ch2\u003eTHE LAST SAUNA IN THE WORLD\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBook summary\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNovember 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is it about?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJon 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eMain themes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eThe search for intimacy in times of lockdown and health restrictions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eHomosexual desire and sporadic relationships mediated by apps like Grindr.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eThe construction of identity and the concealment of a double life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eThe journey as an escape from reality and a search for freedom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eThe obsession with knowing the truth about the other and the projection of imagined lives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is it recommended for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat this book offers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA raw and authentic look at how the pandemic affected the LGBTQ+ community and its spaces for socialization.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA psychological exploration of obsession, distrust, and the need to know the other in a fleeting relationship.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA travel narrative that uses the physical journey as a metaphor for an inner journey toward truth and intimacy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA reflection on double lives, deception, and the masks people construct to protect themselves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA story that captures the atmosphere of uncertainty and clandestinity of the lockdown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e AZCONA, JULEN\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e DOS BIGOTES\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spanish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eTopic:\u003c\/strong\u003e MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eCollection:\u003c\/strong\u003e DOS BIGOTES\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 2023\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 120\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 214 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eEditorial review\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DOS BIGOTES","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53405656351067,"sku":"9788412653588","price":17.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1018\/0650\/6331\/files\/978841265358.jpg?v=1781829266","url":"https:\/\/kalamobooks.com\/en\/products\/9788412653588","provider":"Kalamo Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}