The Little Buddhist Monk / The Proof

Cesar Aira’s novels all have a similar style — generally under 125 pages, and written in his trademark “la huída hacia adelante” style (constant “flight forward” — no editing, no revising of the plot). These two short novellas are a strange pairing but are typical (though minor) Aira works. The Little Buddhist Monk stars a Korean monk who dreams of going to Europe or America, and conspires to make it happen by befriending a French couple. In The Proof, two punkish lesbians pursue an overweight Argentinian teenager (“Wannafuck?”) with shocking and violent results.