Salvador Gutiérrez Solís, author: “Cancer has a lot of Marie Kondo” | Culture | EUROtoday

Anyone would say that this novel is impressed by Ábalos, Koldo, Jorge Fernández Díaz or the nationwide grotesque characters that we see on the bench today, however in actuality it was considered and written earlier than. “It could be my last novel,” proclaims its writer, Salvador Gutiérrez Solís, within the last pages of The impostor technique (Almuzara), Jaén Novel Award. This author of thrillercultural supervisor and advisor to politicians, together with one who lives in La Moncloa, took refuge in writing a political and prison plot when he had already begun to take care of a ferocious most cancers. And one factor has nothing to do with the opposite, however each mark his life in the present day. He was born in Córdoba, in 1968.

Ask. He dedicates his e book to his oncologist.

Answer. It has saved my life. I arrived in a really delicate state of affairs and he discovered the mixture in order that I may transfer ahead and write this e book. I believed I’d by no means be capable to.

P. It portrays corruption and anticipates Ábalos case: corruption, intercourse, cash and politics meant to serve those that train it. How may or not it’s anticipated?

R. It is a continuing that happens particularly in Spain, a really sexist coverage of repeating main roles that embody prostitution, binge consuming and what we’re seeing, sadly.

P. How has it been documented?

R. I’ve labored for nearly 20 years with politicians, I’ve written for a lot of of them, particularly from Andalusia, and I do know the sayings on the earth similar to: “It’s very cold outside”, “spend a season in the desert”, “you have to do it yesterday” or “get a 035”, which suggests having to turn out to be self-employed. I narrate conditions that I’ve skilled as a result of I’ve been fortunate sufficient to stay with a president of Andalusia and advisors, I’ve had very direct dealings. And in La Moncloa, the place I’ve collaborated with speeches.

P. What have you ever discovered about politics from making speeches?

R. There are politicians who set the rules for you very clearly and also you simply should fill within the gaps, as should you had been writing a novel with a plot they’ve given you. And others who know that you’ve got the ideology in your head and let it occur. There are those that don’t use the speech in any respect or solely as a information in the event that they get misplaced, there are those that add home-grown blood sausages that they intersperse with one thing extra formal and formal. Some simply need concepts, others improvise.

P. Have your speeches gotten worse?

R. (Laughs). Yes. It is a continuing grievance of the writers who make speeches, when the politician tells you: “Damn, it’s very literary, I’m not going to the Cervantes Prize but to inaugurate a factory, why are you quoting I don’t know who.” The appointment could be very unhealthy, it needs to be very correct for them to just accept it. In political discourse there may be little creativeness, little originality, all the pieces could be very squared and people of us who write would have appreciated to be extra daring, generally you throw in a twist to see if it sticks.

P. The unhealthy factor you’ve got seen in politics?

R. The unhealthy factor is the tendency, particularly within the PP and the PSOE, to reward plumbers able to controlling teams and assemblies with highly effective positions in order that all the pieces goes easily in a congress and that the numbers add up. It is a mistake as a result of many instances these individuals use tips and manipulations that aren’t very wholesome for democracy and find yourself in essential positions of duty with out {qualifications}.

P. Are there too many plumbers?

R. There are fairly a couple of, there are small ones that management a neighborhood group, however they function a gear for a bigger plumber who controls a number of teams managed by the identical ones he controls. It’s a pyramid scheme.

P. The Koldos of life.

R. But politics additionally has loads of very wild tightrope strolling, very gifted individuals who work onerous and who’re expelled or made invisible for not being on the “correct” aspect of the celebration, like Eduardo Madina or Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, who ought to have a really sturdy weight and it was not their expertise that failed them, however fairly the error of not being on the aspect. “correct” of what was demanded of their organizations.

P. Has politics disenchanted you?

R. No, I like politics. As occurs with younger individuals, individuals at all times repeat that they’re the worst, a catastrophe, after which the years put some of their place, like Adolfo Suárez or Felipe González. The politician is a illustration of the society of the second. Some very particular ones are chorizos, however they’re scarce. I’ve met very hard-working and devoted politicians. I as soon as labored for Micaela Navarro [política socialista] and I’ve by no means eaten extra sandwiches in my life, we by no means went to eating places.

P. He typically says that he would not need most cancers to be the middle of your life. Do you get it?

R. Yes. It is a query of will, an train. When I used to be identified, I had two days of shockon the third I went to a psychologist and the very first thing she advised me and that I’ve carried to the letter was: “Don’t make cancer your life. Cancer is not your life.” I like to recommend everybody to go to a psychologist as a result of it offers you instruments. The first chemo was hellish, lasting six or seven hours as a result of I used to be very superior, it’s a must to be taught to stroll and nearly write, and I could not get any solar. I needed to spend 12 or 14 hours at residence, so I made a decision to start out penning this novel, which I did as if somebody had been dictating it to me day by day. Cancer is a form of Marie Kondo of life, do not forget that horrible Japanese girl who tidied her homes? I obtained a rash each time I noticed it, however most cancers has loads of Marie Kondo: you be taught to pick out issues in a brutal approach. You cease giving significance to issues that you simply thought had been vital, you recognize who your pals are, who loves you, who it’s a must to dedicate your time to, and if at any time you’ve got a nasty streak as a result of the chemo is hitting you onerous, you’ll be able to lie down and watch collection and never attempt to show that you’re stronger than most cancers. This shouldn’t be a battle or a contest, it’s a illness that may be cured with science, with medication, with oncologist, you don’t take out a sword and say: “Where is the cancer that I am going to hit with my sword?” I do not do all the pieces I did earlier than, however I do 80% and a few days 20% and nothing occurs. Before I had a conscience after I was mendacity down, now I do not. I’ve seen loads of films, loads of music.

P. Has sharing it on networks helped you?

R. Very, very a lot. I requested the psychologist and I appreciated what she advised me: “Save, if you don’t become an obsessive pain in the ass who talks about cancer all the time…”. I hold speaking about books and films and on occasion I put up one thing. And I do know that it has helped many as a result of they’ve written to me telling me about their case. But nobody, with what Twitter is, has written to me in a impolite or detrimental approach.

P. Do you continue to assume it could possibly be your final novel, as you say on the finish?

R. No. I have already got one other one written that I hope can be revealed quickly and I’ve one other one in my head to comply with.