this book is incredible. i am american but i have been studying spanish for 8 years now. this book is very hard to read because the material is very dense but it is nevertheless interesting. it focuses on an argentinian man who is remembering his childhood during the military regime in Argentina. His friend, M, is kidnapped and never found. grino (the narrator) is very effected by this and the book is a reflection of his insecurities with memory, growth and identity. this book asks a lot of questions and is very demanding of the reader. it is provocative, sad, and familiar.

"Musicians and Watchmakers" is a first-person narrative about the life of a young Jewish girl in Argentina in the 1940s. Written by Alicia Steimberg, the book has been translated into English by Andrea G. Labinger.

Steimberg reflects on the autobiographical roots of this book in an author's note. This is a colorful, frequently humorous narrative. We meet several interesting characters, including her maternal grandmother (an emigrant from Kiev) and her maternal grandfather (a secular Jew and socialist).

Steimberg's narrator (named Alicia, like the author) tells about her experience of anti-Semitism, her sexual awakening, her fascination with Roman Catholicism, and other topics. Particularly interesting is the portrayal of life under Peronism. "Musicians and Watchmakers" is an enjoyable contribution to both Latin American and Jewish literature.

I thought this book was going to be a mystery. The first chapter starts out well with some very nice prose. But it didn't take long for me to wonder what was going on. I found myself confused when the main character is changing her name every few paragraphs and her thoughts wander aimlessly on the page. I basically forced myself to continue, only to abandon the book at the halfway point. Save yourself some time and skip this read.