Rain
by Guillermo Bosch
REVIEW:
"Not for everyone -- a message of both hope and hopelessness"

Rain, an erotic novel, describes itself as "an adult fairy tale, a story of drought and deprivation." Our hero, Sandro, is a lowly citizen in a darkly oppressive futuristic society. He is somewhat naive and unassuming at the beginning (typical villager heading to the big city), and falls into a relationship with a fortune teller that quickly throws him into the middle of the "war" between the Citizens (rebels) and the Central Authority. Of course, the whole problem centers around the drought (on it's 1,537th day at the beginning of the novel) and a legend of sorts, that says one day the Chosen One will come and bring the rain. Sandro leads us through the world as he tries to find his place in it, taking us through rebel bastions, trash dumps, minister's offices, and even a prison.

The novel is twenty chapters long, plus an epilogue and a prologue -- each chapter has a theme to it (betrayal, trust, joy, agony), as Bosch explores the world he has created. Each chapter also has a very graphic scene that has a sexual nature. The writing is lush and vivid, as the cover comments say, and you feel this dry and thirsty world as it grows around you. This novel, however, is not for everyone. In fact, some might well say that this book is offensive.

First (as I know it matters to some), the book is written in first person. Second, while it has lots of sex, this book is NOT sensual, nor is it a romance. It is a very interesting exploration of a society in which sex is a common tool -- the lawyers win cases by seeing who can seduce whom! Bosch is very frank in his scenes, from the lovemaking to the torture. This reader found herself having to put the book down and catch her breath before she could continue. There are incidents of every kind of sexual contact imaginable -- straight, oral, anal, masturbation, multiple partners, homosexual sex, rape, lovemaking -- all exquisitely described. (At one point the main character is even sodomized with a gun, if that tells you how far Bosch goes.) There is also torture, bleeding, dirt, and death. Everything is described very thoroughly.

While the reader would not be able to unhesitatingly recommend this novel -- it is not one for the faint of heart -- she will say that she found it quite enjoyable, and at times, engrossing. The plot is straightforward and almost stereotypical, but if you're up to it and you enjoy social commentaries ala Orwell's "1984" (an admittedly weak comparison), this is very interesting book. Once you remove yourself from the vibrant pain and pleasure (a difficult thing, especially near the end of the novel) you find the true depths of this book, the message that Bosch is trying to convey -- a message of both hope and hopelessness. Definitely a book that has to be read more than once for complete "understanding" -- mostly since the first time you're in complete thrall to activities that Sandro lives through.

Reviewer's suggestion: If you find yourself interested, visit Bosch's website (http://www.guillermobosch.com)and read a few chapters before you start to search out a copy, just to get an idea of Bosch's writing and subject matter.

Note: This book is now out of print. It is available used from major online booksellers, and chapters one tthrough five are available on Bosch's website.

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted January 29, 2002