Los años del verdugo

There's a whole branch of Spanish literature devoted to childhood memories of "Franquismo," and it usually features kids traumatized by hardship, abusive priests, and oppressive military figures and hymns. In Eiroa's contribution to the genre, which stands out for its homeliness, ten-year-old Manu tries to cope with his mother's incarceration for her political opposition to General Franco's regime in the early 1970s. Constructed around the memories of Manu in an unknown future, the story follows him as he learns to play Beatles songs on the guitar, vacations in Galicia, and enjoys his favorite movies. Franco's name is never mentioned, but his presence stands in the background as exemplified by the title, in which the word verdugo ("executioner") seems to hint at the dictator. These are not the only subtleties at play here. The author seems intent on shielding the reader from anything upsetting; for instance, it's implied, but never made apparent, that Manu and Jonás masturbate each other at night and that their father cheats. Although there's some worthy material in this first novel, Eiroa's vagueness and penchant for indulgent memories make this novel as easy to forget as it is to read. Recommended for large fiction collections and bookstores.—Carlos Rodríguez Martorell, East Elmhurst, NY