The Infatuations

By: Javier Marías, Margaret Jull Costa - translator

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

From the award-winning Spanish writer Javier Marías comes an extraordinary new book that has been a literary sensation around the world: an immersive, provocative novel propelled by a seemingly random murder that we come to understand—or do we?—through one woman’s ever-unfurling imagination and infatuations.

At the Madrid café where she stops for breakfast each day before work, María Dolz finds herself drawn to a couple who is also there every morning. Though she can hardly explain it, observing what she imagines to be their “unblemished” life lifts her out of the doldrums of her own existence. But what begins as mere observation turns into an increasingly complicated entanglement when the man is fatally stabbed in the street. María approaches the widow to offer her condolences, and at the couple’s home she meets—and falls in love with—another man who sheds disturbing new light on the crime. As María recounts this story, we are given a murder mystery brilliantly reimagined as metaphysical enquiry, a novel that grapples with questions of love and death, guilt and obsession, chance and coincidence, how we are haunted by our losses, and above all, the slippery essence of the truth and how it is told.

Narration was awful.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Probably not. I expected more from the reviews, but was disappointed.

What could Javier Marías and Margaret Jull Costa (translator) have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The story was alright but the author is redundant--essentially repeats himself ad nauseam
same ideas over and over. Nor are the ideas themselves particularly novel or new.

What didn’t you like about Justine Eyre’s performance?

Her vocal range is very limited. The quality of her voice was forced, breathy, and her diction is poor. The sound quality was not so great.

Was The Infatuations worth the listening time?

I could have skipped it.

Its meh...

started very interesting then it went into some boring tangent.... so hard to finish it... i got bored

Try to Listen Despite the Narrator's 'Vocal Fry'!

This is an amazing novel — it captivated me like no other audible book has. I agree, the narrator can have a grating voice, but if you can get over it, her voice sort of works for the novel. For the sake of the book, try to hear it that way!

The Infatuations is brilliant, eerie, mysterious book, filled with many truths and wicked insights (wickedly accurate). I enjoyed it very much and wish more of Javier Marias' books were translated and on audible.

Narration makes the book impossible to listen to

I can't remember ever being so put off by a narrator, unless it was something technical such as a ridiculous fake accent or slow pace. This narrator simpers and whines her way through various characters in a way that totally trivializes the book. The themes of this book should provoke thought and reflection, but instead I just wanted the main characters to grow up - I couldn't imagine them feeling any emotion other than self-pity. What a shame.

Outstanding story

Maria's
1st the book: There is little denying that Javier Marias is a literary giant not just in the Spanish speaking world. His earlier book 'Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me' left an indelible imprint and a desire to want to read more of his works. The Infatuations is a book on the often destructive power that love and desire has on some people. Marias has an unconventional writing style ignoring some of the norms of diction. Yet that style is what sets his narrative apart from other authors. Pamuk was on the right track when he declared that Marias should be awarded the Nobel.
The narrator:
Justine Eyre does a wonderful job bringing this excellent piece of literature to life. Her slightly mezzo type voice gives the story the necessary darker tones it requires.
I immensely enjoyed immersing myself in the experience.