The Savage Detectives Represented Visually
Via Blographia Literaria, see this cool Excel chart plotting out the mammoth second section of The Savage Detectives.
To my eyes, this is somewhat what TSD would look like if you were to create a schematic for a musical composition based on it. For instance, you can see Amadeo Salvatierra repeating again and again, perhaps a slightly comical, boisterous tuba theme. Over that would be layered the characters that occur less frequently, some coming and going very quickly, some lasting a little longer. It seems it would be something along the lines of a tone poem, instead of something closer to a traditional symphony.
What becomes most apparent with this chart (if you didn't appreciate it while you were reading) is exactly how well-constructed this second section is. Not only is each particular narrative section an incredible read; the entire thing is clearly a amazingly precise structure orchestrated for the full effect of repetition, counterpoint, theme and variation, and progression.
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