num_pages: 350
description: Though the novel is replete with characters from Paul Bunyan to Jimmy Carter, the main character is Oliveira Katz an Argentine-American novelist who is clearly more American than Argentine, but who uses his "Latino-ness" whenever it suits his purpose. Otherwise, he's clearly a gringo. But Katz is at his best when (under the Argentine guise) he criticizes U.S. culture. The "veil of foreign-ness" (regardless of thickness) allows him to take any number of "objective shots" at the U.S. media, government, etc. all with a certain amount of impunity. Literary impunity. But he is obviously a part of the culture he criticizes and no matter what posture he takes, the overwhelming influence of the USA affects everyone who comes within its grasp. Katz is no different. All the other characters in the novel, merely play counterpoint to Katz's worldview. Even in the screenplay that is imbedded within the novel, Ollie is merely an extension of Oliveira and all the other characters are modeled after other characters. The notion of repetition is as important to the novel (and to the characters) as it is to the Hollywood film industry. In a way, Oliveira's return to the U.S. (a repetition of sorts) and his departure (yet another repetition) underscores the position of the artist in society as being in a state of constant flux. First in the US, then in Argentina, then back in the US, then back to Argentina (with the caveat that they maintain an apartment in the States, like Borges) only augments the theme of the "eternal wanderer." Katz is clearly puzzled by the U.S., a country with enormous potential and yet a country with an "eye" (perhaps the CBS one) devoted to its own dissolution. Unable to understand its history, the US is constantly attempting to destroy and rebuild it. Katz, a man of two worlds (the "new" world and the "third" world) does understand that and uses history (e.g. American folklore) to integrate the past into the present for fear of losing it altogether.
language: English
title: Bombay California, or, Hollywood, Somewhere West of Vine
titlecomplete: Bombay California, or, Hollywood, Somewhere West of Vine
ratings_count: 1
publisher: Pacific Writers Press