“Do you know what the worst thing about literature is?....That you end up being friends with writers. And friendship, treasure though it may be, destroys your critical sense.”
Here, there is a foreshadowing of the later drama that takes place in the book. It is clear that literary creatives prefer to work alone for a reason and the Visceral Realists have disrupted this approach by uniting together. However, this line does come into play when Juan becomes involved in various dubious acts. Having transitioned from a mostly naïve young adult to a sexually-awakened, free-thinker who engages in illegal activities rather than focussing on his poetry, it seems to agree with the idea that his “critical sense” has been “destroyed” through his new friendships.
“…it’s as if I’m still dreaming and I can’t wake up”
This quote can be used in many ambiguous contexts. Indeed, it could be a reference to Juan’s new life. It could be a reference to the less than shiny lives of Lima and Belano. It could also be a reference to the hardship that Lupe has faced through her childhood and later adulthood. Bolano is conveying has sometimes it feels as though one cannot escape their circumstances.
