Julio Cortázar is - with Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) and Ernesto Sábato (b 1911) - one of the most read and loved Argentinian writers. He was born in Brussels, Belgium, on 26 August 1914 and died in Paris, France, on 12 February 1984. He lived most of his life in Paris - he was opposed to the political party ruling the Argentina. I came across one of his books in my first year of university. The impact was immediate. I fell in love with his prose and his wit. So much so that I sent a copy of one of his books to my boyfriend in London - so he could practice his Spanish. Years later I'm glad I did that, as I can now read and re-read it as many times as I want - even though he hasn't yet opened it.

Every time I read Historias de cronopios y de famas, it feels like looking through a keyhole into a child's world. It's not forbidden for adults to go to there. But we're usually too busy or don't care enough. It would be a distraction. Why take this cobbled and stumbling path when the usual road is paved and smooth? It's impossible not to be tempted by Cortázar's words, and take his hand while he reveals how different everyday tasks could be with a little thought.

The first part of the book is called The instruction manual. It sets out how to perform the most routine tasks - how to climb a staircase, sing, kill ants in Rome, how to be afraid. His ridiculous details and absurd explanations will draw a smile on anybody's face - because of their undoubted truth. His truth is very enlightening, but I couldn't help feeling a bit sad too. How and when do we lose the ability to be amazed, to question what surrounds us?

Unusual occupations is the second part of the book. It relates the experiences, traditions and funny episodes of family life in a quiet neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. I come from Buenos Aires, but as he names shops and streets, and refers to some typical Argentinean things - foods, nicknames, some of the country's battles of independence - he creates a feeling of familiarity that invites anyone to see, smell and taste their own long-lost memories.

Plastic materials was translated as Unstable stuff by Paul Blackburn in the English version of the book. Discourse of the bear and Flattening the drops are to me masterpieces of incalculable sweetness. The first is the story of a bear which lives in the pipework of buildings, and slides from floor to floor cleaning the pipes. The second divides raindrops into categories - depending on how willing they are to die splattered against the floor.

The fourth division is the one that gives the name to the book: cronopios and famas. The words are not translated into English, maybe because cronopio doesn't mean anything (in Spanish or English) - though famas could be translated as fame. It is strange that Cortázar decided not to mention the esperanzas (hopes) in the title, as they are as equal as characters as the other two.

I love the book's deliberate economy of words, which gives the reader enough space to finish the meaning of each of its short stories. Every time you read it, it's different. It's an exceptional book that allows its reader to rediscover it every time. Historias de cronopios y de famas is like riding a bike. There's an immense freedom when you lick the tip of your finger to turn another corner - revealing a whole new world.

(c) Gabriela Scavuzzo 2008

Reviewed Monday 20 October 08 / London

NOTES - Historias de cronopios y de famas, first published 1962, written by Julio Cortázar (1914- –1984) is in print and available eg from Foyles. There is an English translation (with the same Spanish title) by Paul Blackburn.