(The River of Ashes) is a poignant yet satirical novel by Spanish author Rafael Reig , published in 2022 by Tusquets Editores. The Premise
Book details * Language. Spanish. * Dimensions. 14.8 x 1.8 x 22.5 cm. * ISBN-10. 8411071405. * ISBN-13. 978-8411071406. El río de cenizas por Rafael Reig - Flys Libros
The story follows a wealthy 75-year-old man who moves into Los Carrascales , a luxury nursing home in the Madrid mountains, after suffering a stroke. His quiet retirement is interrupted by a bizarre, parodic pandemic: a virus spread by sparrows through the ears. Faced with isolation and his own mortality, the protagonist begins writing a confession for his son to make sense of his past and find redemption.
While Reig is known for his sharp satire and humor, this novel is described as his most emotional work to date, blending his characteristic irony with a "crepuscular" or twilight-year melancholy.