Filled with powerful storytelling, image-inducing, visceral scenes and a stream of consciousness that rivals your grandad’s stories at Christmas, Eva Baltasar’s groundbreaking Permafrost dives deep into the world of someone exploring their suicidal wishes alongside their lesbian desires, in a unique and strangely successful pairing. Despite the book’s short length, it manages to capture readers’ attention from the very first word and makes the progression and ending more impactful than could ever have been imagined.
Translated into English by Julia Sanchez, Catalonian author Baltasar’s work encourages us to consider ourselves, the impact of suicide ideation on ourselves and others, and how this takes over our psyches, with a first-person point of view a fantastic creative decision which makes this story not only personal but feel personal to you. Eliciting visceral reactions at multiple points, the book is tough to read but rewarding to complete, with an exciting ‘chapter’ structure of varying lengths feeling like a personal journal entry and uncensored nature connecting to every fibre of your being. This does a respectable job at breaking up some of the more intense passages with short, snappy sections that provide readers with a shirt respite from the overall story, which is intensely personal and graphic at points.
Our main character’s suicidal storyline is coupled with her recounting her experiences of lesbianism and growing up queer, in a no-topics-barred perspective on dealing with feelings of being queer, acceptance and finding her sexuality through practice as she enters the world. Recounting the raunchy endeavours of her life both present and past, the narration is direct, explicitly and deeply intimate, yet handles theses interactions tastefully but without bounds, likely to leave any reader blushing even just a little.
Permafrost is no less than a groundbreaking exploration of mental health and queer existence from a direct perspective, breaking boundaries and taboos with its unapologetic dialogue and structure that rivals many other stories. Despite its short length, this book tells a larger-than-life story in a smaller than average size, with unparalleled power and depth. Whilst it is likely to be a difficult read for many due to its intense exploration of mental health and suicidal ideation, it is an enjoyable and sobering read that is sure to leave you feeling satisfied, if not entertained.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Permafrost (ISBN: 978-1-911508-75-5) was published in 2018. A copy is available to borrow from the LGBTQ+ Lending Library in the LGBTQ+ Lounge
