#724 The Snake From Beijing- Guadalupe Nettel
“Movements in the lives of human beings...begin below the surface, and therefore their origins are difficult to place in time.”
Michael’s family has a very interesting lineage. His father is a Chinese man raised by French parents and his mother is Dutch—they live in Paris. Until recently, his father was never in touch with his Chinese past. However, after a long trip, he returned a changed man. He is reserved and cold, and removes himself from his family life. He spans his time in a makeshift pagoda and bought Chinese texts and a poisonous snake.
The snake represents Michael's father, and he later finds out exactly why and how much. This story is more about infidelity than about culture, but the two are interwoven very well. This is the last of Nettel’s collection, Natural Histories. I look forward to reading more of her fiction.
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