I love Charles Portis! Unsolicited recommendation from me for Masters of Atlantis, nearly as good as this classic, though I like all his novels.

Not to mention the author's own music!

I had the thought to create a playlist of all the songs/artists mentioned in the book, there are so many - from Lou Reed and Talking Heads to Basement Jaxx to Ismael Rivera. It would end with an endless loop of "I Feel Love."

Los Caprichos, plate 66, "There it goes" is also mentioned in the novel. The text for that one reads, "There goes a witch, riding on the little crippled devil. This little devil, of whom everyone makes fun, is not without his uses at times."

Yes! The ending reminded me of Doctor Who - the classic, writing a note on the artifact to be uncovered millennia later right when its needed trick.

I thought it all came together rather neatly at the end though. I thought the ending was really strong.

I liked the contrast between the chosen one and Malagueta's hard-earned place in the art world, hinted at and finally articulated towards the end of the book.

The chosen one was like, but what about mee?