We would exist the sea: Belén Gopegui

We would exist the sea is a novel with a notable materialistic focus written by the Madrid author and journalist Belén Gopegui. The work was published by the Random House Literature publishing house in 2021. One of the common themes in the writer's texts is usually money, and how it determines human relationships, and the book that concerns this review does not escape it.

In this regard, Belén Gopegui says that the fact of addressing a material perspective —such as the working conditions that the characters have, how much they earn per month or what debts they have— does not affect the poetic language of a work. In addition, The author affirms that, although we try to deny it, even love —sooner or later— is affected by the socioeconomic level of those who profess it.

Synopsis of We would exist the sea

About the concepts of the work

We would exist the sea tells the story of everyday wear and tear of such everyday, common and close characters that for moments seemed that let's read about the neighbor or even of oneself at some point in the past or future, crucified by the bloody global economy.

The protagonists have jobs similar to long marathons whose paltry salaries in no way compensate for the effort that each one puts in. Precariousness is, then, the starting point of the interrelationships within the work..

From this premise not far removed from the population mean, Gopegui emphasizes how important people are in the lives of other individuals, and the role they play with respect to the quality of life and the triumph of their peers.

About the plot

Lena, Ramiro, Hugo, Camelia, and Jara there are five friends who, for financial reasons, they share a flat at portal 26 of Calle Martín Vargas, in Madrid. Each of them has a grueling, low-paying job—except for Jara, who has no job, and it torments her—and they have made her small home a warm, supportive, and loyal refuge.

One day, without giving any kind of explanation, without a letter or a newspaper, Jara leaves Martín Vargas. Her friends understand that she is the most fragile of all, the one with the most unbalanced character.

At first, the companions consider going to look for her wherever she is, but they are not sure about doing so, because they also feel that this could be like invading the space that Jara needs. In the end, Renata, the woman's mother, convinces them, and they go after her.

A loss and a reunion

we would exist the sea begins with the strange disappearance of Rockrose. While her friends decide to go looking for her, she is capable of renting a small penthouse in Calatayud, a place he never imagined arriving. Chance moves her to a bar, where she gets a job as a substitute at the bar.

When Jara sees Lena, Ramiro, Hugo and Camelia again, they lash her with questions., hugs and sighs of relief. It is then that the woman confesses to them that she needs that moment, that space that she, for the first time, carved out for herself.

Thus, your peers understand, with nostalgia, that, although life takes them to different places, unos invisible bonds made of friendship will keep them together for when each of them requires a hand. On their return, and as a brotherhood pact, the remaining inhabitants of Martín Vargas decide to keep an empty room, in case Jara returns.

Main characters

Lena

Like all her peers, Lena is forty years old. The woman is a scientist and researcher in a laboratory. A priori, this may seem exciting, but it is not for her, since she has no say in any of the experiments, and that situation does not seem to be in the mood to change.

Camelia

Camelia likes to sit in her chair in front of the window and see the streets of the city. She loves feeding the kittens that perch under the cars, and eating with Hugo and his other roommates.. However, he is unable to approach them and tell them what a terrible thing happened to him at work.

Ramiro

Ramiro works in a DIY multinational. Despite how hard it is to use him, he is happy as long as the corridor to which he must go is clean and tidy. Enjoy arranging, organizing, and labeling merchandise. He gets along well with his tools and is very faithful to his friends on the floor.

Hugo

Hugo usually thinks about how much he would like to have a life in front of the sea, but he can't help thinking that it would be impossible for him to leave his friends behind. Either they all leave, or none of them leave, because he couldn't bear to be happy if his companions weren't.

Rockrose

This character represents detachment, the necessary break from monotony, the disruptive action that all life needs. His departure gives rise to questions about how much we need the rest when we came alone and that is how we will leave. Although her attitude tends towards detachment, she never stops loving her tribe, however, finding herself seems more important to her.

About the author, Belén Gopegui

Belén Gopegui was born in 1963, in Madrid, Spain. He graduated in law from the Autonomous University of his hometown. In addition, He obtained a PhD in Humanities from the Carlos III University. The author made her way into the literary universe as a collaborator for various media. One of them was the newspaper The Sun. Later, in 1993, the Anagrama publishing house published his first film: The scale of the maps.

As a writer, Belén Gopegui has always been interested in making his readers reflect on the economic situation of the less privileged, to propose fairer scenarios where we can all lead more dignified lives, in a deterministic environment that is nothing more than the act of chance.

Other books by Belén Gopegui

• The conquest of the air (2000);
• the ball (2008);
• touch our faces (2011);
• The real (2011);
• the cold side of the pillow (2011);
• The friend that emerged from an old computer (2012);
• Snow white's father (2014);
• Unauthorized access (2014);
• The committee of the night (2014);
• Wish to be punk (2017);
• out of the bubble (2017);
• Stay this day and tonight with me (2017)