A work whose hero is the Director of the Alicante Theater
Published by Mankell publishing house and at only 200 pages, this book celebrates life through a blend of humor and sensitivity. The Oriolano writer also slips into his own craft to honor actors and actresses, a profession that turns them into dreamers who show us other possible futures.
Mauro, the novel’s central character, is an actor in name only and he keeps chasing a sense of purpose even as shadows of despair gather. Yet love arrives twice, weaving two arcs that remind him how vitality can be found in companionship. The story opens with a quick, buoyant pace that hints at a lively momentum and then deepens as humor threads through every paragraph, giving the narrative a distinctive rhythm. The author’s theatrical sensibility blends with a ready sense of wit, and the reader feels the energy of performance in every scene.
If a reader lingers past the halfway mark without being drawn in, the author jokes that many other works await. Yet the author argues this book is different, crafted specifically to spark smiles. He notes that he drew from influences such as Eduardo Mendoza, Juan José Millás, and John Kennedy Toole, though he also credits a personal line of humor that comes from his own life. The combination of sharp wit and heartfelt reflection makes the text feel both clever and sincere, a tribute to the craft of drama and the beauty of performance.
The author calls humor a difficult art, a subjective matter that not everyone can wear well. Humor can be elusive, and what tickles one reader may not land with another. Still, the challenge was accepted with eyes wide open, because human beings carry the pull of laughter in their DNA. Loss, time, and change all leave marks, and humor becomes a kind of resilient response to these feels. The work argues that laughter is not just about fun; it is a way of seeing life more honestly and bravely.
The premise of a hundred reasons to commit suicide and one and a half to not is woven into the fabric of the tale so that the aim is not pure spectacle. Instead, the humor seeks to awaken a smile from within. Irony plays a prominent role, seasoned to color the narrative without overpowering the reader. The book invites readers to discover that laughter can live inside even when life itself is heavy.
Presentation
The author wanted to bring his novel to the people of Alicante. In his second home, he planned a staged presentation on the stages of the Alicante Theater Director, featuring Ana Arrarte, Kike Vidal on piano, and the dramatic talents of Cristina Fenollar, Xavier Monzó, and Iván Gisbert. They would perform excerpts while live music underscored the chapters, turning the event into an experience rather than a standard book talk. The author describes the fusion of literature and performing arts as something refreshingly different from typical presentations.
Juan Luis Mira travels to Almagro with Lope de Vega
In addition, José Luis Ferris, a poet, novelist, and respected literary figure from Alicante, chaired the event. Ferris highlighted the author’s talent as the standout feature of the novel. He noted that humor is often scarce in contemporary literature and praised Mira for infusing the pages with a theatrical sense of humor that remains sharp on every page. He also remarked on how the book gently mocks and questions the precarious life of actors, a profession that faces high unemployment despite its creative rewards. Ferris described the work as an agile and refreshing addition that others writing novels may envy for capturing such vitality. He pointed to Valle-Inclán as an inspiration for the playful yet piercing tone that surfaces early and often.
In Ferris’s view, the book blends realism with a touch of grotesque charm, creating a lively first impression that invites readers to linger. The author’s voice is seen as a beacon for those who believe humor deserves a place in serious literature, proving that laughter can illuminate even the most intricate human stories. The breadth of the performance and its reception suggest that Mira has forged a distinctive path that resonates with readers who value wit, warmth, and perceptive character work.