Buried Treasure

Buried Treasure is a magical realism novel set in the fictional town of Vivo, a town which I think could resemble any reader’s hometown (apart from the “magical” elements, I suppose. I’m not sure how you feel about your hometown).  Vivo is both very specific (it has quite a notorious phonebooth that is used for some very spicy activities, very strong coffee and a pigeon-messaging service) but also non-specific (dysfunctional municipality, anyone?). A sort of “everytown” which makes it an excellent setting for this unique story. It also makes me think of Gotham in many ways – there is a darkness that pervades the whole novel.

The only cemetery in Vivo is run by Mateus and his large black dog, God. Mateus (meaning “gift of God”) is an elderly man whose eyesight is failing him. This is why he has been making some errors in the burying of the bodies in The Treasury (the aptly named cemetery), and why he trips over a homeless teenage girl named Novo, whom he unexpectedly appoints as his apprentice.

The responsibility of fixing the chaos in the cemetery falls on Novo, and she must hurry to match the names to the bodies buried in the incorrect graves for several reasons. There are more than a few errant and forgetful ghosts loitering around the cemetery who cannot leave earth as they do not remember their names. There is also something darker on everyone’s heels. The Shadow – a dementor-like creature – is closer than the residents of Vivo (both living and dead) would like.

This story is dark, but also quirky and whimsical. If I were dealing in cliches and musical references, I would say that it is a “spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down” type of story, where the humour co-exists with the darkness. I suppose that’s life, and that’s what Axelrad conveys in his novel.

The story is mostly relayed from the perspective of a first-person narrator. Now, I’m certainly not above a bit of fourth wall breaking, and I liked some of the viewpoints of this type of narrator who functions as another character in the novel, but I am wary of this narration style too, because when the reader is addressed directly, it can come across as a bit condescending. It’s a fine line, and sometimes it didn’t entirely work. There were also moments when I felt that there were perhaps a few too many philosophical titbits and side-quests that didn’t necessarily add to the story.

One of the first things that came to mind when I started reading Buried Treasure is John Proctor’s exclamation in The Crucible, when he says “How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” This book is a story about the importance of our names, but more importantly, our humanity. It is also a love letter to dogs and coffee (which I mostly enjoyed reading while I drank tea with a small cat by my side).

There is much “buried treasure” in this story – look up the meanings of the names of characters, as well as the novel Savage Detectives (which Novo uses as a pillow). There are all kinds of magical details and little easter eggs that are fun to unwrap and savour in this intriguing story which is made up of short, speedy and punchy chapters. It is a story that will stay with you for a while.