Eulálio the Gecko 🦎

Hi!!! Okay, first of all, I have a strong image of Eulalio in my head ((but this is definitely because I just saw Hoppers last week ദ്ദി˙ᗜ˙ ))

The entire dialogue of his, I see this face…

Let's get started with today's blog topic of ✨metamorphosis✨. I actually really did enjoy this book, though it was hard at times to figure out whose dialogue I was reading (; - ;), and yes, I absolutely adore the fact that our narrator is a gecko. Partly because of Tom the lizard from Hoppers, but I also enjoyed the symbolism of Eulalio, as geckos can change their colour based on the environment and temperature. Too bad the chameleons take all the glory for colour-changing reptiles. I grew up in the tropics and have seen the house geckos change in colour (or rather the shade/vibrancy of their skin). With that in mind, I enjoyed having a gecko as our narrator, but I didn't realise he used to be human until later. I still can't figure out whether it was supposed to be a previous life of his or whether he was born human and turned into a gecko later in life. If we go with the previous life route, I can't help but think about how, in Buddhism, we believe in reincarnation. It'd make sense if Eulalio just happened to remember his past life as a human, but that also made me wonder what he did then to be reincarnated as an animal in this life. 

The symbolism of metamorphosis is all over Felix's job as well. He carefully created a new past and identity for people. Their backstory, he created, is well-crafted, and he can tailor it to suit their needs. It's a cool job, but what are the chances that the fact that he's so brilliant is because he's mentally unstable?? I don't think anyone can dream the same thing over and over again in the same way. What if the dreams are not really dreams at all but Felix's hallucination to seek comfort in a being that he sees every day, whom he seems to find comfort in. Oh, Angela Lucia's different names that Felix mentioned were a nice touch, comparing her to light and saying that it changes with the time of day as a form of gradual transformation. I was a little surprised that she shot Edmundo and that Eulalio died in the end (◞‸◟). 

Special mention to my favourite line from the book 

"I was who I was because I lacked the courage to be any different" pg. 154 

Do you think transforming from one thing to another makes us more human? (or less?) or is it even essential at all to have a meaningful life? 

Well, I'll catch y'all later on the next one!