There are authors with their own unique stamp, and others without. Montse Barderi's (Sabadell, 1969) is the philosophical tone, that reflective way of conveying the stories that characterizes her novels, whatever they talk about. The sea, which shines and laughs–a title taken from a verse by Maragall– goes further and flirts with the fable, which is the simplest form of philosophy. In this case, the author doesn't seem driven by any didactic purpose—which would be narratively counterproductive—but by the mere desire to investigate the human condition, which is no small feat.

"Little by little I drown, stuffed with blue mussel jellyfish, segmented coral, shaved posidonia and overfishing: I grow irreversibly old." The narrator who Montse Barderi (Sabadell, 1969) has chosen the sea for his new novel, which speaks from our present and explains his fascination with a girl, Daniela, whose life he follows, full of obstacles and disappointments, until she reaches her full potential.