I’ve recently finished reading a fantastic speculative fiction collection by Argentinian author Mariana Enriquez. The twelve stories in A Sunny Place for Shady People are dark, somewhat disturbing, but also terribly beautiful.
Enriquez is a fantastic writer (and the translation by Megan McDowell is excellent). She imbues her stories with elements of folklore and myth from Argentina, while also showing life in a post-COVID world. There are several references to the pandemic and it felt as if the worldwide shutdown influenced some of the darker themes.
Death and spirits are recurring. There are characters who can see and speak with the dead, spirits that torment the living, and other strange creatures. I wouldn’t necessarily call these horror stories. They are all grounded in reality, the modern lives of ordinary Argentinians, but the characters encounter – or live with – strange and surreal things in their lives.
There is also a recurring theme of decay that I found interesting: societal decay and moral decay. It made me wonder if this is the mood in Argentina. What I mean is, each of the recent short story collections I’ve read has been from different parts of the world, and each one felt as if it had a recurring theme: learning to adapt to change, seeking connection with the past, fear of the future, etc. If decay is the underlying theme of this collection, what does that say about the country and the mood of its people?
Enriquez weaves some wonderfully weird and poignant fiction and I look forward to reading more of her work. I definitely recommend this collection of stories.
RB
That sounds fascinating! Thank you! 💞
Thanks, Dawn! I appreciate you stopping by. 🙂
The pandemic will never stop touching us. I don’t think I will have not have students who were not altered by the lockdown again. This book is a reminder of how the world has changed.
I can’t imagine what the post-COVID world is like for your students. It must be surreal.
Thanks for stopping by, Devonne.
I love the title of this book. Great review, my friend, and introduction to another new-to-me author. How many books do you read per month? I used to read much more in the past than I do now.
Yeah, the title is what initially got my attention.
I read one or two a month on average. Depends on the length of the book and how much the author draws me in.
Seems like a book worth reading, Richard.
Very much so, Pat, but only if you like darker themes.
Thanks for stopping by!
You read a very wide range of authors and genres Richard
That I do, Sheree. I feel it helps me to better understand the world.
I can see that Richard
Ughhh.. I wrote a comment but it doesn’t seem to appear.
I swear, WP is testing my patience 👺 is it there or…?
Sorry, Andrea, but I don’t see it anywhere. Not in the Spam folder, not in the trash. I’m not sure why WordPress is being such a pain for you!
Mhh yeah, not sure what is going on but my comments dont seem to appear on many people’s posts..
Just remember, each time I like your post, I do actually write a comment and not neglecting it 😄
I downloaded another book of this writer because that is what my book app has available. But it is the same theme.
Listen to the first story and love the creepiness and mysteriousness about it!
I listen to a book about human sacrifice and voodoo and stuff like that before. I don’t believe in it myself, but many cultures in south america and africa and probably other places are based on it. Definitely interesting to dig deeper into! 😄
I’ll keep that in mind when I don’t see a comment and just imagine it’s there! 🙂
I’m glad you picked up one of her books! I bought this copy mostly due to the title, but was immediately caught up in the first story.
I hope you enjoy the rest of her book, my friend!