Publication
Amsterdam Uitgeverij Atlas Contact 2017
ISBN
9789025448356
Language
Collections
Description
An arresting collection of short stories, reminiscent of Shirley Jackson and Julio Cortazar, by an exciting new international talent.
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
I loved this book. Absolutely loved this book. Several people will be getting copies from me once it's officially released, it's that good.
It's a tough book to describe, and I can't really go into any of these stories without giving away too much of the show, but I see it as realism mixed with
"We walk all over bones in this city, it's just a question of making holes deep enough to reach the buried dead."
Things We Lost in the Fire is incredibly disturbing -- I made the mistake of starting "The Invocation of the Big-Eared Runt" just before bedtime and actually had to put the book down or I would been awake all night due to the crushing subject matter. On the flip side, though, it's also one of the best books I've read this year. In this day and age, when so much of what's being published seems to be stuck in the mode of same old same old, Enríquez brings a fresh new voice and perspective to the world of what I call dark fiction. It is, in a word, stunning.
ps/there's a brief nod to HP Lovecraft in this book -- see if you can spot it.
It's a tough book to describe, and I can't really go into any of these stories without giving away too much of the show, but I see it as realism mixed with
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utter terror, either in a true-to-life sense, for example the horrific actions of the soldiers or the feeling of powerlessness from "Spiderweb" or in other stories which combine the very real horrors of the streets and the mind with the supernatural to make it even doubly terrifying, for which you need turn no further than the first story "The Dirty Kid." This approach seems to allow the author a lot of flexibility in discussing gender, relationships, women's issues, poverty, crime and other realities in contemporary Argentina, and the best part is that it's so very well done that she doesn't need to come up with explanations, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. It's not stated so overtly, but in every story there are echoes of Argentina's past, which is never far away, as she notes in this quotation from "No Flesh Over My Bones" :"We walk all over bones in this city, it's just a question of making holes deep enough to reach the buried dead."
Things We Lost in the Fire is incredibly disturbing -- I made the mistake of starting "The Invocation of the Big-Eared Runt" just before bedtime and actually had to put the book down or I would been awake all night due to the crushing subject matter. On the flip side, though, it's also one of the best books I've read this year. In this day and age, when so much of what's being published seems to be stuck in the mode of same old same old, Enríquez brings a fresh new voice and perspective to the world of what I call dark fiction. It is, in a word, stunning.
ps/there's a brief nod to HP Lovecraft in this book -- see if you can spot it.
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LibraryThing member nancyadair
The stories in Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez are more than eerie or creepy. They are disturbing, upsetting, and some are even repulsive.
A Goblin-like creature sinks its teeth into a cat. A woman's husband conveniently disappears. A woman obsesses over a skull, driving her boyfriend
In 1970 an Argentinian exchange student stayed with my family for a weekend exchange. His father owned a prosperous shoe factory. We felt his disdain for our blue collar life. He was used to maids and servants and a large home. I learned that his was a country of wealth and poverty.
Reading theses stories I realized how Argentina's bloody political past has left its imprint on the Argentinian people's souls. I shuddered while reading about the street children of poverty, six-year-olds turning tricks to feed their addiction, the hopeless barrios with their shrines to cults or Expeditus, the unofficial patron saint of speedy cases. The ghost of a violent past is ever present.
In the story Under the Black Water cops are charged with beating and killing two teens, dumping their bodies in the polluted Riacheulo river that runs through Buenos Aries. Only one body has been found. The cops are jaunty and sure they are untouchable. The DA on the case decides to visit the scene of the crime. The taxi driver won't even take her inside the boundary of the dangerous slum.
The children who live along the river are mutants from the lead, chromium, and toxic waste dumped into the river. They are born with extra arms and deformed faces.
"It was the most polluted river in the world, experts affirmed, Argentina had taken the river winding around its capital, which could have made for a beautiful day trip, and polluted it almost arbitrarily, practically for the fun of it."
She is looking for the priest of the church, who she has been unable to contact.
"The building was no longer a church...The crucifix had disappeared...In place of the altar there was a wooden pole stuck into a common metal flower pot. And impaled on the pole was a cow's head."
The priest tells her that the missing boy "woke up the thing sleeping under the water." Outside a procession is carrying something on a mattress.
"You know, for years I thought that rotten river was a sign of our ineptitude. How we never think about the future," the priest tells her. But now he realizes the pollution and filth was intended to cover "something up, something they didn't want to let out, and they buried it under layers and layers of oil and mud!"
The story concludes open-ended. The reader can decide what evil lurks, and if it is physical or spiritual.
I see these stories as warnings of the evil we can unleash, the psychic and spiritual deformities.
I received a free book through Blogging for Books in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
A Goblin-like creature sinks its teeth into a cat. A woman's husband conveniently disappears. A woman obsesses over a skull, driving her boyfriend
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from her life. Women walk into bonfires to be deformed, or starve themselves to be thin, or are 'ordered' to cut themselves. A priest working in the barrio becomes suicidally insane.In 1970 an Argentinian exchange student stayed with my family for a weekend exchange. His father owned a prosperous shoe factory. We felt his disdain for our blue collar life. He was used to maids and servants and a large home. I learned that his was a country of wealth and poverty.
Reading theses stories I realized how Argentina's bloody political past has left its imprint on the Argentinian people's souls. I shuddered while reading about the street children of poverty, six-year-olds turning tricks to feed their addiction, the hopeless barrios with their shrines to cults or Expeditus, the unofficial patron saint of speedy cases. The ghost of a violent past is ever present.
In the story Under the Black Water cops are charged with beating and killing two teens, dumping their bodies in the polluted Riacheulo river that runs through Buenos Aries. Only one body has been found. The cops are jaunty and sure they are untouchable. The DA on the case decides to visit the scene of the crime. The taxi driver won't even take her inside the boundary of the dangerous slum.
The children who live along the river are mutants from the lead, chromium, and toxic waste dumped into the river. They are born with extra arms and deformed faces.
"It was the most polluted river in the world, experts affirmed, Argentina had taken the river winding around its capital, which could have made for a beautiful day trip, and polluted it almost arbitrarily, practically for the fun of it."
She is looking for the priest of the church, who she has been unable to contact.
"The building was no longer a church...The crucifix had disappeared...In place of the altar there was a wooden pole stuck into a common metal flower pot. And impaled on the pole was a cow's head."
The priest tells her that the missing boy "woke up the thing sleeping under the water." Outside a procession is carrying something on a mattress.
"You know, for years I thought that rotten river was a sign of our ineptitude. How we never think about the future," the priest tells her. But now he realizes the pollution and filth was intended to cover "something up, something they didn't want to let out, and they buried it under layers and layers of oil and mud!"
The story concludes open-ended. The reader can decide what evil lurks, and if it is physical or spiritual.
I see these stories as warnings of the evil we can unleash, the psychic and spiritual deformities.
I received a free book through Blogging for Books in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member froxgirl
DNF too creepy for me
LibraryThing member RyanF221
I received this book almost 2 months ago and had all intentions of reviewing it soon after. Yet, I was so close to finishing the shortlist for The Morning News' Tournament of Books. When that was over I had to read something light and easy. And then my wife and I had a kid and my reading life has
The first story ("Dirty Kid") was a slow starter for me, but portrayed a few of the common themes (e.g. the mysterious/supernatural). When later stories focused around creepy locales or buildings ("The Inn", "Adela's House", "The Neighbor's Courtyard") I was sold. I kept thinking that the stories all had a simmering creepiness that reminded me of Shirley Jackson (think about the way "The Lottery" saunters along in grim reality until the shocking climax) and Kelly Link (and not just because she blurbed the book). And the stories have that classic horror movie strategy of avoiding the monster reveal; I'm still picturing "Under the Black Water" two weeks later.
The stories are fun and do not depend on any particular knowledge of Argentina (or any of Latin America). However, a reader with some knowledge of the Peron's or of the "desaparecidos" (among other possible socio-political fixtures in Argentinian/Lat. American history) become aware of a more disturbing reality within the stories: a reality with even more relevance for Americans in Trump's US.
Without spending too much time trying to explain all the features of these stories, let me just say that you should read them. Read them because they are twisted and scary and even fun - even if they hit too close to home at times re political disillusionment.
Thanks to LibraryThing and Hogarth for this ARC.
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been noticeably changed. This poor book has been pushed back so much that when I finally got around to reading it I had very little enthusiasm. But it won me over in spite of myself.The first story ("Dirty Kid") was a slow starter for me, but portrayed a few of the common themes (e.g. the mysterious/supernatural). When later stories focused around creepy locales or buildings ("The Inn", "Adela's House", "The Neighbor's Courtyard") I was sold. I kept thinking that the stories all had a simmering creepiness that reminded me of Shirley Jackson (think about the way "The Lottery" saunters along in grim reality until the shocking climax) and Kelly Link (and not just because she blurbed the book). And the stories have that classic horror movie strategy of avoiding the monster reveal; I'm still picturing "Under the Black Water" two weeks later.
The stories are fun and do not depend on any particular knowledge of Argentina (or any of Latin America). However, a reader with some knowledge of the Peron's or of the "desaparecidos" (among other possible socio-political fixtures in Argentinian/Lat. American history) become aware of a more disturbing reality within the stories: a reality with even more relevance for Americans in Trump's US.
Without spending too much time trying to explain all the features of these stories, let me just say that you should read them. Read them because they are twisted and scary and even fun - even if they hit too close to home at times re political disillusionment.
Thanks to LibraryThing and Hogarth for this ARC.
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LibraryThing member allison_s
3.5?
Not the best collection I've read in the last year, but there are several super strong stories here that almost carry the rest of them. Creepy, messed up, gory.
Not the best collection I've read in the last year, but there are several super strong stories here that almost carry the rest of them. Creepy, messed up, gory.
LibraryThing member alanteder
Gothic with a frisson of Lovecraftian terror
There is a slow burn in this book of a dozen short stories that simmers from reserved beginnings to more explicit terror by the end. Each of the stories still has its intimations of ghosts and lurking menace in them but these are not always in the
I'm not going to go into spoilers here except to say that when you see wording and phrasing such as "YAINGNGAHYOGSOTHOTHHEELGEBFAITHRODOG" and "In his house, the dead man waits dreaming." in the story Under the Black Water, there is no way to ignore the hint of the Lovecraftian Cthulhu Mythos. Lovecraft's saying "ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" (In his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming) is a regular catchphrase in the mythos. Another Lovecraftian touch occurs in several stories where the final sentence packs the largest impact of horror even though it may seem innocuous if quoted out of context.
This first English language book by Mariana Enriquez is an excellent collection of creepy stories that is well translated by Megan McDowell (also the translator of Samantha Schweblin's "Fever Dream") who provides historical context about Argentinean history and Argentinean gothic fiction in a translator's afterword note.
There is a slow burn in this book of a dozen short stories that simmers from reserved beginnings to more explicit terror by the end. Each of the stories still has its intimations of ghosts and lurking menace in them but these are not always in the
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forefront. I'm not going to go into spoilers here except to say that when you see wording and phrasing such as "YAINGNGAHYOGSOTHOTHHEELGEBFAITHRODOG" and "In his house, the dead man waits dreaming." in the story Under the Black Water, there is no way to ignore the hint of the Lovecraftian Cthulhu Mythos. Lovecraft's saying "ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" (In his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming) is a regular catchphrase in the mythos. Another Lovecraftian touch occurs in several stories where the final sentence packs the largest impact of horror even though it may seem innocuous if quoted out of context.
This first English language book by Mariana Enriquez is an excellent collection of creepy stories that is well translated by Megan McDowell (also the translator of Samantha Schweblin's "Fever Dream") who provides historical context about Argentinean history and Argentinean gothic fiction in a translator's afterword note.
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LibraryThing member dandelionroots
Dark tales from Argentina; some with a supernatural leaning, but all highlighting a disturbing side of humanity. First short story compilation where I've enjoyed the entire collection.
"The city didn't have any great murderers if you didn't count the dictators -- not included in the tour for reasons
"She didn't want to be beautiful; she wanted to be strong, razor sharp."
"The city didn't have any great murderers if you didn't count the dictators -- not included in the tour for reasons
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of political correctness.""She didn't want to be beautiful; she wanted to be strong, razor sharp."
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LibraryThing member Liz1564
The book was sent to me by the publisher Crown Publishers via Net Gallery. Thank you.
Argentinean author Mariana Enriquez is a talented and evocative writer, even in translation. Her stories, twelve in this volume, paint vivid pictures of modern society in Argentina. Although most of the stories are
There are six-year-old almost feral children who haunt the railroad stations and sell themselves for sex so they can get food or drugs. There are drugged-out teenagers who watch friends die and are too high to feel anything except a mild curiosity. Ritual sacrifices of children take place to placate a minor folk deity. Women throw themselves on bonfires to mutilate themselves so that people finally notice them. All the stories are horrific.
I cannot give this a star rating because I found the subject matter very disturbing. These are powerful tales, but I wished that there could have been even a slight hope that someone could escape his fate. This is pure evil in the mainstream 21st century world.
I would recommend this for readers who can appreciate beautiful writing about terrible themes. This would be a five star read.
Argentinean author Mariana Enriquez is a talented and evocative writer, even in translation. Her stories, twelve in this volume, paint vivid pictures of modern society in Argentina. Although most of the stories are
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about people hanging onto life by their fingernails, these are people from all social classes. What is exposed is horror and evil.There are six-year-old almost feral children who haunt the railroad stations and sell themselves for sex so they can get food or drugs. There are drugged-out teenagers who watch friends die and are too high to feel anything except a mild curiosity. Ritual sacrifices of children take place to placate a minor folk deity. Women throw themselves on bonfires to mutilate themselves so that people finally notice them. All the stories are horrific.
I cannot give this a star rating because I found the subject matter very disturbing. These are powerful tales, but I wished that there could have been even a slight hope that someone could escape his fate. This is pure evil in the mainstream 21st century world.
I would recommend this for readers who can appreciate beautiful writing about terrible themes. This would be a five star read.
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LibraryThing member BALE
Things We Lost in the Fire
by Mariana Enriquez
Things We Lost in the Fire is a series of twelve short stories, each serving as a social commentary on the darker side of present-day life in Argentina. Influenced by violent mythologies, there are ghosts and supernatural apparitions and occurrences.
Ms. Enriquez is a journalist and novelist who seems deeply connected to her homeland. She is skilled at portraying disturbing detail with purpose, but without rigidity or farce. Her stories are filled with haunting and memorable images one will not soon forget.
by Mariana Enriquez
Things We Lost in the Fire is a series of twelve short stories, each serving as a social commentary on the darker side of present-day life in Argentina. Influenced by violent mythologies, there are ghosts and supernatural apparitions and occurrences.
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They are macabre tales of extreme circumstances, broken marriages, mental illness, abuse, torture and murder, to name a few. All reveal some aspect of the human condition.Ms. Enriquez is a journalist and novelist who seems deeply connected to her homeland. She is skilled at portraying disturbing detail with purpose, but without rigidity or farce. Her stories are filled with haunting and memorable images one will not soon forget.
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LibraryThing member MissPrudence
I received a free copy of this book through Early Reviewers for an unbiased review.
Very interesting dark stories! The protagonist of each story is a girl or woman, and the stories speak about the lives and fears of women. The adult protagonists often have unsatisfactory relationships with husbands,
As with most story collections, I liked some stories better than others, but all were worth reading. They are short enough that I could read most a single setting, which was optimal for letting the atmosphere of each individual story sink in. There are some very difficult issues: child abuse and neglect, and in one story, an upsetting animal death; people who prefer not to read that sort of thing should probably avoid this book. But those who are looking for a set of eerie stories from an interesting new voice should give it a try.
I will definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author!
Very interesting dark stories! The protagonist of each story is a girl or woman, and the stories speak about the lives and fears of women. The adult protagonists often have unsatisfactory relationships with husbands,
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boyfriends, or families. The girls and young women are often acting out or exploring the world with a curiosity that is not always healthy. Many of the stories involve hauntings: of people or places, either literal or metaphorical. Society at large is mysterious and dangerous. Some of the more tragic history of Argentina plays a part in some stories, in a way both pertinent and frightening. One story struck me as Lovecraftian. As with most story collections, I liked some stories better than others, but all were worth reading. They are short enough that I could read most a single setting, which was optimal for letting the atmosphere of each individual story sink in. There are some very difficult issues: child abuse and neglect, and in one story, an upsetting animal death; people who prefer not to read that sort of thing should probably avoid this book. But those who are looking for a set of eerie stories from an interesting new voice should give it a try.
I will definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author!
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LibraryThing member mootzymom
I found myself holding my breath and concentrating so hard on some the stories. Compelling and heartbreaking I found most the stories . Voices of tragedy, poverty, unspeakable human acts as well as passion, conviction and tradition.
LibraryThing member kvrfan
These short stories by Argentine author Mariana Enriquez is really a collection of ghost stories. Whether the ghosts are supernatural in nature or "merely" psychological manifestations is irrelevant; the effects upon the protagonists are just the same.
I know very little about Argentine history
But this is my interpretation. One should not get the impression by this snap analysis that these stories are heavy-handedly polemic. In fact, while I often find short-story collections a "mixed bag" with a few winners interspersed with less-successful entries, I found every one of Ms. Enriquez's stories fully absorbing. After finishing one I was eager to read the next to see where she would take me.
My understanding is that this is her first book in English translation. I look forward to more. She deserves a wide readership outside her native country.
I know very little about Argentine history
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beyond a vague awareness of the notorious "dirty war" of the 1970s in which the government, controlled by the military, violently persecuted dissidents with many being tortured and "disappeared." Though that era now stands decades ago, Enriquez's stories inform me that Argentina is still a haunted country, "ghosts" still evident in the country's rich/poor disparities, a police force than can still act with impunity, and a heritage of gender inequality and domestic violence.But this is my interpretation. One should not get the impression by this snap analysis that these stories are heavy-handedly polemic. In fact, while I often find short-story collections a "mixed bag" with a few winners interspersed with less-successful entries, I found every one of Ms. Enriquez's stories fully absorbing. After finishing one I was eager to read the next to see where she would take me.
My understanding is that this is her first book in English translation. I look forward to more. She deserves a wide readership outside her native country.
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LibraryThing member BrittanyLyn
An enthralling collection of short stories. The common thread of paranormal activity and suspense weaves this collection together beautifully. This book had it all for me, horror, gothic styling, and engaging characters. The setting of Argentina was also done very well and I felt that it added much
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to the overall atmosphere of the book. I cannot wait to see what Mariana Enriquez comes out with next. Would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in short stories, horror, paranatural, and gothic literature. Show Less
LibraryThing member banjo123
This Early Reviewer book is a collection of short stories by Mariana Enriquez translated by Megan McDowell. She is an Argentinean writer, this is her first work translated into English. She is a terrific writer, and I predict will have a lot of success here. However, to be honest, this book was
I think that her stories fall in the horror genre, but the supernatural horror is lightly sprinkled, which lets the horror of real life shine through. Themes include poverty, homeless and endangered children, and mental illness. The theme that is hardest for me, in these stories, is that of young women, teens, who react to the violence and misogyny of their worlds by taking the violence out on themselves and their own bodies. It's well done, and feels realistic, which actually only made if harder for me.
But I think that there are a lot of people who would really like this book. I read another review that compared her to Shirley Jackson, which I think is an apt comparision.
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difficult for me, due to some of my own issues, and I probably won't read her againI think that her stories fall in the horror genre, but the supernatural horror is lightly sprinkled, which lets the horror of real life shine through. Themes include poverty, homeless and endangered children, and mental illness. The theme that is hardest for me, in these stories, is that of young women, teens, who react to the violence and misogyny of their worlds by taking the violence out on themselves and their own bodies. It's well done, and feels realistic, which actually only made if harder for me.
But I think that there are a lot of people who would really like this book. I read another review that compared her to Shirley Jackson, which I think is an apt comparision.
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LibraryThing member bookaholicgirl
These stories were unsettling, disturbing and amazing. Mariana Enriquez is a strong voice and her writing is mesmerizing. I cannot recommend this book enough.
LibraryThing member MisterMelon
I think I'm being generous by giving this collection of stories three stars, because I don't really think any of the stories would merit more than a three star rating by themselves. I was looking forward to reading this English translation of a popular modern Argentinan author, but mostly, these
**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review.**
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stories didn't get me. I was promised "macabre, disturbing, and exhilarating," and it didn't happen for me. Perhaps I'm too jaded, but most of these stories felt like they were missing something, the something that draws you in and makes you really feel like you are there. If you aren't there, you can't feel disturbed or exhilirated. There were some good bits, and based on the reviews, I have a feeling that perhaps the original packs more of a punch than this translation.**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review.**
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LibraryThing member msf59
“The stench of resignation was in the air and seeped from the twisted mouths of embittered people, including the whiny parents we scorned now more than ever.”
This is an impressive collection of twelve stories, mostly set in Argentina. Many of the tales take place in impoverished areas and there
This is an impressive collection of twelve stories, mostly set in Argentina. Many of the tales take place in impoverished areas and there
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is murder, self-immolation, drug use, black magic and other ghostly leanings, all told in a strong, strikingly, original voice. I like my books and stories dark, but this one continues to give me the creeps. A bold debut and I will forward to seeing what this young author does next. Show Less
LibraryThing member datrappert
This powerful set of short stories by an Argentinian writer deserves the hype it seems to be getting. These are original works that pull you (or at least an American reader) into a world that is like ours only on the surface. Beneath it lie local traditions and superstitions that form the core of
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some of these stories. Even when the story seems to deal with more mundane male-female difficulties, Ms. Enriquez writes in a voice that leaves us wondering if the story may veer off into horror--or worse. Perhaps the best story in the book, "Adela's House", is definitely a horror story, but its grounding in reality, as told through a childhood experience, makes it much more effective and harder to forget. There are lots of other discoveries to make in these twelve stories. None are weak. Some are superb. I highly recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member lisan.
I was happy to win this giveaway of short stories written by an Argentinian author. I had no expectations going in, so I wasn't sure what theme these stories followed. I was surprised to discover that there was something unsettling about these stories, even when they weren't overtly frightening,
It was interesting to read about Argentina, a country I have always wanted to visit. There were some references to the people, and the country that went over my head, but I enjoyed it all the same. Despite not liking every story in the book, and despite being made to look over my shoulder a little too often while reading this, I really liked this book, and would recommend it to people who like their horror to be unsettling and atmospheric. (As I do!)
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although many of them were. That sinister edge crept up on most of them, and I was often more scared by the scary parts than I would have been in another book because I wasn't expecting them. If you like Stephen King's short stories, or Shirley Jackson, you will probably like this book. A few stories were a little dull, but most of them were pretty creepy.It was interesting to read about Argentina, a country I have always wanted to visit. There were some references to the people, and the country that went over my head, but I enjoyed it all the same. Despite not liking every story in the book, and despite being made to look over my shoulder a little too often while reading this, I really liked this book, and would recommend it to people who like their horror to be unsettling and atmospheric. (As I do!)
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LibraryThing member catscritch
This little book of short stories provides just enough juice to scare yourself silly. Set in South America, where real life is spooky enough, Enriquez guides you to the edge of fear before disappearing before your very eyes (or imagination). The human mind can conjure up terrors worse than any old
An advanced reader’s copy of this book was provided for an honest review.
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ghost story and she’s an expert at surprise. Some stories you may shake off but others… well, I’ll just wager some of them will visit your dreams after reading.An advanced reader’s copy of this book was provided for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member KLmesoftly
I thought of Shirley Jackson a lot while I was reading these stories - like Jackson, Enriquez lives very easily in that ambiguous gradient between straight-up horror writing and character studies of women losing their minds. Her narrators are unreliable...but not untrustworthy - everything on the
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page feels very true, if not quite real. Show Less
LibraryThing member bayleaf
Suspend all disbelief. Mariana Enriquez’ stories in Things We Lost in the Fire are not simply horror stories or tales to be told in the dead of night. Yes, they’re dark, often uncomfortable to read, and never once take you out of the underbelly of Buenos Aires, but there’s a point to these
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narratives. In the title story, “Things We Lost in the Fire,” a badly burned woman begs on the subway and this eventually turns into a phenomenon where women all over the city willingly burn themselves, often beyond recognition, drawing our attention to the physical abuse of women. In “Spiderweb” and “An Invocation of the Big-Eared Runt” Enriquez covers marriage and in “Green Red Orange,” not only mental illness (also touched on in “The Neighbor’s Courtyard”), but the disconnect caused by social networking. Many cover poverty, most particularly and poignantly in “The Dirty Child.” I am a big fan of the Akashic Noir series and I can only hope that when the Buenos Aires Noir edition is published, a story from this collection is included. It is incredibly accomplished and many are unforgettable. Show Less
LibraryThing member wevans
A phenomenal short story collection by the Argentinian writer Mariana Enriquez. Tales from the margins of society, painted with a dark supernatural brush, told in the emotionally naturalistic voices of Buenos Aires social workers, teenage girls, graphic designers, and kids. Themes of power,
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corruption, gender, and poverty are heavy enough to give the stories real resonance, but they don't weigh down the pleasures of character, voice, and unsettling weirdness. Show Less
LibraryThing member DanaJean
Deliciously disturbing stories full of the dark side of the moon situations. Great characters and plots, well written, Enriquez writes with a precision that makes every word count. And in a short story format, the story needs to remain tight and efficient.
The graphic situations in some of the
Nice collection.
The graphic situations in some of the
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stories left me morally queasy, but I can still appreciate the talent.Nice collection.
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LibraryThing member faceinbook
Wow....just .....wow. Mariana Enriquez has written in a voice that is both timeless and unique. She has infused the short stories contained in this collection with culture, youth and feminism. To read one of the stories in Things We Lost In The Fire, is to be immersed into the culture of Argentina,
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the way of life in the poorer areas of the countries bigger cities and into the heart of a young woman. I am unfamiliar with this part of the world but a little less so now. Ms. Enriquez captures the dark under tow of life lived close to the bone, where superstitions still are part of everyday life. These tales are what I would call atmospheric.....Mariana Enriquez sets a time and place....the reader is drawn into that setting swiftly and totally. It is a testament to Ms. Enriquez's talent that these stories do this while containing so much magic realism....or perhaps that isn't it....maybe it's more like fantasy horror, or perhaps a mixture of the two. Not sure which it is but this author does it well. I am glad to have had the opportunity to read this book. Not sure I would have picked it up on my own. It sounded interesting and I was lucky enough to win a copy. It is a book I can recommend to other readers. Show Less
Awards
Original publication date
2016