9
Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez
Megan McDowell (Translator)
Chosen by Tracy
In these wildly imaginative, devilishly daring tales of the macabre, internationally bestselling author Mariana Enriquez brings contemporary Argentina to vibrant life as a place where shocking inequality, violence, and corruption are the law of the land, while military dictatorship and legions of desaparecidos loom large in the collective memory. In these stories, reminiscent of Shirley Jackson and Julio Cortázar, three young friends distract themselves with drugs and pain in the midst a government-enforced blackout; a girl with nothing to lose steps into an abandoned house and never comes back out; to protest a viral form of domestic violence, a group of women set themselves on fire.
But alongside the black magic and disturbing disappearances, these stories are fueled by compassion for the frightened and the lost, ultimately bringing these characters—mothers and daughters, husbands and wives—into a surprisingly familiar reality. Written in hypnotic prose that gives grace to the grotesque, Things We Lost in the Fire is a powerful exploration of what happens when our darkest desires are left to roam unchecked, and signals the arrival of an astonishing and necessary voice in contemporary fiction.
“Enriquez’s collection remains a favorite. The translation is excellent and the stories lush and complex. A must-read for any reader.”
Tracy
About Mariana Enriquez from Goodreads
Mariana Enriquez (Buenos Aires, 1973) es una periodista y escritora argentina.
Se recibió de Licenciada en Comunicación Social en la Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Se ha desempeñado profesionalmente como periodista y columnista en medios gráficos, como el suplemento Radar del diario Página/12 (donde es sub-editora) y las revistas TXT, La mano, La mujer de mi vida y El Guardián. También participó en radio, como columnista en el programa Gente de a pie, por Radio Nacional.
(Mariana Enriquez (Buenos Aires, 1973) is an Argentine journalist and writer.
She received a degree in Social Communication from the National University of La Plata. She has worked professionally as a journalist and columnist in graphic media, such as the Radar supplement of the newspaper Página / 12 (where she is sub-editor) and the magazines TXT, La mano, La mujer de mi vida and El Guardián. He also participated in radio, as a columnist in the program Gente de a pie, on Radio Nacional.
He worked as a jury in literary competitions and gave writing workshops at the Tomás Eloy Martínez Foundation)
Check back every day through the month of October for our Halloween Cover Countdown 2020 – Come back tomorrow to see what Gracie has in store for you!
GracieKat was the first co-host of Sci-Fi & Scary, Lilyn’s partner-in-crime, and sub-head of the Kali Krew. She reviews horror books, movies, and games for the site. She also does a weekly Focus on the Frightful feature, and is the site list-maker. She is also in control of the Sci-Fi & Scary podcast which will relaunch soon.