In 'Things We Lost in the Fire,' Mariana Enriquez unveils a haunting world steeped in the shadows of violence and the supernatural. Each story intertwines the macabre with the mundane, revealing the chilling realities of life in contemporary Argentina. From ghostly apparitions to the harsh truths of societal decay, the narratives explore the depths of fear and the resilience of the human spirit. Enriquez masterfully captures the essence of despair while illuminating the transformative power of confronting one's nightmares. This collection leaves readers questioning what they are willing to lose—and what remains when everything else is gone.
By Mariana Enriquez
Published: 2017
"We all have our ghosts, and some of them are like fires that never extinguish."
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.
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“We all have our ghosts, and some of them are like fires that never extinguish.”
Things We Lost in the Fire
By Mariana Enriquez
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Mariana Enriquez is an acclaimed Argentine author, known for her hauntingly evocative narratives that explore themes of violence, societal decay, and the supernatural. Her notable works include 'Things We Lost in the Fire', a collection of short stories that garnered international praise, as well as the novels 'The Dangers of Smoking in Bed' and 'Our Share of Night'. Enriquez's writing is characterized by its rich, atmospheric prose and a deep psychological insight that often reflects the dark realities of contemporary Latin America. She is recognized for her ability to blend horror with social commentary, making her a prominent voice in modern literature.
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