All of these stories are great. And some I absolutely loved. If someone ever created an art series about these, I'd decorate my library with the prints. The stories are so incredibly beautiful and graphic. They'd make a good TV series too.

Enríquez's writing, translated by Megan McDowell, reminded me a lot of Francesca Lia Block's writing in that they both manage to infuse a lot of magic into the places and women they write about. It's darkly romantic and fantastical. This made me want to live in Argentina as much as Block has made me want to live in L.A. The stories were a mix of horrific, creepy, and ominous and all seemed to deal with different aspects of girlhood and womanhood.

My favorites were The Intoxicated Years, An Invocation of the Big Eared Runt, and Things We Lost in the Fire.

My only very minor complaint is that some of these felt like they ended too soon. I wanted more.

I can't wait to buy this in Spanish and explore more of Mariana Enríquez's writing. ( )

An interesting collection of short stories, many of which were dark. I was most fond of the final tale: one in which women burn themselves as a way to bring attention to their mistreatment. It's the kind of subversive idea I like, but that also possesses a kind of horror, which the author leans into. ( )

I wasn't quite sure what it make of this book when I started it. It turns out is is a great, but pretty depressing collection of short stories. It is a good mix of horror, suspense, intense, and a whole other set of descriptors for these stories. They were refreshing to read, but very heavy and one of those books that one has to be ready for. It is hard to describe, so just read it. Trust me, but be prepared. ( )

A very group of stories, some better than others but in general very well created and with an original plot. Perhaps what I liked least were the open endings of some. ( )

A collection of contemporary stories all set in Argentina.

All the stories are dark, creepy, scary, gruesome, terrifying. The repeating themes are haunted places and ghosts, child abuse and abused children, drug abuse, homelessness, people who are mutilated either by birth or accident or through cruelty or (shockingly in the title story) by choice.

I want to think I'm not a fan of dark short stories, but my reading list and reviews tell me I really love to be shocked and horrified - but only for 10 or 20 pages at a go.

( )