Maria

Ugly Truths: My Year of Rest and Relaxation

I first heard of Ottessa Moshfegh’s novel My Year of Rest and Relaxation it on Instagram. Everybody was talking about it, I saw pictures of the book everywhere. The reviews, however, were not all good: a masterpiece, a cheap piece of shock literature, a groundbreaking story, an immensely boring book… everybody had a different opinionContinue reading “Ugly Truths: My Year of Rest and Relaxation”

The many conjurings of Piranesi

I can’t remember the last time I wrote about aa book herend that’s really sad, but life can get complicated. Fortunately I just read a book that forced me to talk about it. It was Piranesi by British author Susanna Clarke. This is not my first encounter ith the charms of Susanna Clarke’s fantasy. AContinue reading “The many conjurings of Piranesi”

Giving Pet Sematary a Second Chance

About four years ago I bought myself a copy of Pet Sematary. It was scary, everyone had told me, but not as scary as other novels by Stephen King. I intended to read it in October, since I always dedicate that month to scary books (that one and other months, I must admit), but whenContinue reading “Giving Pet Sematary a Second Chance”

March Wrap-Up

Hello there! I know I’m a bit late to publish these, but here we go. La hija única, Guadalupe Nettel Guadalupe Nettel is one of the most praised contemporary voices in Mexico and her books often have the same themes: the grotesque, bodily differences and functions, bodies in general and taboos. Although I am notContinue reading “March Wrap-Up”

Mariana Enriquez’s Ode to Cemeteries

A couple of years ago I became acquainted with Mariana Enriquez’s storytelling. I since marvel at the Argentinian writer’s talent to conjure up such terrifying stories from the daily Latin American everyday violence. She is one of the few contemporary writers that creep me out (in a good way, I guess) and when I discoveredContinue reading “Mariana Enriquez’s Ode to Cemeteries”

The Newness of Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf

I just read one of those books everybody reads in high school. Since I can remember being a reader and making reading lists, Steppenwolf has been on my radar; many people in several different places and contexts had recommended the book to me, and I can’t really say why it took me so long toContinue reading “The Newness of Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf”

Lana Del Rey’s Poetry: Violet Bent Backwards over the Grass

Reading Lana Del Rey’s new poetry book.

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

Translated from the Japanese in 2019, this is a mesmerizing book that submerges you in its dystopic winter. It is the story of a novelist in an unnamed island where things have begun to disappear: hats, birds, photographs and even boats…

2021 Updates

Only 12 days of 2021 have elapsed and so many things have changed for me already. It’s been a while since I posted anything other than books, so I thought I’d start the year right and write a bit about myself. I’ve had this blog for over five years now, since I was a LiteratureContinue reading “2021 Updates”

My Favourite Books of 2020

2020 was a terrible year for almost everyone and everything. However, books were a silver lining for many of us and confinement is definitely an excuse for reading through the day.

Cosy Reads for Christmas

I can’t believe it’s December already! This year went by so fast, but I hope I’m not too late to recommend some of my favorite reads for these bleak and short days. Although I don’t really have vacations now, I remember December being my favourite month to tackle my reading list, back when I studiedContinue reading “Cosy Reads for Christmas”

The Darkness Within: Shirley Jackson’s Tales

For my last spooky read of the year (it’s almost Christmas!) I chose an author I’m familiar with. I’ve been a fan of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle because they really scared me, although not in a way that most horror books do. Shirley Jackson’sContinue reading “The Darkness Within: Shirley Jackson’s Tales”