by Mariana Enriquez, translated by Megan McDowell
Published September 17, 2024 by Random House/Hogarth
A new collection by Argentine literary horror master Mariana Enriquez is such a treat. A Sunny Place for Shady People is a collection of 12 short stories full of beauty, heartbreak, terror, and rage.
I read this collection over a period of 8 months. Enriquez’s work is the opposite of bingeable: it’s so dark and beautiful that I like to take my time and reread favourites as I go. Her work is empathetic and political in many places, and living in a time where I’m seeing support for fascism rise in my own country of Canada, a lot of Enriquez’s writing feels like a warning.
My personal favourite stories were:
- My Sad Dead (available from The New Yorker, if you’d like a preview)
- Face of Disgrace
- Different Colours Made of Tears
- Local Artist
- Black Eyes
Megan McDowell’s translation is smooth and beautiful as always.
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Hogarth for my review copy of this book.
Leanne Olson 
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