When something doesn’t find its place… we have to move other things. We have to make room, I think.
— Samanta Schweblin, Seven Empty Houses. Megan McDowell, Translator (Riverhead Books, October 18, 2022)
Notes:
- “Seven Empty Houses” is a Finalist for the 2022 National Book Award for Translated Literature. Do I recommend it? Hmmmm. Some of the stories were memorable.
- Photograph of Schweblin by Man Booker in the Guardian.
- Book Review in the Washington Post: “Samanta Schweblin’s ‘Seven Empty Houses’ will keep readers guessing“
…or it will make room without our input
Exactly what Beth said….
it will happen with or without us
Truth!
Definitely. ‘Murder will out,’ as the bard observed. Heard the author interviewed on NPR recently and couldn’t decide if I wanted to pursue this one or not….
https://www.npr.org/2022/10/23/1130782450/a-new-book-of-short-stories-twists-familiar-moments-in-unexpected-and-chilling-w
Stories were definitely interesting. I finished it. At the end of the day, I always hate saying that I can’t recommend, especially with someone with this kind of talent. I’ll just say it wasn’t for me.
Very talented, but from reading a few stories at one link, it’s not for me, either.
Agree….
Hugely talented. But from hearing the review (link), most definitely not for me.
I need uplifting reading, not fodder for nightmares.
Me too!