The Dangers of Smoking in Bed

An electrifying and highly original collection of short stories, The Dangers was praised by authors whom I respect, such as Ishiguro and Lauren Groff — and fortunately it lived up to the hype. The territory described by Enríquez is a liminal one, capturing the essence of a decaying city (the stories are set primarily in Buenos Aires), where magical or macabre things can happen. There is more than a nod to the Gothic here. Enríquez acknowledges Argentina's brutal past (the “disappearings”), but this is a collection of stories also very much for the modern age, reflecting on the loneliness of the internet and how communities (especially in the face of pandemic-like circumstances) might turn on themselves. No taboo — be it sexual or violent — seems too much for Enríquez, but the subject matter is handled well. There is here the rare ability to shock and be funny at the same time. I especially enjoyed “The Cart”, “Meat” and “Kids Who Come Back”.

By Mariana Enríquez