9781908276421 And Other Stories, 2015 originally published as Señales que precederán al fin del mundo, 2009 translated by Lisa Dillman 114 pp paperback |
we view a nearly mythical journey taken by Makina, who works as her small town's switchboard operator, and who is asked by her mother to deliver a message to her brother necessitating a journey across the border. In The Transmigration of Bodies, a man known as The Redeemer
9781908276728 And Other Stories, 2016 originally published as La Transmigración de los cuerpos, 2013 translated by Lisa Dillman 101 pp paperback |
acts a go-between to ensure the safe exchange of the bodies of two young people to return them to their families. He has gathered a reputation as someone who fixes people's situations, someone whose handling of matters allowed his clients to have "kept their hands clean of certain matters" earning him their gratitude and respect in return.
Signs begins with the literal exposure of the underworld, as a sinkhole opens and swallows a man, a car and a dog in a town that is "riddled with bullet holes and tunnels bored by five centuries of voracious silver dust." As Makina watches, we watch her moving ever so slowly away from the edge of the hole. Her journey to find her brother is covered in nine chapters, bringing to my mind Virgil guiding Dante through the nine circles. As she moves from point to point we are brought into a story of immigration and its uncertainties, crime and violence, borders, and more, all so nicely done in such a short space. This book doesn't need to be any longer to get its messages across; the same is true with The Transmigration of Bodies. Once again, in this book the opening is significant -- the inhabitants of an unnamed town find themselves in the middle of a plague, a perfect opening for a book that examines the ongoing violence, crime and death in Mexico. The focus on the "bodies" of the title is also interesting, but in the interest of time I'll leave it for others to see how. There is so much more to glean from these little books, but above all, they are books that highlight an amazing writer's art.
There are all manner of reviews and synopses online for both books so I'd look at those for deep insight. I'd like to mention the translator, Lisa Dillman here: I was trying to find information on Yuri Herrera and came across an article from Lithub.com that offers some incredible insight not only into her process, but into Herrera's own stunning use of language as well.
And Other Stories has done it again, and I can't wait to read Herrera's third book in this trilogy when it's translated. Highly, highly recommended.
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