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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
A pandemic has overtaken a Mexican city. Two feuding crime families, the Castros and the Fonsecas, each wind up in the possession of a dead body from the other family. The Redeemer (our protaganist), a go-between, works with the two families for them to peacefully make the exchange. In the meantime, The Redeemer, works to advance his own sex life and survive unscathed the mysterious illness that is going around. This novella is a sort of noir/mystery/pandemic mashup.
I will definitely check out Herrera's more recent book, [b:Signs Preceding the End of the World|21535546|Signs Preceding the End of the World|Yuri Herrera|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398195367l/21535546._SY75_.jpg|15089950], which has a ton of rave reviews.
I will definitely check out Herrera's more recent book, [b:Signs Preceding the End of the World|21535546|Signs Preceding the End of the World|Yuri Herrera|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398195367l/21535546._SY75_.jpg|15089950], which has a ton of rave reviews.
Set in Mexico City basically during COVID But Worse, The Transmigration of Bodies is a noirish take on Romeo and Juliet where a mob fixer called the Redeemer organizes an exchange of corpses between two different crime families
It's fairly misogynistic, the Romeo and Juliet take was kind of non-existent, and the plot is v much nothing but vibes
But idk something about the style kinda Hit... The writing style but also the atmosphere of a dead city under lockdown
Anyway I'm hoping the rest of this small press's offerings are better but equally stylish
They specialize in literature in translation, usually short
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
yuri herrera's morbid crime novel is chill, loosely-limned and spare; i mean, you'd expect it to be, only 100 pages. some kind of unnamed outbreak has hit an unnamed mexican metropolis in *the transmigration of bodies* and affects his unnamed but sobriquet'd characters. i have to say that despite the ring of archetypes they somehow manage to not be entirely flat. herrera's thing is an unexpected twist to a sentence, it feels a little bit like he's holding back but not cheating. and this approach fits the potboiler genre. because i watch movies more than i read it reminded me of the dardenne brothers or abbas kiarostami or tsai ming-ling, actions the actors are tired of doing painted on a canvass of anime urban blankness. it's interesting how they were able to create such a feeling with so little, and all soaked with death. two families are squabbling over loved ones who may have died mysteriously, but it's mostly the universe dashing genre conventions to musty murky dust. for those who read faster than me, a intriguing diversion!
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this; it was short and sweet with a compelling voice. If you liked Signs Preceding, you’ll enjoy this.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The ambience of this book and the descriptive language is beautiful, I wish I could read it in the original language. A fun slice of life story focusing on two feuding families. The backdrop of this story (a mysterious pandemic) sets the tone for the characters’ journey. However, the main character is by far the least compelling character in the book.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A short entertaining read. Impressive world-building for a dystopian novel under 90 pages. Off to reading Signs Preceding the End of the World next.
This 101-page novella throws the disconcerted reader into a dark, damp corner of Mexico in the midst of an epidemic to ride shotgun alongside The Redeemer as he attempts to keep the sliver of peace that exists between two feuding families. Herrera's writing is descriptive yet economical, and Dillman's translation is absolutely wonderful.