A review by marywahlmeierbracciano
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

5.0

Newly available in English, The Dangers of Smoking in Bed is a knockout collection of literary horror by Argentine journalist Mariana Enríquez, read flawlessly and tantalizingly by Rebecca Soler.  Readers will learn of Angelita, a walking infant corpse; of a woman who fetishizes the human heart; of an enigmatic pop star whose latest album, Meat, inspires a new kind of craze.  All of the stories are narrated by women—clever women who struggle to express their sexuality, who want to believe in something, who nurture and devour at once.  Fans of Carmen Maria Machado, what are you waiting for? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Drug use, Suicide, Blood, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Vomit