A review by tanyamariereads
The Houseguest: And Other Stories by Amparo Dávila

4.0

I read The Houseguest and Other Stories by Amparo Dávila in a buddy read and I’m glad that I was able to discuss this collection within a group. Through discussion, I realized I came to truly like the collection more than I originally thought I did.

Most of these stories feature female protagonists and focus on the disparities they can face through cultural norms. Dávila uses the horror genre as a thin veil to present this world to readers. Some stories felt overly ambiguous which might be due to its translation. However, I loved the horror that was promised from the start. Many of these stories are unique and definitely left a haunting impact.

Not all of these stories were a favorite, but still a great collection overall. Here are the top 3 stories I loved the most:

1. The Last Summer
2. Musique Concrète
3. The Breakfast