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

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? It's complicated

2.75

For some reason I read this in English without realizing that it was originally written in Spanish, so I’ll try to keep in mind that I read a translation while reviewing it. That being said, I was expecting a lot more from this book. For whatever reason I thought it would be composed of longer (if less) stories, and slightly more complex. It’s not that it wasn’t well written, just that it left me indifferent. They weren’t particularly scary stories, and I don’t think Dávila, or her translators, managed to create the tension necessary for this genre. Or then again, it might be that I am misinterpreting the genre. The most interesting story in this collection, in my opinion, is the one called Musique Concrète, where a woman believes that she is being haunted by her husband’s lover

who is a massive humanoid toad that her friend ends up killing for her sake.

Reminiscent of both “The Telltale Heart” and the style of Ghibli’s movies, where you just accept what you see without questioning it, this was definitely the most interesting piece. Anyhow, if you speak Spanish, I’d recommend reading it in Spanish, because I have a hunch that the English translation didn’t do it any favors. That being said, GOD what a beautiful cover by Oliver Munday.