I just found out that “oíche sidhe” is pronounced ee-hah she and I’m dying, I was pronouncing it “oytche sheeday” this whole timeeeee.

So far, I really enjoy how almost every story has an international aspect to it. As a South American living in the US, I see a lot of my own experience reflected here. I also love the touch of magical realism in Enriquez’ writing. As opposed to WASP or yankee horror, where usually one character experiences the supernatural by themselves and are then discredited, gaslit, and treated with psychophobia, Enriquez’ horror happens to everyone; to the community, to the neighborhood, out in the streets for everyone to see. There is no way of denying or isolating those who experience the hauntings, because everyone is equally haunted. Daily life is so absurd, full of violence, tragedy and death, that the supernatural becomes just another thing to deal with. Many of these stories reminded me of the Argentine movies “When Evil Lurks” and “Terrified”. I had this impression when I read “the dangers of smoking in bed” too and now, reading this collection in Spanish, makes me appreciate what Enriquez is doing even more. I will definitely read her other works.

I’m reading this in Spanish (my third language) and just finished the first story. It’s my first time reading fiction in Spanish and I understood 99% of it, with the exception of some vocabulary I had to look up. Yay!!!