The Danger of Smoking in Bed

The Danger of Smoking in Bed is a collection of supernatural horror stories set in contemporary Argentina. These twelve tales combine elements of urban legends, ghost stories, and dark folklore with the realities of modern life. The characters inhabit a world where the boundaries between the living and dead become unstable. Teenage girls conduct rituals to summon spirits, workers encounter mysterious phenomena in abandoned buildings, and ordinary people face inexplicable events in their daily lives. Author Mariana Enriquez writes from a distinctly Latin American perspective, incorporating social issues and political undercurrents into her horror narratives. The stories range from brief, intense encounters to longer explorations of obsession and darkness. The collection examines themes of bodily autonomy, social inequality, and collective trauma through its supernatural framework. These stories reveal how past violence and present-day fears manifest in both personal and societal hauntings.

Readers describe this collection as macabre, unsettling horror stories that blend social commentary with Argentine folklore. The stories focus on poverty, politics, and trauma through supernatural elements. Readers praised: - Vivid, visceral writing style - Fresh take on horror that goes beyond standard tropes - Strong sense of place and Argentine culture - Stories that linger in the mind after reading - Dark humor mixed with horror elements Common criticisms: - Some stories end abruptly without resolution - Uneven quality across the collection - Too disturbing/grotesque for some readers' taste - Translation feels clunky in parts Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (23,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (1,100+ ratings) "Like a fever dream you can't shake off," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Another noted: "The social commentary hits harder than the horror elements." Several readers compared the style to Shirley Jackson and Carmen Maria Machado while noting Enriquez maintains her own distinct voice.

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado Stories of women's bodies, sexuality, and trauma merge with horror and folklore in a collection that blends genres and pushes boundaries.

Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez Tales of urban decay, social inequality, and supernatural horror in contemporary Argentina explore dark dimensions of human nature.

Revenge by Yoko Ogawa Interconnected stories weave violence, obsession, and dark impulses into a tapestry of psychological horror set in modern Japan.

Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Stories blend social commentary with horror elements to examine racism, capitalism, and violence in contemporary society.

Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin A collection of connected narratives explores technology, voyeurism, and human connection through the lens of small robotic creatures that infiltrate homes worldwide.

🌙 Mariana Enriquez is one of Argentina's most celebrated contemporary authors, known for blending social commentary with horror elements that draw from both urban legends and real historical events. 🏆 The Danger of Smoking in Bed was shortlisted for the 2021 International Booker Prize, marking a significant achievement for Latin American horror literature. 💫 Many of the stories in the collection were inspired by Argentina's "Dirty War" period (1976-1983) and its lasting psychological impact on subsequent generations. 📚 The book was translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell, who has also translated works by Samanta Schweblin and Alejandro Zambra, earning multiple awards for her precise translations of challenging literary works. 🖤 The collection explores uniquely Argentine forms of the supernatural, including the cult of Gilda (a cumbia singer who died in a car crash) and the veneration of "angelitos" (deceased children believed to have special powers).