Things We Lost in the Fire
A collection of short stories set in modern-day Argentina, Things We Lost in the Fire is a sprint through a maze of terrors. And by the time you finish the book, you will be left wondering if all is really over…
I am a huge fan of short-story collections. They come in all shapes and sizes and are an opportunity for authors to flex their skills. While browsing the inter-webs and looking for my next haunt, I stumbled across Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez. It was published in 2016, and I finally had the chance to read it in 2022.
And I regret the six years I spent not having this book in my thoughts.
This book was such a hauntingly great read!
Enriquez presents Things We Lost in the Fire, twelve short stories set in modern Argentina. The stories cover all things a fiend could want- body horror, ghosts, creatures, and cults. One of these stories is bound to haunt you long after you finish the book. Though the story the book’s title comes from is a great read, “Under the Black Water” is definitely my favorite. In it, an attorney goes to a remote village to investigate a missing person. As she begins her investigation, she notices the town has changed drastically due to the invasion of a cult- and not for the better.
The book is beautifully written. Part of the appeal of short-stories (though I know many who hate stories for this very reason), is that you only have so much time to tell this tale. And Enriquez does an amazing job of creating dread in so few words. Though I know very little of Argentina, the terror that Things We Lost in the Fire creates is something that all of us can understand. The book also does a great job of using the relations between characters to draw readers into each story- and therefore become that much more invested in the dread as well.
I have no criticisms for this book. I remember finishing the book and being in a daze of sorts because it was so fucken well done. Some of the stories were hard to put down. And I know I went back to re-read at least one story because of how fascinating it was.
Rating: I give this book 10 deformed gray arms out of 10. There are plenty of stories to haunt you and the imagery will stay with you long after you finish the book.
If you are looking for a movie to match the energy of TWLITF, I would check out VHS. It’s a collection of short clips covering the strange and scary, all being told from different tapes being watched. I loved the series (though some of the movies weren’t as good, especially as good as the first two in the series). In “Amateur Night,” a group of friend’s attempt to film a sex tape with an unknowing victim. Unfortunately, they soon become the victims as they realize they have been pursuing something unhuman. You can also check out Creepshow, a classic 80’s anthology that has many great horror minds involved.
For some good reads to check out, Enriquez also wrote The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, another collection of short stories. It’s just as engaging as TWLITF, and you will definitely have a hard time putting it down. Another anthology to jump into is Stephen King’s Night Shift. It was his first published short story collection and you’ll recognize many of the stories, as they have almost all been adapted to the big screen at some point.
Until next time…
-M