Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 51%

06.08.23

I've struggled with Moreno-Garcia's style before - it feels awkwardly translated even though it was originally written in English. This story was also awkward - "walk through rooms, hallucinate, argue, repeat" with a final few chapters that didn't make sense. Not at all creepy, anyway, and, the colonial point was lost as the baddies could have been any nationality, as long as they were outsiders.

The Mango Orchard - Robin Bayley

57%
05.06.11

Half-travelog and half-family history, a pleasant enough read but it would have benefited from being one or the other. The author has some vivid adventures in Latin America, meeting local characters and soaking up the atmosphere. Then he discovers the Mexican side of the family. Then there's a bit more travelling and a rather abrupt ending. I found myself wanting more context and detail - which could be regarded as both a good and a bad thing.