Her Body and Other Parties

Machado, Carmen Maria. Her Body and Other Parties: Stories. Minneapolis: Graywolf Press, 2017.

Contemporary Fiction, Short Stories

Where to start? The stories in this book are incredible, each so different and thought-provoking. A mixture of fantasy, horror, science fiction, comedy, psychological realism, and fabulism, there is a bit of everything in here.

The eight stories "map the realities of women's lives and the violence visited upon their bodies". A strong theme of feminism and contemplation courses through each story as Machado reworks fairy tales, reimagines a popular TV show, takes us to a horrifying dress shop, recounts a plague slowly consuming humanity, and introduces us to the mystery of a green ribbon.

This was one of NHCC Book Club reads last year. I don't think I would have read this book if it had not been one of our selections. I am so glad I read it, though. An enchanting read!

Review by Cassandra E. Osterloh, Librarian, History & Literary Arts, NHCC

Available in the NHCC Library: PS3613 .A2725243 A6 2017