Tuesday, April 1, 2014

MUNDO CRUEL, stories with huge bite force and better aim


MUNDO CRUEL: Stories
LUIS NEGRÓN
(tr. Suzanne Jill Levine)
Seven Stories Press
$13.93 all editions, available now

WINNER OF THE 26th Lambda Literary Award—BEST GAY GENERAL FICTION!

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Luis Negrón’s debut collection reveals the intimate world of a small community in Puerto Rico joined together by its transgressive sexuality. The writing straddles the shifting line between pure, unadorned storytelling and satire, exploring the sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking nature of survival in a decidedly cruel world.

My Review: I read the book in 1974. I got a hardcover Modern Library edition from my decade-older sister, who owned a bookstore. I read it in one solid week of enchantment, followed by a year of revisits and studies of the notes and other references. (The librarians at my high school agreed with the kids who teased me for being weird.)

This is a new translation, I have a copy, but many chunksters await my attention that I haven't read before. I'll get back to it. I look forward to getting back to it! I'll be using the Bryce Method to give you a story-by-story précis of my opinions.

The Chosen One

The Vampire of Moca

For Guayama

La Edwin

Junito

Botella

So Many: Or On How the Wagging Tongue Sometimes Can Cast a Spell

The Garden

Mundo Cruel

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