A chilling novel, set in Mexico, has been acclaimed as one of the finest books of the 21st century. (You'll feel the goosebumps!)
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Fernanda Melchor's acclaimed novel, "La saison des ouragans" (originally published in Spanish as "Temporada de huracanes"), is now available in paperback for 8.40€ at Fnac. This 288-page thriller, published in France in 2020, offers a dark, intense story set in a small, impoverished village in Mexico.
The plot revolves around the violent and mysterious death of a woman known as the Bruja (Witch), a feared and marginalized figure in the community. Through multiple perspectives of various characters in the village, the narrative explores the circumstances leading up to and following her death. The novel delves deep into themes of violence, poverty, superstition, and the cyclical nature of suffering and cruelty within the social fabric of marginalized communities.
The story begins with the discovery of the Bruja’s dead body in an irrigation canal near a fictional village in Mexico. The Witch lived in a mysterious house where women went to find remedies or lift curses. The book follows the events leading up to the Witch's murder.
The novel offers a socially intense fresco, immersing readers in the darkness of the human soul. Melchor's prose is raw, musical, and rhythmic, capturing the brutality of reality without losing impact. The Witch in "La saison des ouragans" is a universal feminist figure, symbolizing violence against women and their persistent silencing.
The key themes of the novel include Violence and Marginalization, Superstition and Folklore, Poverty and Social Decay, and Multiplicity of Perspectives. The novel exposes how violence permeates daily life in impoverished communities, often directed toward the most vulnerable. The Bruja’s character blends real human suffering with myths and fears, symbolizing the intersection of superstition and harsh realities. It paints a bleak picture of economic hardship and its impact on individuals’ behavior and relationships. The shifting viewpoints illustrate how truth is fragmented and subjective.
In November 2023, the book was adapted into a film available on Netflix. The film adaptation captures the novel’s gritty atmosphere and complex narrative structure. It stays true to the source material’s dark tone and layered storytelling, presenting the plot through interwoven character perspectives. The movie visually represents the oppressive environment of the village and the haunting aftermath of the Bruja’s death, highlighting the themes of violence, despair, and social marginalization.
The film features a cast including Paloma Alvamar, Andrés Cordova, Ernesto Méndez, Kat Rigoni, and Edgar Treviño. It was produced by Woo Films and directed by Elisa Miller, who won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for the short film "Ver Llover" in 2006. The film contributes to Netflix's mission to showcase Mexican culture through strong, committed local productions.
"La saison des ouragans" was ranked 82nd on the New York Times list of the 100 best books of the 21st century. The book has already been awarded the International Literature Prize in 2019. Each chapter in the novel adopts the perspective of a key character, gradually revealing their motivations. The film adaptation remains loyal to the oppressive atmosphere and violence of the novel, plunging viewers into the underbelly of contemporary Mexico, portraying rural Mexico as a region plagued by poverty, drugs, and violence.
In-flights, one may find a riveting adaptation of Fernanda Melchor's "La saison des ouragans," a film that delves into fashion-and-beauty and books as it critiques a desolate lifestyle in contemporary Mexico. After immersing yourself in this intense thriller set in a small, impoverished village, you might prefer to escape into the realm of entertainment, perhaps a lighthearted novel or fashion magazine to counteract the dark themes explored in the book.
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