by Selva Almada
First published 2012
A reverend drives through the harsh Chaco landscape with his daughter, their journey marked by mechanical breakdowns and gathering storms. The father preaches his gospel while she navigates their complicated relationship and the hostility they encounter. Around them, the scrubland stretches endlessly under a punishing sun, dotted with broken cars and stunted trees. Other travelers cross their path, each carrying their own damage and desperation. Sharp conversations reveal the madness lurking beneath surface politeness. The heat bears down on everyone, exposing frayed nerves and shattered dreams. Sweat stains shirts as tensions rise between the characters, their voices cutting through the oppressive atmosphere. This father and daughter must confront not only the physical challenges of their travels but the emotional wreckage that defines their lives in this unforgiving terrain.
Genres: fiction, drama, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: father-daughter-relationship, man-vs-nature
Setting: Chaco
168 pages · Paperback · Mardulce