Dark, urban stories shot through with magic realism

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"Weird, horror and fantastic" are three words that Argentinian writer Mariana Enríquez tells us best describe her collection of unsettling short stories. The Dangers of Smoking in Bed is populated by unruly teenagers, crooked witches, homeless ghosts, and hungry women. The stories walk the uneasy line between urban realism and horror, and are written from a subtly feminist perspective. We also hear from the translator Megan McDowell, for whom this is a third International Booker nomination. Photo by Laura Aziz