To read or not to read

Plot Overview: Reservoir Bitches is a collection of linked short stories following the lives of 13 women living in Mexico as they invent new ways to survive in the fringes of the narcosphere, testing the possibilities and limits of their agency. The stories vary from at-home abortions to the over-protected daughters of mafia bosses, the common denominator between all of them being how unapologetically furious they are, and rightfully so.

Characters: The ‘bitches’ of this novel are women from various backgrounds, united by the casual horrors they bear witness to. They are united by their colloquial language, ironic and casual tone during emergencies, indifference to violence and loose code of ethics. I enjoyed each of these characters and was moved by their unique abilities to contribute to the overarching topic of femicide in Mexico, in which ten women die daily. Each character demands that readers not ignore the graveyard of pink crosses, even after they are dead, which happens in four of the short stories.

Writing: The focal point of de la Cerda’s writing was the strong narrative voice, particularly as she investigated such complex political issues. The consistent referral to women’s bodies, which was purposefully used for transgressive fiction, as through the violation of the bodies of these women, the novel is conveying significant messages about identity, autonomy and agency, which are so closely intertwined with a woman’s physicality. The use of directly addressing the reader with various nicknames, including “fam” and “queen”, not only cleverly assisted the tone of writing but distinguished the narrators, as at times they began to blend in collective political misery.

To read? This isn’t comfort reading, it’s confrontation. If you’re drawn to raw, unfiltered narratives with bold political commentary, Reservoir Bitches deserves a spot on your shelf!