Description
Description
Alone and adrift in Barcelona, an unnamed narrator is haunted by the death of her teenage brother, Diego. Diego, the little boy she helped raise in Mexico while their mother struggled to make a living in Spain. Diego, who loved Vampire Weekend and dreamed of becoming a pilot. Diego, who hated Madrid as much as she did.
Now, his ashes in hand, she must return to Mexico. Plagued by memories, she recounts their young lives leading up to tragedy in blistering detail: the acute loneliness that accompanied their emigration; the siblings' first separation, when she left for Barcelona to make her own way in the world; her activism against labor abuses, which is threatened by her tumultuous relationship with an entitled lover; and the final, heavyhearted confrontation with her brother. Caught between rage and heartbreak over the loss of Diego, she pieces together a story of alienation, but also of surprising courage and hope.
Masterfully translated by National Book Award winner Megan McDowell, and shot through with flashes of dark humor, Eating Ashes boldly confronts both the intimate and systemic struggles faced by migrants striving to build a life worth living. Already an international sensation across Europe, this novel cements Brenda Navarro as a breathtakingly unique and vital voice in literature.
Now, his ashes in hand, she must return to Mexico. Plagued by memories, she recounts their young lives leading up to tragedy in blistering detail: the acute loneliness that accompanied their emigration; the siblings' first separation, when she left for Barcelona to make her own way in the world; her activism against labor abuses, which is threatened by her tumultuous relationship with an entitled lover; and the final, heavyhearted confrontation with her brother. Caught between rage and heartbreak over the loss of Diego, she pieces together a story of alienation, but also of surprising courage and hope.
Masterfully translated by National Book Award winner Megan McDowell, and shot through with flashes of dark humor, Eating Ashes boldly confronts both the intimate and systemic struggles faced by migrants striving to build a life worth living. Already an international sensation across Europe, this novel cements Brenda Navarro as a breathtakingly unique and vital voice in literature.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
A brilliant new voice, eviscerating and propulsive.--Miriam Toews, author of Women Talking
One of the best-kept secrets of Mexican literature.--Fernanda Melchor, author of the International Booker Prize-shortlisted Hurricane Season
Raw, ingenious, and addictive.-- "El País"
[A] masterpiece.-- "El Mundo"
An author who knows that behind all affection lies hidden danger.--Yuri Herrera, author of Signs Preceding the End of the World
While Navarro is broadly interested in themes of immigration and the colonial legacy, the novel is firmly rooted in the specific, palpable lives of her characters, which she renders with nuance and honesty.... A sensitive portrayal of sibling love, grief, and the trauma of dislocation.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Eating Ashes hit me in the most profound way. With her trademark powerful prose, Brenda Navarro brilliantly tells a haunting, tragic story of siblings far from home, and the result is devastating. A moving take on migration, racism, and inequality that is as pertinent as ever.--Diego Luna, actor and director
McDowell's translation is lyrical and powerful... [Eating Ashes] is a vivid, visceral, and impactful novel.--Sara Martinez "Booklist"
A tender story about how our families and places of origin, shape and warp and rattle us yet still resist comprehension. Brenda Navarro writes with wide open eyes and a relentless desire to understand.--Catherine Lacey, author of Biography of X
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Liveright Publishing Corporation
Pub date:
2026-01-20
Length:
240 pages
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