It’s time for another publisher-centric episode, and it’s another stunner—we’re heading to Latin America (via Scotland!) to talk about the brilliant Charco Press! We dive into what makes Charco Press such a standout: their dedication to bringing contemporary Latin American literature to English-language readers, their thoughtful support of authors and translators, and, yes, their absolutely gorgeous books.
We each share three Charco titles we love and three more we can’t wait to get our hands on. There’s something for everyone—from the surreal to the political, the tender to the explosive. Plus, we announce the winner of our March giveaway and introduce an amazing new prize for April: a 2025 bundle of Charco Press books! You do not want to miss this one.
Join the Mookse and the Gripes on Discord
We’re creating a welcoming space for thoughtful, engaging discussions about great novellas, starting with First Love by Ivan Turgenev in April. Whether you want to share insights, ask questions, or simply follow along, we’d love to have you. The discussion will unfold gradually, so you can read at your own pace and jump in whenever you're ready. It’s a great way to connect with fellow readers, explore new works together, and deepen your appreciation for the novella form.
For the first book, the schedule will be as follows:
April 6: Start of the book through Section 9
April 9: Section 10 through Section 16
April 13: Section 17 through the end
Shownotes
Books
On the Calculation of Volume I, by Solvej Balle, translated by Barbara Haveland
The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher
Fated, by Benedict Jacka
Cursed, by Benedict Jacka
First Love, by Ivan Turgenev
The Wind That Lays Waste, by Selva Almada, translated by Chris Andrews
Dead Girls, by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott
Brickmakers, by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott
Not a River, by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott
Catching Fire: A Translation Diary, by Daniel Hahn
Never Did the Fire, by Diamela Eltit, translated by Daniel Hahn
Homesick, by Jennifer Croft
The Cemetery of Untold Stories, by Julia Alvarez
The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka
An Orphan World, by Giuseppe Caputo, translated by Sophie Hughes and Juana Adcock
Dislocations, by Sylvia Malloy, translated by Jennifer Croft
Elena Knows, by Claudia Piñeiro, translated by Frances Riddle
A Little Luck, by Claudia Piñeiro, translated by Frances Riddle
Fish Soup, by Margarita García Robayo, translated by Charlotte Coombe
The Distance Between Us, by Renato Cisneros, translated by Fionn Petch
Time of the Flies, by Claudia Piñeiro, translated by Frances Riddle
Two Sherpas, by Sebastián Martinez Daniell, translated by Jennifer Croft
Trout, Belly Up, by Rodrigo Fuentes, translated by Ellen Jones
Fresh Dirt from the Grave, by Giovanna Rivero, translated by Isabel Adey
The Adventures of China Iron, by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Fiona Mackintosh and Iona Macintyre
A Perfect Cemetery, by Federico Falco, translated by Jennifer Croft
Cautery, by Lucía Litmaer, translated by Maureen Shaughnessy
The Delivery, by Margarita García Robayo, translated by Megan McDowell
The Forgery, by Ave Barrera, translated by Ellen Jones and Robin Myers
Restoration, by Ave Barrera, translated by Ellen Jones and Robin Myers
Die, My Love, by Ariana Harwicz, translated by Sarah Moses and Carolina Orloff
Feebleminded, by Ariana Harwicz, translated by Annie McDermott and Carolina Orloff
Tender, by Ariana Harwicz, translated by Annie McDermott and Carolina Orloff
Other
The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast is a bookish conversation hosted by Paul and Trevor. Every other week, we explore a bookish topic and celebrate our love of reading. We’re glad you’re here, and we hope you’ll continue to join us on this literary journey!
A huge thank you to those who help make this podcast possible! If you'd like to support us, you can do so via Substack or Patreon. Subscribers receive access to periodic bonus episodes and early access to all new episodes. Plus, each supporter gets their own dedicated feed, allowing them to download episodes a few days before they’re released to the public. We’d love for you to check it out!
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