Safe Return Doubtful

translated from the Spanish by Katie Whitmore

This was my fourth of Mesa’s books, my favourites being Four by Four and Un amor. This was actually published in Spain in 2016, and recently translated into English, no doubt in recognition of the success of her other writing.

These stories are of ordinary people, often young, with twists of abnormality, curiosity and moments of brightness as a relief to their existence.
A stand-out is Papa Is Made Of Rubber which tells of three young brothers, one an infant, struggling to survive in an apartment that their parents have abandoned. Mesa has written with the voice of children in her other novels, and it is certainly a strength of hers.
White People portrays power associated with gender, and also race. A young woman turns down an invitation to her parents at Christmas to visit her sister, Mariola, who, while her sister is there, decides not to put her unborn baby up for adoption.

Much of the skill in Mesa’s writing is in her subtle characterisation. She does this particularly well when writing about children, as in Papa Is Made Of Rubber, but also Mármol and Cattle Tyrants, where she takes on the struggle of children with adults, death, and wealth.
She is expert in bringing to the fore elements that we may keep hidden, and has an understanding of the conditions that we confront and conquer each day.

My GoodReads score 4 / 5