I chose this book because the author was one of Granta's "Best Spanish Speaking Writers Under 22" and I intend to read others. From Argentina, this is her first novel although she has published short stories and won prizes. The story of two mothers whose children are poisoned by some unnamed ecological disaster, the tale is dystopian in the extreme. I had to look up the definition of dystopian: "The utopia and its derivative, the dystopia, are genres of literature that explore social and political structures. ... Dystopian (or dystopic) fiction (sometimes combined with, but distinct from apocalyptic literature) is the opposite: the portrayal of a setting that completely disagrees with the author's ethos."
The story is a fast-paced nightmare which I read in a short evening but couldn't quite finish its disturbing conclusion just before retiring and waited until the next day. The translation is smooth. I had trouble delineating between the two speakers but it didn't seem to matter since they were relating common stories. It brought me back to [b:Never Let Me Go|6334|Never Let Me Go|Kazuo Ishiguro|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1353048590s/6334.jpg|1499998] which was similarly troubling. The author's command of her characters is impressive, her descriptions vivid and rhythm fast. I don't know the author's "ethos" but would be curious to read her stories if I can handle it. ( )

A quick page turner that transmits an indistinct dread, horror, and anxiety, whose general outline you can make out but not well enough to find a deliverance from. Merry Christmas! ( )

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I borrowed this on audiobook from my library.

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this. I love how the story is unwound and how there is an intense sense of dread over the story. You are constantly trying to figure out how the characters got to the present state they end up being in as the story of the past is slowly unwound.

The story follows a young woman named Amanda who is dying in a hospital. She is being questioned by a boy named David about the worms. The story Amanda unwinds is terrifying and engrossing in a strangely ambiguous way.

My only disappointment in this story was how nothing was really explained or wrapped up. I think that was part of the point of the story but I personally prefer a bit more closure to my stories.

I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was very well done. I would recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this a lot. It is an eerie and suspenseful story with some horrific elements that touches on things like climate change, pollution, and family. The story ends up being fairly ambiguous and doesn't give the reader a lot of closure, but the way it was unwound was fascinating and engrossing in a horrifying way. I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I was going to and plan on checking out other stories/books by Schweblin. ( )

Fever Dream is the perfect title for this book. I'm still wondering what I just read but I loved it. ( )

3.5 rounded up. If you love a feeling of dread, this is the book for you. I don't particularly like that feeling but Schweblin does it so well that I couldn't stop turning the pages. I would have preferred more clarity with the ending but the concept of 'rescue distance' is one that will stick with me. ( )