This is the type of book that you can't stop reading (or listening to), because you need to know what happens next. A mix of supernatural horror and drama, it tells the story of the Caskey family in the southern United States. The characters evolve, the rhythm and tension make the plot flow. In addition to being entertaining, Blackwater deals with themes of capitalism, the accumulation of wealth, and endogamy.

Every time I read this book, I laugh out loud. It also has one of the best characters in literature ever created: Ignatius J. Reilly. I am such a fan that when I met my husband, the first gift I gave him was A Confederacy of Dunces. When I was working as a secretary, I gave this book to a new co-worker (now a dear friend) and she ended up loving it as much as I do, to the point that we developed a secret code with words from the book that no one else can understand. I think it is the novel I have given as a present the most in my life. In addition to making people laugh, it explores deep themes such as the concept of normality.

The writing is direct, cold, and precise. The book is brilliantly constructed and shares the structure of the best thrillers. It envelops you, hurts you, and fascinates you all at the same time. The way in which Slimani handles tension and, at the same time, reflects on issues like money, power dynamics, and class prejudice is masterful.

Considered by many to be the first feminist story, The Yellow Wallpaper may seem like a simple horror story (and, without a doubt, it is that too), but like any good work of fiction it presents many layers of analysis. Perkins Gilman talks about the machismo of her time, about untreated postpartum depression, about the lack of understanding suffered by women who were treated as if they were defenseless children. Published in 1892, it remains chillingly relevant today.

This book is a rare gem. It can be read as a ghost story, but also as a treatise on unresolved grief, as well as a gateway to worlds that disorient and fascinate us in equal measure. Listening to it will amplify the feeling of strangeness. It is a book that I never tire of recommending.