From Savagery

by Alejandra Banca, Katie Brown (Translator)

Electric, defiant, and singing with melancholia, Alejandra Banca's devastating debut throws its arms around a displaced generation of young Venezuelan migrants, reveling in the clamor and beauty of their day-by-day survival.

Below the rooftops of Barcelona's historic avenues, in the shadow of the Sagrada Família and its fleet of construction cranes, thrums a vital pulse: meal-delivery bikers, sex workers, strung out artists, anti-capitalist squatters, undocumented shopgirls, fledgling drug dealers, and a thousand more lives that cross and knit together at the lowest level of Spain's urban tumult. The young expats of these stories careen through crowded streets, night clubs, and dating apps with a devil-may-care abandon that belies their precarious circumstances. Tragedy will erupt and then ebb in an instant, receding in the rearview like a roadside collision and haunting those who push on. Running on fumes and paltry tips, Banca's beleaguered characters race along a knife's edge and find unexpected solace in moments of shared vulnerability; a knowing thread that unites these strangers in a strange land.

In this English PEN Award-winning translation by Katie Brown, From Savagery announces Alejandra Banca as a resplendent and masterful new voice in Latin American literature―one that will take readers by storm.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Book Club

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2024

Reviews

[Luz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Qué bonito es leer. Así lo pienso mientras termino de repasar el índice y rememorar cada historia de estas 266 páginas observando el título. Mis favoritas son Euroloco y Lasme. Al terminar de leerlo siento cómo que me senté a tomar un cafésito con una amiga que sabe echar bien los cuentos y encima te deja pensando, algunos entre remordimiento, nostalgia, extrañeza o hasta con moraleja. Qué bonito es ver plasmadas nuestras intrahistorias con tanta inteligencia. Mucho se dice del migrante venezolano pero poco se escribe. Me encanta que sea así, sin adornos ni esteticismos vacuos. ¡Gracias, Alejandra! No te conozco pero te tengo cerca ❤️

[Rachel Louise Atkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this and I’m glad I took my time to read it so I could savour each story as it really paid off. Written by a Venezuelan author, it is about a group of Venezuelan characters living in Barcelona and working as delivery drivers on a bike. The stories have dark humour, sadness and wit. I loved how the stories moved along with the intensity of each bike ride from one destination to another. There are some really sharp comments on the role of the body in physical labour, especially in the first story where the character starts her period mid shift, and also the Venezuelan crisis and why they are away from their own country.

Really recommend this one, the stories were fantastic and I’d love to read more from the author, especially another story collection which I don’t say often!

[Luis Fraga Lo Curto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una compilación de relatos tejidos en una historia común. O una novela Scheherezade en la que cada capítulo es un cuento perfecto y redondo. Impresiona la luminosidad y el humor con que se cuentan estas pequeñas tragedias. Alejandra Banca a veces te deja la garganta seca, a veces te saca una carcajada y otras veces, una lágrima.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hay una magia en leer a gente que te hace sentir representado y como que también eres parte del mundo.

[Leonardo Rivas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Esperaba algo más que esta falsa novela sostenida sobre las impresiones de una narradora y las anécdotas que sus amigos/personajes le cuentan o ella nos refiere.

Un primer libro errático, inconsistente, sostenido sobre shocks que no necesariamente son buenos recursos, afrontando un tema lleno de tantos matices como la migración venezolana, esa espora que la narrativa venezolana no termina de abrigar.

Sin embargo, hay destellos de una buena narradora, con un estilo irónico y cierta soltura en la lengua. Espero que lo nuevo que venga de Alejandra Banca sea una verdadera apuesta que renueve, como lo han hecho algunos, lo que puede ser la narrativa venezolana contemporánea más allá de una etiqueta para el mercado editorial.

[laszczaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Savagery frustrated me more than it moved me. The writing is so messy that I couldn’t tell who was who or even if the characters were connected. The gore was overwhelming, and after a while it felt like it was there just for shock value instead of making a real point. I understand that the chaos and violence are meant to show how brutal life can be for migrants, but the way it was written made it really hard to stay connected. I respect the message, but the book itself didn’t work for me.

[Maria Grau Piqué · Rating 5 out of 5]

Con el corazón en un puño. Cómo escribe Alejandra que sin ser migrante he sentido cada sílaba de su desarraigo salvaje. Lagrimita con los tres últimos párrafos.

(Y gracias a Orianna porque gracias a Lecturas de Arraigo esta historia ha llegado a mis manos.)

[Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Thank you to the publisher, Restless Books, for the ARC. All opinions are my own.]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
CW: On-page SA; Death of an infant

A truly raw and beautiful collection of stories that pulls no punches.

I didn’t realize the stories in this book were interconnected, but I’m so glad they were. I’m someone who struggles to connect with standalone short stories, so the fact that they came together to amount to something bigger was such a pleasant surprise.

This book covers the day-to-day life of migrants in Barcelona in a variety of scales and scopes. From dealing with periods and hemmorhoids as food delivery workers to some truly disturbing/stomach-churning experiences of SA and poverty/corruption, this book takes you on a journey of empathy and human connection.

I do want to call out that there is a story in here that heavily features on-page SA, which I wasn’t prepared for. I actually had to put the book down for several days after reading because it made me sick to my stomach. I couldn’t stop thinking about it - but I know that was the point.

One thing I love is when authors “end” stories in a way that actually reflects real life - that is to say, they don’t really “end” them in a clear, clean-cut way. These stories run into each other and stretch beyond what you read. There’s very little closure and they truly reflect the mess and chaos of someone living on the edge and trying to make the most of it.

I found it very illuminating and relevant to the sociopolitical discussion of immigration. I live in the U.S., but the people and their experiences in this book really felt like a mirror of the immigrant experience in America. It was truly eye-opening how things we take for granted, like convenient period care and public safety, are so different for these people.

I would definitely recommend reading this book. It can be a tough time, but it’s worth it.

[Ori Vazquez Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historias que necesitan ser contadas, no pasa muy a menudo que lo que lees es justo lo que necesitas. Gracias por este libro

[Manuel Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buenos relatos, van directo a la llaga. Tantas vivencias, recuerdos y emociones con las que sentirse identificado. Barcelona y Caracas hermanadas en historias crudas, salvajes y necesarias.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible, powerful, moving book. Writing this review intimidates me; no matter what I say, it will still fall short of encapsulating the magical humanity that pours from the pages of this book.

“Some books sleep, others live, others still create life.” - Jan Queretz, Casapaís

I’ve mulled over this quote, printed on the cover, since I first held the book in my hands. The idea intrigued me but held little meaning until this very moment, having read the final chapters and seeking words to describe the way that this book lives and breathes and speaks to me.

Following the characters through their experiences, I felt every emotion on the spectrum - rage, love, fear, nostalgia, anxiety, homesickness, pride, frustration, sadness and grief. I am astounded by Alejandra Banca’s ability to reflect feelings back to us so honestly and authentically, as though they were generated from our own hearts. This book reminded me of the power of literature to share experiences, to wake us up to the reality of the world around us without dashing our hopes on the rocks, and to transport us into the shoes of those who have walked an entirely different path to our own.

I was kindly sent this book at the most fitting time, freshly having moved back to part of Spain only about 335 miles away from the streets where the stories of Nanda and her friends spill out. The familiar foreignness of the setting made me feel seen and understood; the unreserved truthfulness of the stories reminded me time and time again of how grateful I am to be here with the safety of a visa and a UK bank account.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, but particularly my friends and family who have also lived in Spain, who have connections to Venezuela, and who have ventured into the dizzying experience of living abroad or navigating multiple cultures. You will never be the same again after reading this. Have no doubt that I will be pressing it onto every one of you that I see in person.

I cannot end this review without also mentioning how inspiring this book has been, not only because of Banca’s brilliant, evocative writing and powerful perspective, but also because of the wonderful translator who has encouraged me in so many ways. I know she laments many of the inevitable losses that translation creates, but she can rest assured knowing that the overarching result of her work has been one of immense gain to the world of literature that exists in English. Thank you, Katie.

[Sindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Savagery is a collection of stories that immerses us into the humanity behind the migration of young Venezuelans to Barcelona. Set against the backdrop of Spain, Maracaibo, and Caracas, these stories portray the diverse experiences of expats—from meal delivery drivers and undocumented shop workers to security installers and grieving youth—exposing the daily rage, frustration, desire, and resilience of young people.

Alejandra Banca’s writing is so poetic, that you can’t help but continue reading and developing a deep connection with the characters. Each chapter features a distinct voice, and despite the absence of clear narration cues, I quickly learned who was speaking, showing how attached I was to their journeys. Banca’s prose is extremely thoughtful, leaving behind memorable quotes that linger long after.

Though I am not a Spanish speaker, Katie Brown’s translation is exceptionally well-crafted, allowing the English version to flow seamlessly. It allows readers to access and appreciate a multitude of languages and dialects, from various Venezuelan slang to the Spanish spoken in Spain and even Catalan.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in reading unfiltered, fictionalized migrant stories grounded in truth.

[endrju · Rating 3 out of 5]

A study of production of precariousness through gig economy among the Venezuelan migrants to Barcelona. I just wish the style was more literary and/or experimental, the topic is perfect for it.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Savagery was a captivating read, deceptively simple but with a lot of depth in the way it showed snapshots of the lives of Venezuelan immigrants living in Barcelona. There was a lot of brutality flowing through the stories, which might make this book difficult reading for some, but I enjoyed the way the starkness contrasted with the often dream-like feeling of the prose. It was certainly a thoughtful and thought-provoking work, and I am giving it 4.5 stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Orianna]

Editar este libro fue un rito de iniciación a la profesión. 5 borradores, más de 20 lecturas y en todas se me cerró la garganta de emoción y lágrimas, a pesar de que ya conocía las historias, los personajes y hasta los párrafos donde Alejandra realmente sacaba el cuchillo y lo apuñalaba directo hacia la herida.

No pude escoger un mejor proyecto para abrir el catálogo de la editorial. Un libro que grita y llora de rabia y euforia por el limbo de la diáspora.

[Louise Hendrickx · Rating 2 out of 5]

My expectations were low and they were confirmed. I picked up this book as part of book club. I’m not the biggest fan of short stories but I did like the premise of all the stories being linked in some way. This book could’ve been a wonderful series about struggling as an immigrant.
While I do think there are interesting stories and characters, I feel the writer wants to explore basically *all* of the negative things that can happen to immigrants, and especially women. I don’t think she should sugar coat, or create a happy ending or something like that, but there’s just sooooo much trauma (this coming from a huge fan of *a little life*) in such a short book. There’s so much happening but a lot of thoughts and plot points seem to get forgotten or just never acknowledged again. To me it felt like shock value was the only thing the writer was actively trying to achieve.
I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, as it felt juvenile and confusing because of the lack of quotation marks or pointers on who’s talking or where something is happening. I wasn’t able to feel anything for any character because of it.

It did provide a good discussion at book club so I’ll happily recommend it for that.

[Yosmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho. Lo fluido del lenguaje y la forma en que muestra situaciones me parece ideal. Me inspiró.

[Julia García Marañón · Rating 3 out of 5]

7'5/10

Aunque los libros de cuentos no son lo mío, este consigue hilar los personajes, que en el último cuento se desvelan como amigos, a través de pinceladas y guiños a lo largo d cada uno de ellos. Tampoco se termina de sentir como un libro de relatos independientes xq al final todos ellos (menos un par) se ubican dentro de un mismo contexto: venezolanos inmigrantes en bcn con trabajos precarios. Y es justo por esto x lo que no es un libro que recomendaría a la ligera ... hay q estar preparado y deja el estómago revuelto en más de una ocasión. La historia de la violación y del loco, las leí seguidas y lit vomité asiq weno según como te pille hay q tener el cuerpo hecho.

Hay cosillas q me han descuadrao bastante... con las q no estoy de acuerdo. No sé hasta qué punto yo estoy capacitada pa opinar sobre cosas q no he vivido (imagino q nada) pero tampoco puedo pasarlo x alto. No me gusta la visión "dulcificada" q da de la prostitución. Entiendo que no todas son víctimas indefensas, q es paternalista darlo por hecho. Pero tampoco puedes desamparar y dar de lado a las que sí lo son, pretendiendo que haya una única experiencia y un único relato.

La movida de q fuimos sus conquistadores y que de ahí vienen todos sus males..... weno... Imagino q EEUU no tiene nada q ver verdad? En fin. Todo esto evidentemente sin intentar desestimar el racismo q evidentemente sufren. Simplemente creo q es simplista ese análisis.

[JuditCli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creo que la mayor prueba de que este libro es sensacional es que he tardado meses en leerlo.

No porque sea difícil de entender, rebuscado o complejo sino porque siempre andaba en busca del momento perfecto para contextualizar mi lectura. Para sentirla.
Empecé devorando los primeros relatos pero sentía que llevarme tan deprisa esas historias conmigo era una una traición.
He intentado leer cuando me desplazaba de mi ciudad a otros lugares, cuando sentía que estaba pasando por algo que suponía una transición y al final de una etapa.
Los relatos son incómodos, duros, cómicos y cercanos.

Antes de terminar Desde la salvajada, cuando solo me quedaban 5 páginas, he pensado: ¿qué tengo que hacer para leerlo de nuevo?
Por un momento he olvidado que el libro era mío, que no tenía que devolverlo y podía repasarlo y revivirlo cuando quisiese. Al hablar de otras personas, escuchar sus voces en tu cabeza y dibujar las imágenes de su experiencia, olvidas que todo eso puede pertenecerte al menos en el texto.

Desde la tipografía, los dibujos, la numeración de las páginas y la calidad del papel, hasta la maravilla del diseño de la cubierta. Este libro es excelente.
Ninguna de las historias pasa desapercibida y todas recuerdan al nombre de la editorial que las publica.

Sinceramente, a la cubierta me remito: "Gracias y hasta pronto".

[Any Zertuche 🧃 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me emociona muchísimo que mi buena amiga sea la editora de este libro, con su editorial “Arraigo”; shout out a Ori ❤️. Me emocionó y conmovió hasta las lagrimas.
Comparto mi vida con Efra, quien viene de Maturín y me ha contado infinitas veces lo que Nanda narra en sus páginas; un deleite poder sentir mas de cerca los cuentos que me cuenta.
Agradecida de poder sentir vivamente esta realidad por la que han pasado personas que quiero.
Muero por poderlo platicar con mi Efra ✨

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 rounding down to 4 - there were a couple of duds for me here, but generally speaking I thought this was a riveting short story collection interweaving the lives of various Venezuelan immigrants in Spain together. My favorite stories were the ones that went in the absolute hardest in terms of their brutal and emotional content - including one where a grieving daughter can't afford to bury her mother in a coffin suitable for the deceased or in a cemetery where she wouldn't be graverobbed, and another that explores the violent genesis of a drug lord. My favorite though was probably the one that looks at a relationship between a woman and a man who then transitions to a trans woman and then chronicles the love that unfolds between each other, utterly breathtaking.

This is a mesmerizing, thought-provoking, socially and politically charged short story collection that doesn't lean into overt political language, but rather focuses on the lives of these immigrants and how their lives as such are impacted in a myriad of often terrible, cruel ways. Yet, there is light and joy in how they celebrate the small moments together just by surviving - if you're an immigrant you HAVE to read this book. As one myself, I felt so seen and understood in so much of this book. Simply excellent for the most part.

[Michelle S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories is surprisingly good. It’s graphic, shocking and brutal but the rawness is refreshing. The tales are connected, depicting the lives of a small group of young Venezuelans who have moved to Spain to escape the nightmare of a country in freefall. They find themselves in various low paid roles, eg food delivery drivers and sex workers. The author does a great job of capturing the resilience of these characters faced with the underbelly of Barcelona. I liked that the same characters appeared in more than one story, the no holds barred usage of language and the contrast of life in Caracas with Barcelona.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟. Kudos to Alejandra Banca on her debut novel From Savagery. This novel masterfully describes the Venezuelan experience of moving and starting over in Spain. The very specific Venezuelan words and cultural references often went over my head causing a detachment from the story. There were times where I felt confused by the changing pronouns and lack of quotation marks which made the reading experience feel jarring. In the last short story, the author was able to capture the sadness and excitement of what it’s like to leave your homeland and start over somewhere new.

[Sof · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into it but the book definitely got better as it went on. It might just be because I prefer the longer stories and started to understand the structure better. The subject matter was also new to me and was really interesting to read about!! I might reread this soon to try and get even more out of it.
Not about the book necessarily but the translator’s note that it was complicated to translate certain parts because there are differences in Venezuelan vs Castilian Spanish that don’t come through when translated was soooo interesting.

[Paola Accetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A la mierda.

No me imaginé llorando y riendo en la oficina.

Causalidades de la vida leer sobre Barceloneta justamente cuando salía de ese metro.

“Desde la Salvajada” fue para mí un coñazo tras coñazo, o incluso lo llamaría mejor una patada voladora.

Lo que era un regalo para otra persona terminó siendo un regalo para mi misma.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Paola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tremendous, interwoven storytelling about migrant life from Venezuela to Spain. Banca, & her translator Katie Brown, utilize simple prose and an array of colorful characters, situations, and spaces to create a world that boldly, but without being overly sentimental or flowery, captures the immigrant experience and the transformation of life across ages, genders, places, and circumstance. It was provocative and melancholic.

[Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Gutwrenching and vivid stories set in Spain relating to the impacts of mass migration in Venezuela. They involve survival, trauma, grief, culture, language, connection and disconnection. From Savagery won't let you look away!

Each character's grief, hopes, and miseries were raw and real. The dialogue isn't punctuated so youll work for it but I think it adds to the experience.

I received a free ARC, and my review is given freely and honestly.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopses are Spoiler-Free

This is a collection of stories, a few of which are connected by the same characters, all are connected by the theme of Venezuelan migrant workers or illegal aliens working in Spain. These tell the brutal rough life of poverty, drugs, violence, and the female experience. These stories are disturbingly realistic. I found them to be stunning. Almost all the stories are rated 4 or 5 stars compared to each other. Even with a couple fewer stars, the book overall is a five-star book. This is one of the best collections of an author's short work I've ever read and I've read a lot of them. I highly recommend it if you can take the raw reality.

1. Dirt Poor - A woman with no other real family, her mother dies, and she enters the dank, putridness of Venezuela's underground of the dead for the city's poor. Disturbing and dark. (5/5)

2. Bum-Ba-Da-Dah-Da - A woman suffers the realities of a physically demanding job, a bad menstrual day, and an inopportune full cup. Realistic. (4/5)

3. Freelance Whore - A story of an illegal immigrant in Spain who works as a sex worker. It is very insightful into the feelings crossing the mind of a woman in the sex trade for money. (4/5)

4. Karate Kick - Another story of a delivery biker. This time from a male's perspective. The highs and lows. An intense feeling as you are sure something is going to happen. The story somewhat parallels the woman's experience. (4/5)

5. Lasme - Two girls in Spain, one legal, the other we suspect not, get work in a small place they find pimps out its girls. Brutal. Raw. Realistic. (5/5)

6. Euroloco - The story of when El Loco was young and new to the area, just getting started in drug dealing and was robbed, and how he earned his nickname. A brutal, realistic and intense drug story. (4/5)

7. I Already Know - The narrator tells us about her friend she hasn't seen in a month who's gotten involved in a socialist occupy cult thing and how they spend the day. Whoa! This started with me thinking one thing, and wow, did it go deep and dark. (5/5)

8. Damp - Pedro looks after two old people for a living (from the things they give him), and the lady living next to the nuns has a damp spot on the wall between their houses. This is a well-told character tale with a morbid ending. (5/5)

9. Truth or Lie? - A woman visiting her friend needs to score and ends up meeting up with El Loco from a previous story. A quiet, retrospective tale. (3/5)

10. Insecurity4U - The characters starting this one are former bike deliverers from the first stories. The narrator talks about getting a job installing alarm systems, racism and poor work conditions. I didn't feel this one and it's the first story I don't like. (2/5)

11. Dryas Iulia - A story of transition. Nanda, from a previous story, has an online relationship with an ex-boyfriend who is transitioning into a woman and she is in love with her. Goes through the transitioning process with plenty of emotion. (4/5)

12. From Savagery - This is a celebration. Maria from the second story and all the other delivery drivers we've met throughout the book get together to celebrate her first anniversary in Spain. The story also celebrates the migrant worker. Not the same as the other stories more of a concluding story. (3/5)

[Lyda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sex, drugs, drug lords, and their lives; too much unnecessary descriptions that could have been minimized. Most are stories of women moving through life, trying to survive, others of immigrants and how they are treated. I liked a few of the stories. The rest felt like a never-ending rant.