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Pages of Mourning
Pages of Mourning is a stunning achievement, a pioneering and inventive novel that confronts family history, creativity, Magical Realism, and the impact of violence from Mexico’s drug war, by a magnificent new talent in Diego Gerard Morrison.
It’s 2017 and the crisis of forced disappearances has reached a tipping point after 43 docent students disappeared and are feared dead. Aureliano Más the Second is a fledgling writer at a lucrative fellowship in Mexico City chaired by his aunt, Rose. When Aureliano was very young, his mother left without reason or trace. Aureliano is attempting to write a novel that mirrors his mother’s unexplained disappearance while shattering Magical Realism as a genre in the process. It doesn’t help though, that he’s named after the protagonist of a touchstone of the Magical Realist canon, and raised in the mythical town of Comala.
Aureliano searches for insight and closure from his father and from Rose, who grappled with his mother’s disappearance through a failed novel of her own. Their stories lead back to the 1980’s and the burgeoning drug trade, as Rose and Aureliano’s mother journey as young runaways throughout the Mexican countryside. Meanwhile, Aureliano’s addictions and the overwhelming burden of the past threaten his tenuous position at the fellowship, just as a deadly earthquake strikes Mexico City on the exact same date as a legendary earthquake struck in 1985.
Pages of Mourning is a daring, captivating, darkly funny novel that grapples with uncertainty and loss in a land of violence and superstition, while questioning whether Magical Realism as a genre is capable of confronting the brutal dissonance of a country that awaits the return of the missing while not wholly acknowledging their death. Monumental, lyrical, and engrossing, Pages of Mourning is a towering accomplishment by one of the most exciting new writers at work today.
It’s 2017 and the crisis of forced disappearances has reached a tipping point after 43 docent students disappeared and are feared dead. Aureliano Más the Second is a fledgling writer at a lucrative fellowship in Mexico City chaired by his aunt, Rose. When Aureliano was very young, his mother left without reason or trace. Aureliano is attempting to write a novel that mirrors his mother’s unexplained disappearance while shattering Magical Realism as a genre in the process. It doesn’t help though, that he’s named after the protagonist of a touchstone of the Magical Realist canon, and raised in the mythical town of Comala.
Aureliano searches for insight and closure from his father and from Rose, who grappled with his mother’s disappearance through a failed novel of her own. Their stories lead back to the 1980’s and the burgeoning drug trade, as Rose and Aureliano’s mother journey as young runaways throughout the Mexican countryside. Meanwhile, Aureliano’s addictions and the overwhelming burden of the past threaten his tenuous position at the fellowship, just as a deadly earthquake strikes Mexico City on the exact same date as a legendary earthquake struck in 1985.
Pages of Mourning is a daring, captivating, darkly funny novel that grapples with uncertainty and loss in a land of violence and superstition, while questioning whether Magical Realism as a genre is capable of confronting the brutal dissonance of a country that awaits the return of the missing while not wholly acknowledging their death. Monumental, lyrical, and engrossing, Pages of Mourning is a towering accomplishment by one of the most exciting new writers at work today.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
26 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
About the author
Diego Gerard Morrison
5 books15 followersDiego Gerard Morrison is a writer, editor and translator, whose recent work explores themes of magical realism and appropriation set within the context of the Mexican drug war. He is the cofounder and fiction editor of diSONARE, an editorial project based in Mexico City. His fiction, non-fiction and other writings appear or are forthcoming in The Brooklyn Rail, The River Rail, Terremoto, Boiler House Press, The Poetry Project and Shifter, among others. He lives and works in Mexico City.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 18, 2024
Though I never gave up on this book, it took me awhile to read and I’m not sure why, besides other books clamoring for my attention. On the surface it’s almost everything I want in a novel: it’s smart, intelligent, and full of literary references (here, they are overtly overt). The beginning is great and the ending is beautiful. But in between I was frustrated by much of it and I think it’s due to those very things that I generally look for in a novel—plus, all the drinking, so much drinking.
Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude (one of my favorites) and Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Páramo (I loved it and I want to reread it with the newer translation) are intrinsic to this novel, but I don’t think you necessarily need to know them beforehand: The allusions are explained by the overall first-person narrator.
Not surprisingly—because of the setting and, maybe even more so, the drinking—Malcolm Lowry’s Under the Volcano (the story of an alcoholic that is packed with its own literary references) is also a reference. When I read the Lowry, I found its obsessive searching for the next drink tedious and frustrating to read about as well.
Pages’s second section is a “manuscript” written by one of the characters and it’s an overt pastiche of Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49 (which I loved) and his Oedipa Maas. I’m not sure if knowing Crying makes a difference to the enjoyment of this section or not. In some ways, I think if you don’t know Pynchon, it might be a benefit.
During the third section, which returns to the narrator’s voice of the beginning and which I felt relief at reading instead of the previous mannered, stylized prose, I read Fionnuala’s review (and the comments below it) of The Savage Detectives and I was reminded of Pages of Mourning. Then I remembered the blurb on the cover (the kind of thing I barely notice and, when I do, almost immediately forget) comparing it to a “younger, rowdier” The Savage Detectives. Maybe it would have helped me to know Bolaño; I haven’t read him.
Though I loved the last line of the book, I had an issue with one of the final scenes. The subsequent scene, however, was exquisite and I recognize that’s something only achieved by what came before.
Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude (one of my favorites) and Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Páramo (I loved it and I want to reread it with the newer translation) are intrinsic to this novel, but I don’t think you necessarily need to know them beforehand: The allusions are explained by the overall first-person narrator.
Not surprisingly—because of the setting and, maybe even more so, the drinking—Malcolm Lowry’s Under the Volcano (the story of an alcoholic that is packed with its own literary references) is also a reference. When I read the Lowry, I found its obsessive searching for the next drink tedious and frustrating to read about as well.
Pages’s second section is a “manuscript” written by one of the characters and it’s an overt pastiche of Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49 (which I loved) and his Oedipa Maas. I’m not sure if knowing Crying makes a difference to the enjoyment of this section or not. In some ways, I think if you don’t know Pynchon, it might be a benefit.
During the third section, which returns to the narrator’s voice of the beginning and which I felt relief at reading instead of the previous mannered, stylized prose, I read Fionnuala’s review (and the comments below it) of The Savage Detectives and I was reminded of Pages of Mourning. Then I remembered the blurb on the cover (the kind of thing I barely notice and, when I do, almost immediately forget) comparing it to a “younger, rowdier” The Savage Detectives. Maybe it would have helped me to know Bolaño; I haven’t read him.
Though I loved the last line of the book, I had an issue with one of the final scenes. The subsequent scene, however, was exquisite and I recognize that’s something only achieved by what came before.
July 14, 2024
I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting from Pages of Mourning. I know that what I read wasn't what I was expecting, but it was interesting—and that interest never left me in doubt about whether I would be finishing this title.
This is one of those titles with which I think a list is going to be more useful than an extended summary and critique.
So here's what we get:
• a young writer of middling talent who's on a fellowship in Mexico City trying to write a novel that will more or less "put magical realism in its place" (whatever that is)
• the novelist's (alcohol inspired?) hallucinations that intersect with the "real-world" action of the novel
• a Rashomon-like, multi-perspective retelling of the disappearance of the writer's mother years ago when he was a child
• a politically committed and respected writer who is intensely aware of the impact of cartels on the lives of ordinary individuals, but also combines a mix of egoism and naivety
• a overview of the rising power of drug cartels
• references to Mexico's disappeared, including the Ayotzinapa 43
• earthquakes
There's a lot going on here. Sometimes the center holds, sometimes it doesn't, but it keep the reader engaged.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
This is one of those titles with which I think a list is going to be more useful than an extended summary and critique.
So here's what we get:
• a young writer of middling talent who's on a fellowship in Mexico City trying to write a novel that will more or less "put magical realism in its place" (whatever that is)
• the novelist's (alcohol inspired?) hallucinations that intersect with the "real-world" action of the novel
• a Rashomon-like, multi-perspective retelling of the disappearance of the writer's mother years ago when he was a child
• a politically committed and respected writer who is intensely aware of the impact of cartels on the lives of ordinary individuals, but also combines a mix of egoism and naivety
• a overview of the rising power of drug cartels
• references to Mexico's disappeared, including the Ayotzinapa 43
• earthquakes
There's a lot going on here. Sometimes the center holds, sometimes it doesn't, but it keep the reader engaged.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
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May 8, 2024Described by Fernando A. Flores as "If The Savage Detectives had a younger, rowdier sibling" -- SIGN ME UP
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September 1, 2025What's more unbelievable: a corpse rising from the dead, or a sexy Mexican drug kingpin who's obsessed with The Crying of Lot 49?
May 23, 2024
The Pages of Mourning by Diego Gerard Morrison is a book that I was looking forward to for a while based on the description and the cover. Bought the e-copy on the weekend and it floated quick to the top of my reading pile. Zero disappointment. I very much love this book. May be spoilers ahead.
First and foremost, the author writes the hell out of the scenery around the characters. I repeat myself too much in my posts on this point, but for me, scenery descriptions will always be my number one in a novel. It was a real arrow that pierced my scenery loving heart.
Another highlight for me how the chapters moved back and forth from the main character Aureliano's point of view to the point of view of others close to him as he wrestles with the absences in his life, the main absence being that of his mother who disappeared when he was a child. It made the truth murky and it made me question which point of view was reliable.
Aureliano's implosion and slow crawl towards finding answers was compelling. In the novel, he is a writer attempting to tear apart magical realism in his yet to be written novel while being haunted by the concept of magical realism within his reality.
The mystery that threaded through it gave me real hunger to finish quickly and figure out what was the truth was before I realized that it felt less about the mystery and more about Aureliano and the harsher world and experiences that were happening. Is there magic going down or is it just healing that's happening?
This book had a lot of emotion and was highly successful at evoking it in me. I haven't read much magical realism to be any expert on the genre, but I think emotion is a cornerstone of such writing. I felt it bleed out of that arrow wound I sustained prior in my scenery loving heart.
First and foremost, the author writes the hell out of the scenery around the characters. I repeat myself too much in my posts on this point, but for me, scenery descriptions will always be my number one in a novel. It was a real arrow that pierced my scenery loving heart.
Another highlight for me how the chapters moved back and forth from the main character Aureliano's point of view to the point of view of others close to him as he wrestles with the absences in his life, the main absence being that of his mother who disappeared when he was a child. It made the truth murky and it made me question which point of view was reliable.
Aureliano's implosion and slow crawl towards finding answers was compelling. In the novel, he is a writer attempting to tear apart magical realism in his yet to be written novel while being haunted by the concept of magical realism within his reality.
The mystery that threaded through it gave me real hunger to finish quickly and figure out what was the truth was before I realized that it felt less about the mystery and more about Aureliano and the harsher world and experiences that were happening. Is there magic going down or is it just healing that's happening?
This book had a lot of emotion and was highly successful at evoking it in me. I haven't read much magical realism to be any expert on the genre, but I think emotion is a cornerstone of such writing. I felt it bleed out of that arrow wound I sustained prior in my scenery loving heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2025
Prophetic, dream like. Insert the word “realism” a few times.
In all honesty, Morrison’s writing was so convincing, I had the flip back to the front of the book to reread the “this book is a work of fiction” disclaimer to ground myself.
There is no closure to be had apart from that you give yourself.
In all honesty, Morrison’s writing was so convincing, I had the flip back to the front of the book to reread the “this book is a work of fiction” disclaimer to ground myself.
There is no closure to be had apart from that you give yourself.
October 7, 2024
felt like a fever dream at times
really sharp and vivid (hauntinggg even) writing. i kept reading some sentences over and over
certain characters needed more depth considering how often they were mentioned
really sharp and vivid (hauntinggg even) writing. i kept reading some sentences over and over
certain characters needed more depth considering how often they were mentioned
August 23, 2024
Other reviews accurately describe the Rashomon-like story telling. I would recommend reading Under the Volcano, The Crying of Lot 49, and One Hundred Years of Solitude for reference. I have read the Under the Volcano which contextualized the magical realism woven by Morrison. The discussion of Macondo has inspired me to pick up a copy of Marquez.
August 2, 2024
Purchased this book from my favorite bookstore in Port Townsend. I adore Two Dollar Radio Press, and this was a solid story told from several perspectives. I love Pynchon and Márquez, so bravo to a Younger writing in that tradition. Gives me hope to read about any writer struggling.
Gorgeous writing example:
"The dust is now buried under the weight of the downpour, and the saplings are bending almost to the ground. My father is inside the house, but I stay outside, watching the rainfall under the weak light of the Noguchi lamps, the wind and raindrops at such a pitch that it's almost like they're going to wreck his Macondo, its distant landscape revealing itself briefly under the photoflash of lightening (190).
Gorgeous writing example:
"The dust is now buried under the weight of the downpour, and the saplings are bending almost to the ground. My father is inside the house, but I stay outside, watching the rainfall under the weak light of the Noguchi lamps, the wind and raindrops at such a pitch that it's almost like they're going to wreck his Macondo, its distant landscape revealing itself briefly under the photoflash of lightening (190).
October 6, 2024
Rather brilliant, and the reason I love libraries and beautiful books. I was at my library to pick up books I put on hold, and I always check the New Books shelves because I can never have too many books to read. I noticed this one because it was deckle-edged (LOVE it!) and just wonderfully crafted. The story sounded decent enough so I added it to my pile. Wow, this was amazing. Quite layered and hard to follow at first. Once I got the characters and timelines and realities straight things really took off. Morrison has a great gift with language and style, which makes a convoluted-yet-fascinating narrative quite fabulous. Difficult to set aside yet demanding the reader's full attention, this book was a joy to read, dark as its subjects were. Yay libraries!
December 15, 2024
Magical realism, eh? Count me in. Give the Bukowski approach in the early pages some time and you’ll quickly be sucked into the narrative on the other side of the border. NARCOS meets ADAPTATION with beautiful prose and a sneak peek at a powerful new literary voice. Diego, your shit rocks!
July 25, 2024
3.5 stars
March 31, 2025
I admired the writer's ambition but weirdly didn't connect with this book. An ambitious story of personal loss set against the back drop of the drug war and the ongoing femicides in Mexico, Pages of Mourning is a rich, metatextual tale of mourning.
Unfortunately like a lot of "stories within a story" I didn't quite like the tale within the tale. That said this was an interesting book, well worth the read and I'm sure other people who connect with it more will love it.
As an aside I loooove the physical form of this book. Two Dollar Radio gave it french flaps and deckled edges making it just a nice object to read.
Unfortunately like a lot of "stories within a story" I didn't quite like the tale within the tale. That said this was an interesting book, well worth the read and I'm sure other people who connect with it more will love it.
As an aside I loooove the physical form of this book. Two Dollar Radio gave it french flaps and deckled edges making it just a nice object to read.
September 30, 2025
I really, *really* thought I would love this book. The entire description is literally the TL:DR of all my fave reads. But nothing ever clicked for me with the book. The structure was off pace for me, I didn't have any time to really feel connected to the story, conflict, thesis, or even characters. I guess it's like combining chocolate chip cookies and ramen - two things I love dearly, but would not enjoy combined.
July 28, 2024
somethings i really liked, some things i really didn’t like
September 11, 2024
Pages of Mourning is one book within another within another within yet another that is and is not written, each of them a testament to that dogged impulse that compels us to seek and create.
June 5, 2024
Vivid storytelling. The flashback sections were particularly engrossing. Unfortunately, the protagonist was somewhat opaque and uninteresting. I was much more intrigued by all the characters surrounding him.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews