Pink Slime BY Fernanda Trias

Winner of the Uruguayan National Literature Prize for Fiction, the Bartolomé-Hidalgo Fiction Prize, and the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Literature Prize, Pink Slime plunges readers into a haunting port city gripped by an ecological catastrophe. Toxic algae choke the river, and a deadly 'red wind' sweeps through the streets, prompting the evacuation of much of the coastline. As the wealthy flee to safer inland havens, the remaining residents, including the unnamed narrator, hunker down in abandoned homes amidst blackouts and dwindling food supplies.

The narrator, entangled in unraveling relationships that once defined her, now finds solace in caring for a young boy entrusted to her care. Amidst the shrinking confines of their world, she contemplates the collapse of past emotional bonds and the emergence of a radical yet tender solitude.

Through Jenna Satterthwaite's striking prose and vividly drawn characters, Pink Slime offers profound meditations on motherhood, marriage, and the responsibilities of caregiving against the backdrop of a crumbling city. As the city's decay mirrors the erosion of personal connections, the narrative delves into themes of resilience and the transformative power of solitude in the face of societal breakdown.

This multi-award-winning novel not only explores the visceral realities of environmental disaster but also delves deep into the intricate complexities of human relationships, delivering a poignant and thought-provoking reflection on the fragility of our connections and the enduring strength found in solitude.