It’s time for another publisher-centric episode, and it’s another stunner—we’re heading to Latin America (via Scotland!) to talk about the brilliant Charco Press! We dive into what makes Charco Press such a standout: their dedication to bringing contemporary Latin American literature to English-language readers, their thoughtful support of authors and translators, and, yes, their absolutely gorgeous books.

We each share three Charco titles we love and three more we can’t wait to get our hands on. There’s something for everyone—from the surreal to the political, the tender to the explosive. Plus, we announce the winner of our March giveaway and introduce an amazing new prize for April: a 2025 bundle of Charco Press books! You do not want to miss this one.

Join the Mookse and the Gripes on Discord

We’re creating a welcoming space for thoughtful, engaging discussions about great novellas, starting with First Love by Ivan Turgenev in April. Whether you want to share insights, ask questions, or simply follow along, we’d love to have you. The discussion will unfold gradually, so you can read at your own pace and jump in whenever you're ready. It’s a great way to connect with fellow readers, explore new works together, and deepen your appreciation for the novella form.

For the first book, the schedule will be as follows:

* April 6: Start of the book through Section 9

* April 9: Section 10 through Section 16

* April 13: Section 17 through the end

Shownotes

Books

* On the Calculation of Volume I, by Solvej Balle, translated by Barbara Haveland

* The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher

* Fated, by Benedict Jacka

* Cursed, by Benedict Jacka

* First Love, by Ivan Turgenev

* The Wind That Lays Waste, by Selva Almada, translated by Chris Andrews

* Dead Girls, by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott

* Brickmakers, by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott

* Not a River, by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott

* Catching Fire: A Translation Diary, by Daniel Hahn

* Never Did the Fire, by Diamela Eltit, translated by Daniel Hahn

* Homesick, by Jennifer Croft

* The Cemetery of Untold Stories, by Julia Alvarez

* The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka

* An Orphan World, by Giuseppe Caputo, translated by Sophie Hughes and Juana Adcock

* Dislocations, by Sylvia Malloy, translated by Jennifer Croft

* Elena Knows, by Claudia Piñeiro, translated by Frances Riddle

* A Little Luck, by Claudia Piñeiro, translated by Frances Riddle

* Fish Soup, by Margarita García Robayo, translated by Charlotte Coombe

* The Distance Between Us, by Renato Cisneros, translated by Fionn Petch

* Time of the Flies, by Claudia Piñeiro, translated by Frances Riddle

* Two Sherpas, by Sebastián Martinez Daniell, translated by Jennifer Croft

* Trout, Belly Up, by Rodrigo Fuentes, translated by Ellen Jones

* Fresh Dirt from the Grave, by Giovanna Rivero, translated by Isabel Adey

* The Adventures of China Iron, by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Fiona Mackintosh and Iona Macintyre

* A Perfect Cemetery, by Federico Falco, translated by Jennifer Croft

* Cautery, by Lucía Litmaer, translated by Maureen Shaughnessy

* The Delivery, by Margarita García Robayo, translated by Megan McDowell

* The Forgery, by Ave Barrera, translated by Ellen Jones and Robin Myers

* Restoration, by Ave Barrera, translated by Ellen Jones and Robin Myers

* Die, My Love, by Ariana Harwicz, translated by Sarah Moses and Carolina Orloff

* Feebleminded, by Ariana Harwicz, translated by Annie McDermott and Carolina Orloff

* Tender, by Ariana Harwicz, translated by Annie McDermott and Carolina Orloff

Other

* The Book Club Review Podcast

* Charco Press Website

* Episode 74: Canadian Literature, with Jerry Faust

* Episode 88: Women in Translation, with Robin Myers

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast is a bookish conversation hosted by Paul and Trevor. Every other week, we explore a bookish topic and celebrate our love of reading. We’re glad you’re here, and we hope you’ll continue to join us on this literary journey!

A huge thank you to those who help make this podcast possible! If you'd like to support us, you can do so via Substack or Patreon. Subscribers receive access to periodic bonus episodes and early access to all new episodes. Plus, each supporter gets their own dedicated feed, allowing them to download episodes a few days before they’re released to the public. We’d love for you to check it out!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe