Mary's Feminist Fiction Reading Group

Welcome to the wonderful Feminist Fiction Reading Group! A place to discover and enjoy a range of titles and themes lovingly hand picked by Mary. Woven together by feminist perspectives and critique, we will be discussing everything from unsung classics to contemporary literary fiction.

The Queens of Sarmiento Park by Camilla Sosa Villada is a singularly affecting and raw tale of community, gender identity, sex work, and chosen family. I've waited a long time to read this one, knowing it was going to be magical. Villada provides us with a glittering lens to see through the swirling, and at times tragic, underground worlds of Argentina. Join me in reading this unsung modern classic and a for what promises to be a fantastic discussion to follow.

Auntie Encarna's is the queerest boarding house in the world.

For Camila, it is a refuge, and the travesti who gather there are like family. At night they head out to Sarmiento Park to earn money. They stand together in the cold, sharing stories and a hip flask of whiskey, waiting for a car to slow down. Until, one freezing evening, Auntie Encarna hears crying in the bushes and wades in to investigate. When she finds an abandoned baby boy, she will hear no arguments: she is bringing him home to care for him. Life for Camila and the others will never be the same again.

'It will break your heart' Mariana Enriquez

'Naked, glorious storytelling' Claire Oshetsky

Longlisted for the Dublin Literary Award
Winner of the Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz Prize
Winner of the Premio de Narrativa en Castellano
Winner of the Grand Prix de l'héroïne Madame Figaro

There’s no need to prepare or pressure to contribute at all - just bring your lovely self - but do feel free to mention a particular passage or character that you enjoyed during your reading.

Each entry place costs £5, fully redeemable as a voucher towards a copy of the book. We hope you’ll join us for some great conversation, and perhaps some themed baked goods!