Podcast Summary
Human connections, vengeance: The novel 'House of Bone and Rain' explores the complex nature of human relationships and the power they hold, particularly in the context of seeking revenge. The bond between friends can be empowering or dangerous, leading to good or playing on our worst impulses. The novel delves into the consequences of vengeance and how it can consume us in unexpected ways.
Key takeaway from Aisha Roscoe's discussion with Gabino Iglesias on the Sunday Story podcast is the exploration of the complex nature of relationships and the power they hold in the novel "House of Bone and Rain." The story revolves around a group of friends seeking revenge after the mother of one of them is murdered. The bond between the friends is portrayed as both empowering and dangerous, as it can lead to good or play on our worst impulses. The novel delves into the consequences of seeking vengeance and how it can consume us in unexpected ways. Iglesias masterfully sets the scene by throwing readers right into the action, creating a gripping and suspenseful story set in Puerto Rico. Overall, "House of Bone and Rain" is a thought-provoking and thrilling horror novel that showcases the depth and complexity of human connections.
Toxic Masculinity: Toxic masculinity can lead individuals to make questionable decisions with destructive consequences, but standing up for what's right and supporting each other can help mitigate its negative effects.
The strong bonds of friendship and male ego can lead individuals to make questionable decisions with potentially destructive consequences. This is explored in the book through the actions of a group of young men, who are blinded by their love and fear, and influenced by their toxic masculinity. The story is set against the backdrop of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, which serves as a stark reminder of the real-life struggles and desperation faced by people in times of crisis, and the failure of the government to provide adequate support. The book highlights the need to address the negative aspects of toxic masculinity, while also recognizing the value of standing up for what's right and supporting each other.
Taino mythology and hurricanes: Taino mythology inspired author Gabino Iglesias to merge real-world hurricanes with mythical elements, creating a new God named Huracan and adding depth to the destructive events in his novel 'House of Bone and Rain'.
Author Gabino Iglesias drew inspiration for the supernatural elements in his novel "House of Bone and Rain" from the Taino mythology surrounding hurricanes. He wanted to add a dark, mythical force to the storm, creating a new God named Huracan, a bloodthirsty old deity that brings destruction along with the winds. By merging real-world disasters with mythical elements, Iglesias aims to make readers more aware of the power and darkness of death. This approach is common in horror literature and helps to make the destructive events more engaging and thought-provoking.
Impact of experiences on personal growth: Experiences, even traumatic ones, can shape and define us, leading us to question our loyalty and willingness to go to great lengths for our friends. Authenticity in art is essential to preserve the power of language and characters' voices.
Experiences, even traumatic ones, can shape and define us in profound ways. The author shared a personal incident from his past that served as the inspiration for his novel, "House of Bone Rain." Although he and his friends talked about seeking revenge, they ultimately chose not to, recognizing that life isn't a movie. However, the experience left them questioning their loyalty and willingness to go to great lengths for their friends. The author also shared how writing dialogue in Spanish for his novel, despite the challenges, was an important decision to preserve the authenticity and power of the language and the characters' voices. Overall, the discussion emphasized the impact of experiences on personal growth and the importance of staying true to one's artistic vision.
Language barriers and empathy: Experiencing language barriers can foster empathy and understanding, as seen in Gabino Iglesias's novels that make monolingual readers feel uncomfortable to promote diversity and multiculturalism
Learning from this conversation with Gabino Iglesias is the power of empathy and understanding that comes from experiencing language barriers. Iglesias shares how he uses his experience as a non-native English speaker in his novels to make monolingual readers feel a sense of discomfort and unfamiliarity, ultimately fostering a greater appreciation for diversity and multiculturalism. Iglesias also discusses his love for the horror genre, which he discovered in sixth grade while writing a disturbing short story for a school assignment that almost got his father in trouble. Despite the controversy, Iglesias saw the potential in writing well to get away with telling unsettling stories, leading him to pursue a career in writing. Overall, Iglesias's work aims to challenge readers and push them out of their comfort zones, making them more open-minded and empathetic towards those who face language barriers and other challenges in their daily lives.
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