Her Body And Other Parties - Carmen Maria Machado

Her Body and Other Parties is the electrifying debut short story collection by Carmen Maria Machado, lauded for its fearless innovation and feminist vision. Shortlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction and the International Dylan Thomas Prize, this book blurs the lines between genres to reveal new truths about the body, identity, desire, and violence.

With elements of magical realism, science fiction, psychological horror, and fabulism, Machado dissects the experiences of women in a world that refuses to make space for them. From a woman who clings to a green ribbon she refuses to remove, to an apocalyptic tale of sex and disease, these stories are hypnotic, unsettling, and entirely unforgettable.

Daring in both form and content, Her Body and Other Parties is a literary landmark that signals the arrival of a major new voice in contemporary fiction.

Main Themes of the Book

• The Female Body and Autonomy: Stories center on how women inhabit and resist societal control over their bodies.
• Surrealism and Horror: Dark, often grotesque narratives explore inner fears and external violences.
• Queer Identity: Queer desire and disorientation are explored with deep nuance and clarity.
• Feminist Reclamation of Narrative: From fairy tales to folklore, Machado reclaims traditional forms to tell radically new stories.
• Structural Experimentation: Stories play with narrative form, especially the standout “Especially Heinous,” a surreal riff on Law & Order: SVU.

Why You Should Read This Book by Carmen Maria Machado

• Perfect for fans of Angela Carter, Kelly Link, and Roxane Gay
• A bold, award-nominated collection with critical and cultural acclaim
• Uses genre to reveal deeper truths about gender, sexuality, and trauma
• Innovative, poetic prose that will stay with you long after the final page
• One of the most important feminist short story collections of the 21st century

Her Body and Other Parties is a glittering, chilling exploration of womanhood, written with wit, rage, and fierce beauty. With unmatched literary daring, Carmen Maria Machado tears open the seams of the traditional short story to reveal something entirely new. This is a book to be devoured, studied, and shared—haunting in its impact and brilliant in its execution.