My Mother Told Me Monsters Do Not Exist
This short story by Marie Darrieussecq, translated by Penny Hueston and published in Granta, explores themes of psychological horror and existential dread. The narrative follows a protagonist who, after three years of intense creative work, finds herself alone in her apartment at two in the morning. While resting, she notices her neighbor watching her from across the street, creating an immediate sense of unease. Her attention is then drawn to a mysterious, dark mass that has fallen onto her floorboards. Initially dismissing it as a rabbit, doll, or garment, she becomes increasingly disturbed by its unnatural blackness and resistance to light. The object defies logical categorization, causing physical nausea and trembling. Recalling a childhood trauma involving crushing field mice, she uses a broom to investigate the entity without direct skin contact. Upon pushing it, the object reveals a snout or mouth, confirming its biological yet monstrous nature. The story captures the protagonist's isolation and the breakdown of rationality when faced with the inexplicable, blending domestic realism with surreal horror.
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My Mother Told Me Monsters Do Not Exist
This short story by Marie Darrieussecq, translated by Penny Hueston and published in Granta, explores themes of psychological horror and existential dread. The narrative follows a protagonist who, after three years of intense creative work, finds herself alone in her apartment at two in the morning. While resting, she notices her neighbor watching her from across the street, creating an immediate sense of unease. Her attention is then drawn to a mysterious, dark mass that has fallen onto her floorboards. Initially dismissing it as a rabbit, doll, or garment, she becomes increasingly disturbed by its unnatural blackness and resistance to light. The object defies logical categorization, causing physical nausea and trembling. Recalling a childhood trauma involving crushing field mice, she uses a broom to investigate the entity without direct skin contact. Upon pushing it, the object reveals a snout or mouth, confirming its biological yet monstrous nature. The story captures the protagonist's isolation and the breakdown of rationality when faced with the inexplicable, blending domestic realism with surreal horror.
Granta