Mis días en Shanghai. (My Days in Shanghai)

Estrada's dream of establishing a successful career as a writer was cut short by her tragic death in 2007 at age 30. This is a compilation of the young Mexican writer's stories and essays, some of which have previously been published in magazines. Much of her writing is highly engaging, especially her fiction. For instance, "La vida está en otra parte" ("Life Is Somewhere Else") is a Kafkaesque tale about a professor who starts his first job and seems trapped in a world in which he does not belong. As big as his frustration is, he is unable to escape. "El envenamiento de Héctor Cañas Pershing" ("The Poisoning of Hector Cañas Pershing"), perhaps the best story in the book, describes how a group of urban teenagers rebels against the Gulf War by spending the evening drinking together until the narrator mixes a bottle of wine with unknown contents and then dares her friend to drink it. Some of Estrada's works seem unfinished or fragmented, but her talent as a writer and literary critic is undeniable. This collection opens with a heartfelt prolog by her husband, novelist Francisco Goldman, setting the tone for rest of the book. A source of inspiration for aspiring writers; recommended for libraries and bookstores.—María E. Cruz, Boston, MA