Argentine Capital Buenos Aires and Mexico City (CDMX) highlighted in 13 tales penned by Marina Porcelli
Marina Porcelli, a renowned Argentinian author, published her short story collection "City in Two" in 2025. The book, published through the Autonomous University of Nuevo León, delves into themes such as identity, urban life, cultural displacement, power dynamics, and the complexities of human relationships within divided or transitional cityscapes.
Porcelli, born in 1978, moved to Mexico City at the age of 30, and her experiences in this vibrant city have significantly influenced her work. Some of the short stories in "City in Two" are set in Mexico City, where melancholic, frenzied, and sexual stories unfold.
In an interview with an unspecified website, Porcelli discussed her life and experiences in Mexico. She advocates for the solidification of narrative writing through short stories rather than novels. "City in Two" is an invitation to think about stories, as well as to see the relationship between the two cities, Buenos Aires and Mexico City, according to Porcelli.
The collection consists of 13 realistic short stories that explore themes such as violence, fear, interpersonal relationships, and sexuality. Two scenarios are presented in the book: Mexico City and Buenos Aires, both cities connected by historical events and featured in the short stories.
The short stories "The Hunt" and "Time of Night" are part of Porcelli's collection and take place in Mexico City. In "The Hunt," Porcelli discusses themes of desire and sexual desire. "Time of Night" highlights the theme of never-ending grief of separation and the frustration of a couple that can't separate.
Porcelli points out that the theme of light and night differentiates the two cities in her short stories, as activities in Buenos Aires are usually carried out in the afternoon and evening, unlike CDMX, where activities start early in the morning.
The book has won various awards for essay and narrative writing. Porcelli resides in both Mexico City and Buenos Aires, and her work reflects her dual existence. The elements of Buenos Aires present in her short stories are more intimate, as she observes what she lived in Mexico City from "a sense of estrangement."
"City in Two" will be presented at the FIL Minería in 2026, providing an opportunity for readers to delve into Porcelli's unique perspective on urban life and identity. Despite the lack of search results providing information on the themes explored in the collection, Porcelli's work promises to offer a fresh and thought-provoking take on city life and division.
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