History Keeps Me Awake at Night

Margit is at a point in her life when things should have cohered, but she is still adrift. She becomes obsessed with the 43 Mexican students who disappeared without a trace in 2014 and begins to investigate their disappearance using Google Maps. This novel captures the texture of life in a frictionless city with drop-pin accuracy and asks if it is possible to recover what is lost without losing oneself.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2023
Publisher: Granta Books

Margit is at a pivotal stage in her life, where everything should be coming together. She is married, holds a degree, has a supportive circle of friends, and yet, she feels like she is constantly floundering. She moves from one precarious job to another, never quite finding her footing.

One day, while perusing a newspaper, Margit's attention is caught by a photograph of a group of Mexican students. The group, consisting of 43 individuals, had been ambushed by police in 2014 while traveling on a bus and subsequently disappeared without a trace. This incident ignites a deep fascination within Margit, leading her to embark on an obsessive quest to uncover the truth behind the desaparecidos.

As she delves deeper into the rabbit holes and cul-de-sacs of Google Maps, her pursuit of the truth begins to consume her. Her days are filled with tireless research, scouring the internet for any shred of information that might shed light on the disappearance of the 43 students. Margit's determination knows no bounds, and she becomes increasingly isolated from her friends and family as her obsession grows.

Through her unique literary voice, the author vividly captures the texture of life in a bustling city, with an uncanny accuracy that is both refreshing and unsettling. The novel asks profound questions about the nature of loss and the possibility of recovering what is lost without losing oneself. Margit's journey is a testament to the human spirit's resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

As the story unfolds, Margit's obsession with the desaparecidos takes her to places she never imagined she would go. She confronts the dark underbelly of Mexico City, where corruption and violence run rampant. She meets with activists who have dedicated their lives to seeking justice for the missing students and families.

Through her interactions with these individuals, Margit begins to question her own role in the search for truth. She realizes that her pursuit of the truth may have unintended consequences and that she may be putting herself in danger. She grapples with the moral dilemmas that come with uncovering the truth, and she wonders if it is worth the risk.

In the end, Margit's journey is a testament to the power of human curiosity and the resilience of the human spirit. She may not find the answers she seeks, but she discovers something even more valuable: a sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the world around her. The novel leaves readers with a sense of hope and a renewed appreciation for the importance of empathy and compassion in the face of adversity.

Weight: 367g
Dimension: 216 x 135 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783788422