“Mysterious Buenos Aires” by Manuel Mujica Laínez is a collection of short stories that explores life in Buenos Aires across four centuries. Each story captures a different moment in the city’s history, from its early years as a settlement to the rise of its modern identity.
The tales are packed with unique characters, including a vengeful parrot in colonial times, an alchemist seeking gold, and a beggar who dreams of royalty.
It’s a mix of history, legend, and the everyday lives of people who shaped the city, painting a vivid picture of Buenos Aires through the ages.
“Adam Buenosayres” by Leopoldo Marechal follows the journey of Adam, a poet navigating the streets of Buenos Aires with his eccentric friends.
The story is filled with surreal experiences, philosophical musings, and comic episodes as it captures the city’s spirit and cultural chaos. Rooted in Argentine identity, the novel offers a playful yet thoughtful lens on life, love, and spirituality.
The novel “Hopscotch” by Julio Cortázar takes readers on a wild and unconventional journey through Buenos Aires and Paris. It follows Horacio Oliveira, an intellectual with a restless mind, as he navigates his life, relationships, and philosophical musings.
The book is unique because the chapters can be read in different orders, offering a fresh and unpredictable way to experience Oliveira’s world, including his passionate romance with La Maga and his circle of eccentric friends.
“On Heroes and Tombs” by Ernesto Sabato explores the lives of a handful of characters caught in personal struggles and deep obsessions against the backdrop of mid-20th century Buenos Aires.
The story follows Martín, a young man dealing with loss and confusion, and Alejandra, a mysterious and troubled woman tied to a crumbling aristocratic family.
One of the book’s most striking sections, “Report on the Blind,” dives into a paranoid conspiracy about a secret society of blind people. The city itself feels alive, reflecting the characters’ inner turmoil and adding a haunting atmosphere to their lives.
César Aira’s “Ghosts” takes place in an unfinished luxury apartment building in Buenos Aires. It follows a family of construction workers who live on-site, surrounded by mysterious ghosts that wander the floors.
The story focuses on the youngest daughter, who finds herself drawn to the ghosts and begins to reflect on life, death, and the possibilities of the unknown. The blend of ordinary life and the eerie presence of these silent spirits creates a strange, almost dreamlike atmosphere.
Manuel Puig’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman” tells the story of two cellmates in an Argentine prison—Valentín, a political activist, and Molina, a window dresser imprisoned for his sexuality.
The book unfolds through their conversations as Molina recounts the plots of old movies, creating a bond between the two men despite their differences. Their connection grows in the confined space of the cell, revealing themes of love, survival, and sacrifice.
It’s a story about human connection and unexpected friendships in the unlikeliest of places.
Tomás Eloy Martínez wrote “The Tango Singer,” a novel about a man named Bruno who travels to Buenos Aires in search of an elusive tango singer with a legendary voice.
As Bruno navigates the city, he encounters its vibrant and sometimes shadowy history, shaped by political struggles and cultural identity. The story captures the essence of Buenos Aires, weaving its streets, music, and past into Bruno’s quest.
“The Tunnel” by Ernesto Sabato tells the story of Juan Pablo Castel, a painter who becomes fixated on a woman named María after she shows a deep understanding of one of his artworks.
His obsession grows, leading him down a path shaped by jealousy, isolation, and destructive love. Castel’s narrative pulls readers into his troubled mind as he recounts the events leading to a shocking conclusion.
The backdrop of Buenos Aires adds a haunting atmosphere to his twisted internal journey.
The book “The Aleph” by Jorge Luis Borges is a collection of short stories that mix reality with the extraordinary. In the title story, a man discovers a point in space where all things in the universe can be seen at once.
Other stories explore themes like time, infinity, and identity, often set against the backdrop of Buenos Aires and its streets, libraries, and cafés. Borges creates a world where the everyday feels connected to something larger and mysterious.
The novel “El gran teatro” by Manuel Mujica Lainez explores the lives of a group of people connected to a grand, old theater in Buenos Aires. The story revolves around their passions, ambitions, and the entanglements that come with their artistic and personal pursuits.
As the theater stands as both a stage and a symbol, the characters’ tales unfold, reflecting the vibrant and complex life of the city surrounding them.
“Santa Evita” by Tomás Eloy Martínez tells the story of Eva Perón after her death, focusing on the strange journey of her embalmed body. The novel mixes fact and fiction, showing how her corpse becomes a symbol, manipulated by those in power and feared by her enemies.
It’s a story about obsession, power, and the myths that grow around people who leave an unforgettable mark on history.
The novel “La casa” by Manuel Mujica Lainez tells the story of an old mansion in Buenos Aires, narrating its life across generations. The house becomes a witness to the triumphs, secrets, and tragedies of the families who inhabit it.
Through its walls, it reflects the historical and social changes of the city, capturing the essence of Buenos Aires across time.
The novel “Rosaura at Ten O’Clock” by Marco Denevi is a mysterious story about a boarding house and its eccentric residents.
It revolves around a painter named Camilo and the arrival of letters from a woman named Rosaura, whose identity becomes the focus of suspicion and intrigue. The narrative unfolds through different perspectives, slowly revealing secrets and twists.
It keeps you guessing about the truth behind appearances and motivations.
Julio Cortázar’s “The Winners” follows a group of ordinary people in Buenos Aires who win a mysterious cruise trip. Once on board, they find themselves in a strange and unsettling situation where certain parts of the ship are off-limits.
As the passengers interact and suspicions grow, the confined space amplifies their fears and tensions. The novel blends psychology and mystery while capturing the atmosphere of Buenos Aires’ society in the mid-20th century.
“Imagining Argentina” by Lawrence Thornton is set during Argentina’s Dirty War in the 1970s. The story centers on Carlos, a man who discovers he has the ability to see the fates of people who have disappeared under the brutal regime.
When his wife, Cecilia, is taken after speaking out against the government, Carlos uses his gift to search for her. The novel blends political oppression with a sense of mysticism, creating a haunting atmosphere as Carlos faces the limits of hope and resilience.