Feral
Novel , 2023
Sexto Piso
Premio de Bellas Artes Narrativa Colima
The story unfolds on two timelines: a distant future where a group of archivists, narrating in a form reminiscent of a Greek chorus, investigates the lives of four friends in our near future. These friends live in a commune and possess special qualities – Diana's prophetic visions, Saratoga's musical talent, Yunuen's quest for the coherence of reality, and Eugenia's journey to Teotihuacán. Their story's turning point is “Day 0”, or “The Worst Day”, when Diana receives a devastating call: her friend Eugenia has been murdered while working on an archaeological excavation in Teotihuacán.
The novel delves into complex, raw themes such as femicide, the visceral pain of loss, and the resistance encountered on the slow and arduous path of seeking justice through the institutions. Feral is also an ode to friendship, community and the collective creation of spaces, in contrast to today's hyper-individualized world. The juxtaposition of the novel's poetic language and the horrors it portrays, along with the complex ensemble of voices telling the story, defies pessimism or cynicism.
“If we could listen to the future, this would be its voice. Gabriela Jauregui has made time speak: through the voices in the commune, the narrative of loss and absence is woven while the ultimate trench of resistance is raised: language, testimony.” Emiliano Monge
“An audacious and turbulent narrative [...]. With an intimate and powerful prose, the novel shapes a lush archive that explores the dynamics of solidarity and affection among women, while also confronting the harsh realities of femicide, impunity, and discrimination, among other scourges of contemporary Mexico.” Fernanda Melchor, Guillermo Arriaga, and Socorro Venegas as the jury of First Novel Amazon Award
“Gabriela Jauregui's debut novel is a tour de force from the very first page.” Radio Fórmula México
“Feral, Gabriela Jauregui's highly anticipated novel, is essential narrative to comprehend the turbulent present from a perspective of real resistance. Jauregui masterfully addresses the various facets of forced disappearance and gender violence from a feminist and intersectional standpoint.” Revista de la Universidad de México