Short story collection review

I Love You When I'm Drunk

By Empar Moliner

Published by Comma Press

Empar Moliner's stories lay bare every pretension ever to have offered comfort to the middle class psyche. From the zeal of a mothers' group staging a world record breastfeeding attempt to couples role-playing their way into parenthood at a third world ‘adoption workshop’, every well-meaning fad and right-on gesture is brilliantly observed and astutely exposed.

Moliner’s sharpest weapons are saved for relationships, interrogating love for the competitive sport it really is. Here we meet partners so affectionate they only communicate through baby-talk, or lovers so addicted to arguing even acts of God can’t wean them off it. When a woman discovers she can teleport into the bodies of others and thereby sleep with any man she desires, we shouldn’t be surprised when ultimately sex itself becomes a turn-off.

Translator: Peter Bush