Julianne Pachico: Jungle House

Join us on Wednesday 15th of November for an evening of AI, vines and philosophically blurred lines as we celebrate the launch of Julianne’s stunning new piece of speculative fiction, Jungle House!

We’re absolutely over the moon to be hosting this one — Julianne’s previous work, The Anthill, remains a steadfast shop favourite, so when we received an early proof copy of Jungle House, we couldn’t wait to read it. And believe us, it did not disappoint! This is a unique piece of storytelling that forgoes the trodden path, and instead ventures forth, machete swinging, into dark, dense and even uncharted territories — from complex mother-daughter bonds, through existential angst over mind-body dualism, to the inner thoughts of a melancholy drone.  Here, the hot, dirty, primordial forest meets the dazzling, daunting technological future…  It’s sultry. It’s sinister. It’s spectacular. It’s been described as “stylish, beautiful and strange” (Jessie Greengrass!) and “dazzling and horrifying” (Anna Metcalfe!). So don’t miss this launch! Here’s the blurb…

Lena has always lived in the jungle with Mother. There they look after a holiday home in surroundings that burst with colour and crawl with danger. Lena’s only other friend is Isabella, who once visited regularly with her wealthy parents and security drone, Anton. But Isabella and her family haven’t been seen in years.

Mother is not like other mothers. She gets angry when Lena draws her with a face. When Lena challenges her to portray herself, she paints a tiny yellow dot surrounded by swirling black. She is a bastion of light, she says, against an army of darkness.

Outside, rebels are fighting to take over the country. Mother is determined nothing will change inside the security fence, nothing to threaten her bond with Lena, or endanger the family. But there are secrets that need to emerge. How did Lena end up here? And what has happened to the family who no longer visit? What has Mother been planning, and what is gathering around them to change their lives forever?

Julianne will be in conversation with her editor, Luke Brown. She’ll also read from the book, take audience questions, and stick around to sign copies!

Julianne Pachico was born in 1985 in Cambridge, England and grew up in Cali, Colombia. Her short stories have been published in New Yorker, Granta and The White Review, and she teaches creative writing at UEA.

Wednesday 15th of November
The Book Hive, Norwich
Free
Refreshments provided (suggested donation of £2 to help cover the cost of wine and heating)
Doors 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start*
Limited seats… Book now to avoid disappointment!

* Your tickets will say 6:30pm, but that is when we’ll open the doors; the event will start promptly at 7:00pm!