La Mala Costumbre - Alana S. Portero.epub _top_
La mala costumbre (translated as Bad Habit) by Alana S. Portero is a critically acclaimed coming-of-age debut that follows an unnamed trans woman growing up in a working-class Madrid neighborhood during the 1980s and 90s. Core Themes & Atmosphere
Set in the 1980s and 90s, the novel follows an unnamed narrator growing up in San Blas, a working-class neighborhood in Madrid ravaged by the heroin epidemic. Born into a boy’s body but possessing an unshakable knowledge of her identity as a girl, she navigates a world defined by rigid patriarchy and the ever-present threat of violence. La mala costumbre - Alana S. Portero.epub
Introduction: The Literary Explosion of La mala costumbre
In the vast ocean of contemporary Spanish literature, every decade delivers a title that not only breaks sales records but shatters societal frameworks. La mala costumbre (translated as The Bad Habit), the debut novel by Madrid-based writer Alana S. Portero, is precisely that seismic event. La mala costumbre (translated as Bad Habit ) by Alana S
Q: Will the book be translated into English? A: As of 2025, rights have been acquired by HarperVia in the US. The English title is rumored to be The Bad Habit. However, reading the original Spanish EPUB is highly recommended for purists. Trans Femininity and Childhood: The novel provides a
"La mala costumbre" (The Bad Habit) is a novel written by Spanish author Alana S. Portero. The book has gained significant attention for its thought-provoking and introspective exploration of human relationships, habits, and personal growth. This report provides an overview of the novel, its themes, and an analysis of its impact on readers.
3. Key Themes
- Trans Femininity and Childhood: The novel provides a rare and intimate look at the specific experience of a trans girl growing up. It challenges the common narrative that trans women only realize their identity later in life, asserting instead that the identity exists from childhood but is suppressed.
- The Performance of Gender: The title La mala costumbre is an ironic commentary on how society forces trans individuals to "perform" the gender they were assigned at birth. The protagonist describes the exhaustion of pretending to be a boy as a "bad habit" she must break.
- Class and Geography: The setting of San Blas is crucial. Portero paints a vivid picture of the neighborhood—the asphalt, the heat, the blocks of flats. The story highlights how class struggles intersect with gender identity; the protagonist’s transition is not just about gender but about surviving in a working-class environment that offers little room for deviation.
- The Body: The book is known for its visceral, sometimes graphic, description of the body. It speaks openly about dysphoria, puberty, and sex work, refusing to sanitize the trans experience for a cisgender audience.
Why You Should Read "La mala costumbre"
