Ruined a Little When We Are Born

For fans of Carmen Maria Machado and Jhumpa Lahiri, Ruined a Little When We Are Born delivers a stunning exploration of family and motherhood against the backdrop of Indian diaspora and culture. Tara Isabel Zambrano weaves elements from both the physical and supernatural worlds to beg the question: are we all ruined a little from our first breath?

A young couple ponders their opposing religions after one of them finds a cow’s tongue left on their porch. A widow helps her neighbor mourn the d...