Shantytown

by César Aira

A middle-class, directionless ox of a young man who helps the trash pickers of Buenos Aires's shantytown attracts the attention of a corrupt policeman who would use anyone including innocent kids to break a drug ring he believes is operating in the slum. By the author of An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter.

More by César Aira

An episode in the life of a landscape painterCésar Aira
How I Became a NunCésar Aira
DinnerCésar Aira
Dr. Aira's miracle curesCésar Aira
The literary conferenceCésar Aira
The seamstress and the windCésar Aira
Ema, the captiveCésar Aira

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?