# Is the Past Truly Behind Us?: Gabriela Enríquez’s Contemplative Novel
With her melodramatic work “Amor al Prójimo,” Gabriela Enríquez emerged victorious in the ninth edition of the prestigious Mauricio Achar-Random House Award, a prize orchestrated by the Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial. The jury, comprised of notable figures Fernanda Melchor, Julián Herbert, and Alaíde Ventura, lauded “Amor al Prójimo” as a novel that intricately portrays vulnerability in the face of loss, absence, and physical misfortune. The work is praised for its refined style and its precise construction of characters and the suspense interlinking them.
During an interview with TJGringo.com, Gabriela Enríquez remarked on the award, “I believe it’s a recognition gaining significant importance, allowing people to participate with their debut novels. It’s a very important award.”
In her novel, Enríquez crafts a narrative where the protagonist engages in a one-sided dialogue with her sister Teresa, who is in a coma. This setting provides a unique opportunity to delve into past reflections through monologues, as Teresa, due to her vegetative state, cannot respond. One notable line from the protagonist reads, “With my mom, it’s different. She’s smarter than me and firmly believes the past is not set in stone; one can alter it as often as they wish.”
Reflecting on this theme, Enríquez stated, “The central question explored in the novel is: Is the past truly concluded? The narrator returns after enduring significant hardships and seeks to reconnect with her sister, reflect on her life’s journey, and perhaps find redemption.”
Enríquez’s work explores the depth of self-reconstruction and the question of whether we can escape familial legacies to forge new destinies. She eloquently asserts, “Can we escape a familial fate? Can we live new lives without repeating our ancestors’ histories? These are the substantial questions posed by the novel and its narrator.”
In discussing her creative process, Enríquez shared that her characters, while not autobiographical, are composites of traits from people she knows, including family members. She noted, “Characters are constructed by the narrator. It’s somewhat romantic to say the novel writes itself, but in a way, you create one character who then uncovers the others.”
Ultimately, Enríquez’s “Amor al Prójimo” invites readers to contemplate whether we are bound by our past or possess the agency to redefine it.
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## Additional Report: Gabriela Enríquez’s Impactful Win
Renowned author Gabriela Enríquez has been making waves in the literary community with her novel “Amor al Prójimo,” which clinched the Mauricio Achar-Random House Award for 2023. The esteemed award, which has been a crucial launchpad for first-time novelists, celebrates its ninth edition this year. The panel, including literary luminaries like Fernanda Melchor and Julián Herbert, highlighted Enríquez’s ability to portray emotional and physical resilience in her storytelling.
Enríquez’s exploration of whether the past can be rewritten resonates deeply in a world where many grapple with their histories. By depicting her protagonist’s one-sided dialogue with a comatose sister, Enríquez offers a profound meditation on memory and redemption.
Her victory not only marks a personal achievement but also significantly contributes to the broader literary landscape. Critics and readers alike are eagerly looking forward to future works from this promising author, who continues to raise poignant questions about human existence through her compelling narratives.