2. Ghosts by Cesar Aira

This novella takes place over New Year’s Eve in a haunted luxury condominium in Buenos Aires. The building is unfinished but occupied by squatters, and the story focuses on one immigrant family from Chile, who can see ghosts, which they try to ignore.

The ghosts are a highlight of Aira’s work, described as naked, potbellied construction workers, who pull strange stunts to get the family’s attention (a few tricks involve their penises, which may explain why this isn’t a classroom read). They do eventually entrance the family’s daughter, which puts her life at risk.

Aira has published over 80 books of stories, novels and essays, but this is definitely the best starting point to exploring his provocative prose.