The Story: Growing Up Trans in Madrid's Working-Class Suburbs
: Central to the novel is the concept of "transfeminine lineage". The protagonist is guided by older trans women—street queens and outcasts who provide the care, wisdom, and protection her environment lacks. Key Themes
: The story begins in the post-Franco era, a period of transition in Spain marked by a contrast between rigid patriarchal tradition and a blossoming underground scene. The narrator's childhood is shaped by a landscape of poverty, heroin addiction, and structural violence. Protagonist's Journey
For international readers outside of Spain, purchasing or accessing the Spanish EPUB allows immediate access to the text in its original, unadulterated language. La mala costumbre - Alana S. Portero.epub
The novel is set in 16th century Madrid (specifically around 1561, following the establishment of the Court by Philip II). It tells the story of a young trans girl living during the Spanish Golden Age ( Siglo de Oro ), a period characterized by extreme religious rigidity and persecution of those who defied gender norms.
Portero expertly weaves the protagonist's trans identity with her working-class origins, creating a portrait where one cannot be understood without the other. The story is a powerful critique of the double marginalization faced by those who lack both financial resources and social acceptance. It highlights how public policies and social services often fail those who need them most.
One of the standout features of "La mala costumbre" is Portero's writing style, which is both lyrical and accessible. Her prose is descriptive, yet concise, making it easy for readers to become fully immersed in the story. The author's use of language is deliberate and evocative, conjuring vivid images and emotions that linger long after the reader finishes the book. The Story: Growing Up Trans in Madrid's Working-Class
The novel controversially and unapologetically argues that resentment and rage are not just valid but completely necessary tools for survival in an oppressive system. Rather than advocating for forgiveness or assimilation, Portero validates the raw anger that comes from being systematically denied the right to exist.
La mala costumbre (translated as Bad Habit ) by Alana S. Portero is a breakout masterpiece in contemporary Spanish literature. The novel follows a trans girl growing up in the working-class neighborhood of San Blas, Madrid, during the 1980s and 90s. It is a poetic, raw, and deeply moving exploration of identity, sisterhood, and survival.
Navigating the Streets of Madrid: An In-Depth Look at Alana S. Portero's "La mala costumbre" (Bad Habit) The narrator's childhood is shaped by a landscape
Alana S. Portero, a Spanish historian, poet, and dramatist, achieved widespread critical acclaim with La mala costumbre . Set primarily in the working-class neighborhood of San Blas, Madrid, during the 1980s and 1990s, the novel operates as a coming-of-age story (a bildungsroman ) of a trans girl trapped in a body and a society that do not understand her.
Upon its release, the novel received widespread acclaim from major literary circles. Critics praised it for bridging the gap between raw social realism and high poetic art. It has been widely translated into multiple languages, establishing Portero as a vital voice in contemporary European fiction. Literary Value and Accessibility