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The Mexican Authors We Love
Fantastic works by Mexican and Mexican American writers.
Published on April 26, 2021
The Story of My Teeth
Valeria LuiselliFirst written for factory workers outside Mexico City, “The Story of My Teeth” is a quirky story of a man who buys Marilyn Monroe’s teeth and replaces them for his own. Mexican author Valeria Luiselli’s second novel blends fiction with historical points of reference for a wild (and award-winning) ride.
Spirit Run: A 6000-Mile Marathon Through North America's Stolen Land
Noé ÁlvarezExplore the landscape of the Americas with Noé Álvarez’s stirring memoir. The son of working-class Mexican immigrants, Álvarez drops out of college to trek 6,000 miles from Alaska to Guatemala with a group of Native Americans. An eye-opening journey of self-discovery that delves into our relationship with the land's power to both symbolize trauma and to heal.
Sea Monsters: A Novel
Chloe AridjisLondon-based Mexican American writer Chloe Aridjis’ novel “Sea Monsters” won the 2020 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. “Set against spectacular Oaxacan landscapes and full of surrealist possibilities, ‘Sea Monsters’ is a stunning exploration of the ways its brilliant teenage narrator’s interior and exterior worlds are both fluid and in opposition. This dreamlike near-fable of equal parts philosophical and intellectual vigor is a book unlike any other,” the judges wrote.
Tortuga: A Novel
Rudolfo AnayaIn this semi-autobiographical work infused with magical realism from Mexican American author Rudolfo Anaya, ancestral and archetypal figures pop up throughout. The titular Tortuga is 16 years old, poor, and paralyzed; he’s sent to a hospital in the shadow of a mountain in New Mexico to heal. On his journey he is transformed from his cast-clad, turtle-like shape into another being. Like in his critically acclaimed novel “Bless Me, Ultima,” Anaya’s trademark writing style tells a story of redemption in both the physical and spiritual worlds.
Caramelo
Sandra CisnerosThis semi-autobiographical novel by award-winning author Sandra Cisneros (“The House on Mango Street”) traces a family of shawl-makers from Chicago to Mexico City and back. The under-the-radar bildungsroman is also a love letter to Cisneros’ Mexican heritage.
Letter to a Bigot: Dead But Not Forgotten
Myriam GurbaIf you liked “Mean,” check out Gurba’s Scribd Original work, “Letter to a Bigot.” It’s a scalding letter to the former mayor of her hometown, who fanned the flames of racism. Connecting the mayor’s hateful rhetoric and policies to her sexual assault, Gurba’s essay is a call to arms for all those whose complacency continues to allow harm to come to immigrants and the LGBTQ community.
Leaving Tabasco: A Novel
Carmen BoullosaIf you like Isabel Allende or Gabriel Garcia Marquez, then check out Carmen Boullosa’s spirited coming-of-age novel where the magic is all too real (think witches, levitation, and controlling the weather). An imaginative adventure.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Benjamin Alire SáenzBenjamin Alire Sáenz’s stunning novel is a delicate and beautifully written portrayal of the intensity and unruly passion that comes with our formative teenage years. It lives up to the elegance of its cover and mouthful of a title. A visceral reminder of the life-altering effects that happen when you meet that one person: your first love.
Homelands: Four Friends, Two Countries, and the Fate of the Great Mexican-American Migration
Homelands: Four Friends, Two Countries, and the Fate of the Great Mexican-American Migration
Alfredo CorchadoA thought-provoking look at Mexican migration to the US from immigration journalist and Mexican American author Alfredo Corchado. Tracing the personal experiences of four friends, “Homelands” provides much needed personal and historical context to the current political debate.