It’s time for another Shelf Control Post. This meme hosted by Lisa of Bookshelf Fantasies “is all about the books we want to read — and already own! Consider this a variation of a Wishing & Waiting post… but looking at books already available sitting right there on our shelves and e-readers.”
In keeping up with celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, I thought I’d organize some of the books that are on my shelf that are by Hispanic authors. Two of these are in Spanish as they were gifts from one of my aunts. I think she got these when she went to the annual book festival in Monterrey. I would love to go again but not sure if I can make it this year. Anyway, here are my books:
Leonora by Elena Poniatowska. This is a fictionalized account of Leonora Carrington, a woman who lived a grand life among painters and artists. I had never heard of her but am definitely intrigued.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. From the publisher: Oscar is a sweet but disastrously overweight ghetto nerd who—from the New Jersey home he shares with his old world mother and rebellious sister—dreams of becoming the Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien and, most of all, finding love
Yo! by Julia Alvarez. I don’t know how I missed this but this is actually a sequel to How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent. I’ve even had this on my shelf for years.
Las Cartas de Ema Galan by Eladia Gonzalez. This is a collection of letters written by a young woman around the time of Mexico’s independence. She writes these letters to her cousin who lives in the city and talks about the things that matter most to her. This looks so interesting.
Eccentric Neighborhoods by Rosario Ferre. A lush, transcendent novel, a family saga about mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, parents and children.
Have you read any of these books?
I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to pick up one of these books between now and October 15th but I am reading Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero which I would highly recommend. I’m not even done with this and unless it completely changes I would say this is on track to become a favorite read.
“I don’t know how I missed this but this is actually a sequel to How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent. ” Aaaaaaaaaaaah! I missed that this existed, too!
Good pile of books! Hope you get a chance to read them and enjoy them soon!
I ha ven;t read any of them but Diaz has been on my TBR for ages. Also, I had no idea that How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent had a sequel!
What a TERRIFIC idea, to get some books together for Hispanic Heritage Month!! And you have quite a few by Hispanic authors, too! I should do the same, since I’m Hispanic myself, and fluent in Spanish. I do own “The House of the Spirits”, by Isabel Allende (in both English and Spanish). In addition to that, I have a couple of books by Cuban writer Daina Chaviano. One of them, “The Island of Eternal Love” (“La Isla de los Amores Infinitos, and yes, I also own it in Spanish and English), is my favorite. I’ve read it twice. Like Allende, Chaviano writes novels in the Magic Realism genre. She also writes SF, though.
Thanks for sharing!! Hope you get to these books soon!! 🙂
I haven’t read any of these, Iliana, but have heard of most of them. I hope you do get to read all or some of them soon!
Ana @ Things Mean A Lot – I know right? How did I miss that? When I was looking for a description of the book I saw that on Amazon and had no idea.
Kailana – I think I’ll try the “letters” book as it’s the shortest and I might be able to get around to it!
Stefanie – I was surprised to find that out myself! And, most of these have been shelf sitters for years. I feel bad but what can you do right?
Maria Behar – Oh thank you so much for the info on the writer Daina Chaviano. I hadn’t heard of her but will definitely be on the look out for her books. I also have double copies of some of the books – English & Spanish versions. It’s wonderful to be able to read both isn’t it? 🙂
Literary Feline – I wish I could get to all of them. It’s not that many but boy has my reading been going at such a slow pace. I was thinking of my monthly wrap up post and I’ll be lucky if I finish another book before the month is over. I need a vacation 🙂
I haven’t read any of these, although I do like Alvarez. Looks like a great list for Hispanic Heritage Month!
WHat a great stack of books! I hope you enjoy them all!
Great list! I loved Yo! – highly recommended. But the others are books I haven’t read. I know I need to read them so adding to my TBR.