Books
Paco Ignacio Taibo II ‘s Take on the Alamo
The Mexican author Paco Ignacio Taibo II has a new book from Planeta coming about the Battle of the Alamo. La Jornada has a write up of it. I don’t know If I’ll read it but it is interesting to see a Mexican take on one of those founding moments in American history. The facts [...]
Jorge Volpi Wins the Planeta-Casa de América
Jorge Volpi has won the Planeta-Casa de América for his book La tejedora de sombras. It is about the psychiatrist Christiana Morgan. Not sure when it will come out. “La historia de Christiana Morgan me fascinó por ser una mujer adelantada a su tiempo, sumida en una búsqueda continua de la libertad absoluta y el [...]
Blogs & Websites Covering the Spanish Book Markets
Publishing Perspectives has and article about the list of literary sites and blogs the Spanish ministry of culture has published. It is a little lacking in some areas, but it keep any one busy for some time. Recently, the Ministry of Culture of Spain, through its Observatory (Observatorio del libro y la lectura), compiled a [...]
Celebrating the 100th Birthday of Mexican Novelist Josefina Vicens
La Jornada has a piece on the Mexican writer Josefina Vicens on the occasion of her 100th birthday. She only wrote two novels and one short story, but her work was highly regarded by people such as Octavio Paz. She sounds interesting (and I like a little bit of obscurity). Her last book has been [...]
Borges’ Manual de zoología fantástica Reviewed at La Jornada
La Jornada has an all too brief review of a Borges curiosity, Manual de zoología fantástica (The Manual of the Fantastical Zoology). It is a mix of his writings about famous characters like the phoenix and those of his own invention. It sounds like an interesting mix. El jardín zoológico borgiano es una recopilación extensa, [...]
Words Without Borders 2012 Graphic Novel Edition Out Now
The new Words Without Borders graphic novel edition is out now. by Mazen Kerbaj Letter to the Mother Because of you I fancied killing a hundred times. Translated by Mazen Kerbaj and Ahmad Gharbieh by Nawel Louerrad Demonsterate I’ve been wearing this tutu since I was a kid. Translated by Canan Marasligil by Héctor G. [...]
Javier Calvo Wins the Biblioteca Breve de novela Prize
Javier Calvo won the Biblioteca Breve de novela prize for his book El jardín colgante, a provocative take on Spain’s Transition to democacy. Escribió El jardín colgante en 2011. “Un año indescriptible y extraño; vi cosas que nunca había visto antes, como la plaza de Catalunya llena de gente llamando a la revolución, un fugaz [...]
Xingu and Other Stories by Edith Wharton – A Review
Xingu and Other Stories Edith Wharton Charles Scribner’s Sons, October 1916, 436 pg Xingu and Other Stories is an uneven collection of stories from a writer in the midst of her most fertile work. The good stories show similar concerns of her more famous novels such as the house of Mirth. When she is examining [...]
Open Letter Books Spring Summer Catalog Featuring Short Stories from Latin America, and Sergio Chejfec, Kristín Ómarsdóttir, Benjamin Stein
Open Letter has released its Spring Summer 2012 Catalog and there are some interesting books in it. But most exciting of them all are works from young Latin American writers. The only one I have read a fair amount of is Samanta Schweblin, who I like quite a bit. You can read the whole catalog [...]
Mexican Drug War Issues from Words Without Borders Update
I’ve been following the progress of the Words Without Borders fund drive on their Mexican Drug War Issue. They released some information about some of the stories. Although, given their current funding to goal ratio I’m not sure they are going to make it. Hi Everyone, Just got word from our editorial team that some [...]
Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-1941 – A Review
Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-1941 Neill Lochery Public Affairs, 2011, 306 pg Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light will tell you just about everything you will ever need to know about Lisbon and Portugal during World War II. Perhaps, too much depending on you interests. [...]
The Guardian Reviews Purgatory by Tomás Eloy Martínez
Tomás Eloy Martínez’s last book Purgatory has been published. “It sounds like another good book. The Guardian has the review: A superb political reporter, Martínez perfected in his novels the blending of strict journalistic fact with the devices of fiction. He said that he had learned the craft when, in the late 60s, the exiled [...]
Hacerse el muerto (Playing Dead) by Andrés Neuman – A Review
Hacerse el muerto Andrés Neuman Páginas de Espuma, 2011, pg 138 Andrés Neuman, one of the 20 selected by Granta last year, is one of the best of the group of the writers and Hacerse el muerto (Playing Dead) a collection of 30 stories is ample proof of that. Although little of his work has [...]
Words without Borders Raising Kick Starter Funds for Mexican Drug War Issue
Words Without Borders has a Kick Starter campaign going for an new issue about the Mexican Drug War. This is going to be a great opportunity to read some of the authors in Mexico who are addressing the topic.Since the Drug War is somewhat recent as far as the translation process goes, not too much [...]
