Category Archives: Latin American Literature

Poso Wells- Gabriela Alemán (Translated from the Spanish by Dick Cluster)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Something crouches in the streets of Poso Wells, and it attaches the nerves like a persistent drumbeat. Whatever it is haunts the dreams of the residents, panting I their faces, slobbering them with noxious saliva and … Continue reading

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Latin American Literature, Noir-esque fiction, Political fiction, World Issues, World Literature | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Poso Wells- Gabriela Alemán (Translated from the Spanish by Dick Cluster)

Sexographies – Gabriela Wiener (translated from the Spanish by Jennifer Adcock and Lucy Greaves)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Gabriela Wiener is not just any journalist. This Peruvian-born writer prefers to experience topics first-hand. That may even involve putting herself in extreme and often risky situations and then writing about her participation. So when it … Continue reading

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Latin American Literature, Non-fiction, World Literature | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Sexographies – Gabriela Wiener (translated from the Spanish by Jennifer Adcock and Lucy Greaves)

Affections: A Novel – Rodrigo Hasbún , Translated from the Spanish by Sophie Hughes

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Affections is an intriguing work of historical fiction based on true events following the once- close Ertl family. Hans, the patriarch, was a Nazi propaganda cinematographer, and the family fled Munich and arrived in La Paz, … Continue reading

Posted in Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature, Skinny reads, World Literature | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Affections: A Novel – Rodrigo Hasbún , Translated from the Spanish by Sophie Hughes

The End – Fernanda Torres (Translated from the Portuguese by Alison Entrekin)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “There’s something a bit queer in every male friendship. Fucking the same women is a roundabout way of fucking each other. And in the same physical space, it’s a fine line. But there’s no way—not joking, … Continue reading

Posted in Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature, World Literature | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The End – Fernanda Torres (Translated from the Portuguese by Alison Entrekin)

The Tower of the Antilles – Achy Obejas

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “We explained that where we come from the greatest achievement is to leave.” And leaving Cuba means reinventing oneself in a new country. The Tower of the Antilles is one of ten short stories centering on … Continue reading

Posted in Latin American Literature, Short stories, Skinny reads, World Literature | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Tower of the Antilles – Achy Obejas

The Cowboy Bible and Other Stories – Carlos Velázquez (Translated from the Spanish by Achy Obejas )

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “The sacrilege I’d committed two hours earlier of breaking dozens of records proved irrelevant. The Cowboy Bible didn’t respond either. I tore at it, implored it, cursed it, and still failed.” These are the words of … Continue reading

Posted in Humor & Satire, Latin American Literature, World Literature | Tagged | Comments Off on The Cowboy Bible and Other Stories – Carlos Velázquez (Translated from the Spanish by Achy Obejas )

Women with Big Eyes – Angeles Mastretta, (Translated from the Spanish by Amy Schildhouse Greenberg)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “A shiver ran down Paulina Trasloheros’s back. This man was horrible, excessive, outrageous. To exorcise him, she would have to commit a string of sins for which she could never repent. Not even when he decided … Continue reading

Posted in Latin American Literature, Short stories, World Literature | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Women with Big Eyes – Angeles Mastretta, (Translated from the Spanish by Amy Schildhouse Greenberg)

A Corner of the World – Mylene Fernández Pintado (Translated from the Spanish by Dick Cluster)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “It doesn’t seem crazy to want to live in my country. Or there must be a lot of crazy people around. Or is it that I belong to a group you left out…? The group for … Continue reading

Posted in Latin American Literature, Travel, World Literature | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A Corner of the World – Mylene Fernández Pintado (Translated from the Spanish by Dick Cluster)

The Oxford Murder – by Guillermo Martinez (Author), Sonia Soto (Translator)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Mathematicians collide with murder and mayhem in Guillermo Martínez’s thriller, The Oxford Murders. An un-named young Argentinean graduate student goes to Oxford University to study mathematics. One evening, he returns to the house where he’s renting … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Latin American Literature, World Literature | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Oxford Murder – by Guillermo Martinez (Author), Sonia Soto (Translator)

Dancing to “Almendra” – Mayra Montero

  Comprar este libro It’s October 1957 in pre-Castro Cuba, and Havana is filled with gangsters, casinos, and corruption. Twenty-two-year-old entertainment reporter Joaquín Porrata is fed up with working for a newspaper where he’s only allowed to interview “comedians and … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature, World Literature | Tagged | Comments Off on Dancing to “Almendra” – Mayra Montero