What are the best Latin American books and authors of the last 15 years?
I particularly like Mario Vargas Llosa - awarded with a Nobel prize in 2010. Especially the book ‘Travesuras de la niña mala’, in English I believe it´s ‘Bad Girl’. Vargas Llosa is Peruvian, originally from Arequipa, and has also worked as a journalist and politician. The thing about his style of writing that has really intrigued me is that it is very raw, even though it is sophisticated. He has a deep understanding of Peruvian and latin american societies and is able to portray the inequalities, injustices and also the passion that are so stereotypically latin american. However, he does that without repeating models and misrepresentation. Vargas Llosa goes deep. It is almost impossible to put the book down. Travesuras de la niña mala is a very sensual book, there is a special level of details and it really inspired me when I first read it, around 5 years ago. I believe it is time to read it again…
What are your favorite books by Latin American writers?
First off, I agree with you on Coelho... although he writes in Portuguese, not Spanish, originally (one less thing to be ashamed of!). You're missing out on: ** Julio Cortázar. I recommend _everything_ he wrote, from his short tales to his novels. The best novel I've read is "Rayuela" (= Hopscotch). Amazing, original... read it. ** Mario Levrero. I've read two books by this Uruguayan writer: "La ciudad" and "El lugar". They're similar to each other, but different from anything else I've read. ** Ernesto Sábato. Try other things by this great writer... but I find his works depressing. ** Jorge Luis Borges. Any of his short tale books (I don't care much for poetry, but he has that too). Unbelievably good (he deserved a Nobel prize and he never got it) ** Adolfo Bioy Casares. ** Eduardo Galeano. Another famous Uruguayan writer. ** Last but not least: If you like fantasy literature, I strongly recommend LILIANA BODOC. I know her books are probably not easy to find outside South America right now, but her trilogy called "La saga de los Confines" will become a classic, I'm sure. Ok, so I'm Argentina-biased... I can't help it! I hope you get more recommendations from other South American users :-)
Short story ideas using magical realism? HELP?
Maybe something concerning the witch hunts of the 17th century. The idea of magic made people shed their outer coats, and their true fears reared their ugly heads. Make something tragic, like a lost love, or better yet, make a family member get accused. Show how the pain warps the main character, and transforms them. Then, to top it off, introduce them to real magic. Have them see what their loved one was imprisoned, even killed for. Make them see what they lived with for oh-so many years.
What makes American literature American?
First of all...it was written by authors who were American. Then there's the whole cultural, social relativity thing. If the novel exemplifies cultural and social values that are part of America/Americans, and details a setting that is part of America in a way only a citizen would know, then, its American literature. For example...an Australian author can write a book about living in New York City, but that only means that he is writing about his experience of it. Having been born and raised in Australia, he might not understand exactly what it means to someone to get pizza only at Guarani's...that would be the realm of a native New Yorker, whose experience of the city began at birth and grew as he grew. Being brought up in a different culture, a different society gives that Australian author different views on whats expected, whats normal. Being brought up American gives an author the actuality of what it means to be American. So, when he writes, he writes American literature. Then theres the dialect and colloquialism aspect. Someone who isn't American doesn't write American. We, here in the US, have names for things that are different and unique from someone born in, say, France. We use a language that is vastly different from English. We flavor our spoken language with the accents and curious words (like yonder, and y'all) that re particular to a certain region. All these things, and more, combine together to make American literature immediately recognizable from any other countries.
Who are the best Asian-American writers?
I'd like to add Geling Yan, a novelist, short-story writer and a screenwriter. Yan writes mostly in Chinese, though she occasionally writes in English. Many of her works have been translated by her American husband (a former diplomat) Larry Walker, as well as some other translators, there're now quite a few of her works available in English:1, White Snake (a collection of short stories and a novella);2. The Lost Daughter of Happiness, a novel;3. Flowers of War, a novel;4. The Uninvited (Banquet Bug), a novel written in English by Yan herself;5. Little Aunt Crane, a novel, just published last December. Geling Yan There are a couple more that are worth mentioning here:Yiyun Li (a novelist and short-story writer). The most famous works of Li's include The Vagrants, a novel and A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, a short story collection. Yiyun Li Ha Jin (a poet, short-story writer and a novelist). The most famous works of Ha Jin's include War Trash, Waiting and In the Pond. Ha Jin All three of them won numerous literary awards, and all of them have grown up in China, before moving to the U.S. and began writing in earnest in developing their writing careers.