Travel South of the Border With 9 New Books from Mexican Authors
Since we can’t always afford to jet-set across the globe, we’ll settle for exploring the world through our bookshelves. Now that we’ve read our way through Canada (and Pinterest-planned a cheeky trip to a breathtaking Canadian destination because of it), we’ve decided to look to our friends down south for a little literary inspiration this fall. Here are our favorite new books from Mexican and Mexican-American authors that we can’t wait to binge read.
1. The Transmigration of Bodies by Yuri Herrera ($9): A response to the violence of contemporary Mexico, Yuri Herrera’s darkly hilarious novel follows a hero named The Redeemer on a quest to retrieve hostages from two opposing families.
2. Jacob the Mutant by Mario Bellatin ($11): If you’re looking for a non-traditional book that will make your brain hurt (in a good way), you need to pick up a copy of this mind-bending novella ASAP. Conceived of as a set of fragmented manuscripts, Mario Bellatin’s latest work is the perfect companion for a lazy Saturday night.
3. Among Strange Victims by Daniel Saldaña Paris ($11): When Rodrigo finds himself accidentally married to Cecilla, his entire life gets completely upended. Taking a comedic approach to the topic of mediocrity, this Daniel Saldaña Paris novel will have you LOLing until your belly hurts.
4. The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli ($13): Highway loves his collection of teeth — notoriously infamous teeth, that is. From Plato to Marilyn Monroe, this critically acclaimed and highly eccentric novel demands a space on your fall reading list.
5. I’ll Sell You a Dog by Juan Pablo Villalobos ($10): An artist turned infamous taco seller, 78-year-old Teo now grumbles in a cockroach-infested apartment in Mexico City. Giving us a fantastic glimpse into a complex (and oftentimes hilarious) community, this amazing novel is definitely worthy of your next book-club pick.
6. Before by Carmen Boullosa ($10): Winning Mexico’s two most prestigious literary prizes, Carmen Boullosa’s latest novel is undoubtedly on our must-read list. Seamless, raw and outrightly emotional, this coming-of-age story will leave you laughing and crying at the same time.
7. Sudden Death by Álvaro Enrique ($9): Picture a 16th-century tennis match. Now picture a 16th-century tennis match between the radical artist Caravaggio and the Spanish poet Francisco de Quevedo. Oh, and did we mention the ball is made from the hair of the beheaded Anne Boleyn? Yeah, you’re going to want to clear your schedule for this one.
8. Becoming Marta by Lorea Canales ($9): After a heartbreaking tragedy, Marta becomes the sole heir to her late mother’s huge estate. Now she must choose if she wants to establish a life apart from her family ties or keep living in her comfortable world of excess — a choice that will take her all the way from Mexico to New York City.
9. Black Dove: Mamá, Mi’jo, and Me by Ana Castillo ($12): Mexican-American writer, feminist and mother Ana Castillo offers us a glimpse into her mind and philosophy regarding mass incarceration, racial profiling and police brutality in this timely and important non-fiction.
What are you reading this weekend? Tweet us your comments by mentioning @BritandCo.
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(Featured photo via Getty)
