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Bookworms Carnival: April Edition

I know that my regular readers are excited that I’ll no longer be posting cute little reminders about the due date for this carnival, but I hope that my non-regular carnival readers will be happy that my post is finally compiled and up! I really wish I could have contributed more to this myself; I had planned to make an involved post about why I like Latin American literature and what it’s meant to me in the past few years, but I haven’t had much time this year to devote to posts that require a lot of thought. In any case, I hope that this post will bring inspiration to anyone else who either hasn’t read much Latin American literature or who feels that they don’t read enough!

Reviewed Books

Most of my submissions were book reviews, so there are quite a few recommendations here.

Brazil

Puss Reboots gives an opinion on Barren Lives by Graciliano Ramos. Reminiscent of the Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Barren Lives tells the story of a peasant family living in harsh climate, though Puss Reboots notes that this one is a bit more hopeful than Steinbeck’s.

Chile

The Book Mine Set reviews in two parts Pablo Nerudo’s The Captain’s Verses, a book of poems written for Nerudo’s wife-to-be. In the first post, love is described with physical and philosophical elements; in the second post, this reader discusses selfish love, politics, and sentimentality.

Columbia

My Own Little Reading Room offers thoughts on Innocent Erendira by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I was particularly happy to see this, as the author has gained recent recognition for more popular works, yet I feel the other books may be ignored! This collection of short stories seems to focus on the theme of death, but this reader can’t seem to stay away from Gabriel Garcia Marquez!

Book Haven also gives insight on a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Love in the Time of Cholera. I have to admit with the recent release of the movie on DVD, I expected to see more reviews of this book which this reader says has “lyrical, passionate, and evocative prose,” but I suppose the links she gives to other reviews may suffice for those interested!

Mexico

A reading list title which some may be more familiar with than others, Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquival is reviewed by Book Haven. This is the story of a girl who cannot marry the one she loves due to strong traditional values held by her mother.

Wuthering Expectations sent two posts involving Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. A translation of the poem To Her Portrait (original Spanish included) is analyzed. Another of her poems, This thing you see, a bright-colored deceit, is shared in English translation.

We can’t forget our children! Book Haven delivers thoughts on a book I’ve never heard of - Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. A princess of a girl (she has everything you could dream of) is forced to live in a labor camp in California where she quickly learns hard work, acceptance, and how to survive through the Great Depression.

Recommendations

Instead of linking to several book reviews, I instead compiled a list of recommendations based on my personal favorites. Countries included are Peru, Argentina, Mexico, and Cuba.

Spain

Though the term ‘Latin America’ doesn’t generally include Spain, I thought this was an interesting submission and decided to include it anyway. Those who are fans of Spanish poetry and/or differences in translations may enjoy this.

The Golden Age: Poems of the Spanish Renaissance, an anthology of Spanish poems compiled by Edith Grossman is reviewed and recommended by Wuthering Expectations.

Next Carnival

The next Bookworms Carnival will be hosted over at Scooter Chronicles. The theme for May is Contemporary/Urban Fantasy and the deadline for submission is May 9. Any submissions can be sent to srf at soundchaser dot org.