Aurelia Sanchez

May 5, 2005

English 112B

Dr. Warner

Latin Americans have been writing literature for centuries. From as early as the advanced civilizations of the Mayans and the Aztecs, to people like Octavio Paz, to now learned Mexicans like Sandra Cisneros, Latin Americans have always made contributions to literature. Unfortunately, with the few exceptions here and there, young adults are not really exposed to them. I have composed an annotated bibliography consisting of novels, short stories, and poems all written by Latin Americans that will get deep within the soul of young people, make them laugh, and most importantly, will, want to make them read not only these works but hopefully more.

The first author listed in my annotated bibliography is Isabelle Allende. I actually read her infamous The House of The Spirits in high school. I absolutely loved it and she is actually the one who turned me on to Latin American Literature, which I now read more than any other genre.

Another author that is included in my annotated bibliography, who is more than brilliant, is Sandra Cisneros. However, I did not include her very popular novel, The House on Mango Street. The reason I included her poems and short stories instead of her novels is because they are less well known. Where other works in the annotated bibliography are very well known, like Rain of Gold and One Hundred Years of Solitude, that I felt I had to include because they are classics and perhaps now part of the cannon, Cisneros is not yet part of the cannon, and I wanted to expose people to her more unseen works that are just as brilliant as The House on Mango Street.

With that said, this annotated bibliography is intended to not only give people a glimpse of what Latin American literature has to offer, but, if I am successful, it will make people want to read more from this genre.

Annotated Bibliography:

Allende, Isabel. Of Love and Shadows. Bantam Books: New York, 1988.

This story tells of two lovers, Irene Beltran, the eccentric daughter of a wealthy family, and Francisco Leal, son of Spanish exiles, both living in an unnamed Latin American dictatorship. They come across a mass grave where the bodies of people tortured and murdered by the police have been dumped. As their love grows, Irene and Francisco struggle to bring the men responsible to justice. They win a qualified victory when, through photographs and tape recordings smuggled out of the country, they force the authorities to allow a trial and conviction. But Irene and Francisco must flee to Spain, where they will start a new life while waiting for democracy to return to their country.

Allende, Isabel. The House of The Spirits. Bantam Books: New York, 1986.

This book follows the Trueba Family through two generations; from the clairvoyant Clara falling in love with and marrying Esteban Trueba, to their daughter, Blanca, falling in love with a revolution who goes against everything her father stands for. Clara, although she is able to see into the future and knows that her family is going to face many obstacles and hardships, never gives up her values no matter what may be in store for the family. We even see a time when a tough and strong-willed Clara stops talking to Esteban altogether for years because he hit her. Eventually, the love Esteban feels for Clara and his family makes him give up a lot of the right-winged, strict values he has cherished his whole life.

Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me Ultima. Warner Books: New York, 1972.

As stated in a book review of Bless Me Ultima, by Marco Gonzalez, �In this lyrical tale, Ultima, an old curandera or healer, comes to live with the family of a young Mexican boy who learns from her about the healing power of the natural environment and the human spirit. Though he never receives a rational explanation of how Ultima foresees events, cures illnesses, blesses and curses, or why and when she chooses to intervene, he learns that the knowledge of healing is three fold: knowledge of the patient, the healing substance, and one�s own limitations.�

Anaya, Rudolfo. The Heart of Aztlan. University of New Mexico Press: New Mexico, 1988.

This is a compelling novel about the adjustments the Chavez family must make when they move from the rural community of Guadalupe to the barrio of Barelos in Albuquerque. As they set out in search of a new future for their family, they encounter unforeseen changes that challenge their adaptability, threaten their lives, and shake them to their very core. Mythological themes, rich symbolism, and the sense of a shared communal soul combine with an inspiring social message to leave the reader with a feeling of hope. An emphatic portrayal of people dispossessed of their heritage and struggling to survive in an alien culture, this philosophical novel draws inspiration from the myth of Aztlan, the mythological place of the Aztecs. (Day, 13)

Bernardo, Anilu. Loves Me, Loves Me Not. Arte Publico Press: Texas, 1999.

�This entertaining book features Maggie, an intelligent, hardworking, responsible Cuban American teenager who wants to become a doctor. She is given an opportunity to practice her healing skills when she is hired to care for an ailing elderly woman. Meanwhile, Maggie gets involved in the dating game and tries to decide which qualities are the most important in a partner. This interesting novel is as much an exploration of values and perceptions as it is of young love� (Day, 29). This is a wonderful book for a high school teacher to keep in her shelf for her students to have access to as it might remind young girls, and even boys, that they can have both true love and a career.

Cisneros, Sandra. �Bien Pretty.� Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories. Vintage Books: New York, 1991.

This story is about a love affair, laced with humor. It is about Lupe falling in love with a native Mexican Flavio Munguia. The couple�s social and philosophical differences build until one day, at a restaurant, Flavio announces that he has to return to Mexico and reveals that he has four sons from two marriages. In disbelief, Lupe can only stare out the window at a retching dog. However, in her mind she is imagining driving over to his house with her grandmother�s molcajete and bashing his skull in. This parody was fun for Cisneros to write because it depicts Chicanas, like herself, who are conscious of their culture through education and sometimes become more Mexican than the Mexicans.

Cisneros, Sandra. �Dulzura.� Loose Woman. Vintage Books: New York, 1994.

This seductive and sensual poem shows a woman who is not afraid to say what she wants. With the first line of �make love to me in Spanish,� Cisneros mixes her casual English diction with sweet words in Spanish making the reader want to know more about this strong, yet sexy, woman.

Cisneros, Sandra. �Eyes of Zapata.� Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories. Vintage Books: New York, 1991.

This fictional story is told by Ines, the wife of Emiliano Zapata, an historical Mexican revolutionary leader. Although Ines is a fictional character, she is based on a readl person. As Zapata sleeps, Ines tells us of their life together. How they never really married and have two children, although Zapata has many other women and children throughout the country, and how he has always put his work for the country ahead of his family. She tells us that her mother was killed for being a witch, and admits that she is one too, and that she turns into an owl and circles above the countryside, where she can see everything, present, past, and future. Her monologue ends at dawn, when she tells Zapata she wants to look at him once again before he wakes and leaves her.

Cisneros, Sandra. �My Lucy Friend Who Smells Like Corn.� Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories. Vintage Books: New York, 1991.

This story is narrated by a young girl who has a friend named Lucy, who, oddly enough, smells like corn. This story has an implied plot, and the child narrator spends most of the story telling us about Lucy and of the things they do together. She also tells us she likes Lucy and envies her having eight sisters. Finally, she tells us they are themselves like sisters. This story in such casual diction is great for a younger audience. It will keep them entertained and will perhaps make them want to read more Cisneros.

Cisneros, Sandra. �Perras.� Loose Woman. Vintage Books: New York, 1994.

The title alone makes this poem stand out. Here, the ex-wife is enraged because not only has her husband left her, but what�s worse is that he left her for a white woman. And although perras means bitches in Spanish, as much as she wants to be mad at the woman, she can�t help but be mad at the man who sold her out.

Cisneros, Sandra. �Woman Hollering Creek.� Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories. Vintage Books: New York, 1991.

This story centers around a young woman, Cleofilas, who leaves her dusty little town in Mexico with her new husband shortly after getting pregnant. �En el otro lado,� on the other side, Cleofilas finds only loneliness, poverty, alcoholism, and abuse. A health care worker notices Cleofilas's bruises during a prenatal visit and offers to help her escape. The clinician arranges for her friend to drive Cleofilas to the bus home to Mexico. Crossing the bridge over the Woman Hollering Creek, which has swollen with Spring rains, Cleofilas is introduced to and amazed by new, stronger and more positive possibilities for womanhood.

Cisneros, Sandra. �You Bring Out the Mexican in Me.� Loose Woman. Vintage Books: New York, 1994.

This poem tells of a woman�s love to a man who brings out in her what has always been there, but that she has never seen. What comes out makes her feel like a strong, proud, Mexican woman. Everything Cisneros outlines in this woman is what embodies being Mexican. From our culture, to our history, to everyday life, this is a very empowering and patriotic poem.

Gonzalez, Rodolfo �Corky.� �I am Joaquin.� 2 May 2005. http://members.cox.net/mechademoh/I_Am_Joaquin.html

This empowering epic poem tells of the struggle of Chicanos. From Aztec warriors, to migrant workers, this poem helps capture the essence of the Latino struggle in white America. It helps readers gain a good perspective of Latino culture and lifestyle from our roots, to now.

Jimenez, Francisco. Breaking Through. Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 2001.

In a book review by Catherine Davis, we learnt that this is the true story of Francisco Jimenez, and how him and his whole family face many hardships throughout their life. Davis summarizes in her book review, �At the age of 4, Francisco Jimenez and his family crawled under a fence crossing the border between Mexico and America. Working from sunrise to sunset, the entire family made only $15 a day as migrant farm workers, living in one room shacks and tents without electricity or running water. As a result of his family�s illiteracy, persistent poverty, and transient lifestyle, is education was sporadic at best. In his early years, he largely educated himself, reading books he found at a local dump.� This true story brings about hope, and is one of survival and empowerment for young adults whose families are perhaps not very well off.

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Harper and Row: New York, 1970.

This story follows for 100 years, Macondo, a Latin-American village inhabited by many colorful, yet tragic characters. It goes through generations of the Buendia family, from its founder Jose Arcadio Buendia, to his grandsons, Aureliano and Jose Arcadio Segundo. Civil war rages throughout the villages, lives are lost, insomnia strikes an entire town, and a woman ascends to heaven while hanging laundry. Through all this, Marquez is able to keep this novel highly comic and deeply tragic at the same time.

Soto, Gary. Buried Onions. HarperCollins: New York, 1999.

This book tells of a 19-year-old protagonist, Eddie, who leaves college and must struggle to find a place for himself in a neighborhood filled with violence and drugs. Here, Soto shows us the inner-conflicts that Eddie has to deal with every day because of being torn by his aunt to get revenge on the people who killed his cousin, and with feeling guilty within himself for wanting a better life.

Soto, Gary. Too Many Tamales. Putnam: New York, 1993.

This is the story of Maria, a young girl who loses her mother�s wedding ring while making tamales for the family�s Christmas dinner. This comedic tale is intended for a younger audience, perhaps ages 4 � 8.

Villase�or, Victor. Rain of Gold. Delta: New York, 1991.

In this book, Villase�or recounts the adventures and struggles of three generations of his family. From his brave father, Juan Salvador, who fled a Mexico torn by revolution and was imprisoned at the age of 12 for stealing ore from the mine where he worked, to his mother who was born in an exploitative U.S.-run gold mine in Mexico, this story tells of their bravery, love, and endurance.

Works Cited

Davis, Catherine, Rev. of Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez. English 112B Book Talk, 2005.

Day, Frances Ann. Multicultural Voices in Contemporary Literature. Heinemann: New York, 1999.

Gonzalez, Marco. Rev. of Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. English 112B Book Talk, 2005.