This post is part of the #ReadMoreLatam2021 Challenge. Click here for more info.
The challenge for this month is to read a book from an indie editorial.
Indie editorials are the lifeblood of translated literature, of Latin American literature full stop. Sure, you’ve got your Literatura Random House and Amazon Crossing, but indie editorials are publishing the really weird and interesting stuff coming out of the length and breadth of Latin America.
Take Deep Vellum, the Houston-based publisher that’s always publishing books that go way over my head; or Ediciones Antílope which has already published many first-time writers who’ve gone on to be translated into English. And these are just two example among literally dozens of course, but if you’re not already compulsively scouring the social medias of your favourite indies for new and exciting titles, June is the month to do so.
I personally love indie editorials, so I’m excited to dig in and I hope you are too. In fact, I have…shelves of books from indie editorials just waiting to be read, but I’ve opted to tackle a collection of stories by Chilean writer Iván Monalisa Ojeda from Astra House because that gorgeous cover has been calling me for weeks now.
However, as always, my recommendations for this month span countries and languages, from Mexico to Argentina; Colombia to Puerto Rico. And, as always, my recommendations include books I’ve read or simply books I want to read and review. (Also, these editorials represent a mere fraction of the great presses publishing Latin American literature, so feel free to go off-book this month!)
Recommendations
English/ In translation:
Charco Press: Holiday Heart by Margarita García Robayo, trans. Charlotte Coombe
Deep Vellum: Little Bird by Claudia Ulloa Donoso, trans. Lily Meyer
Cardboard House Press: Boat People by Mayra Santos-Febres, trans. Vanessa Pérez-Rosario
And Other Stories: Notes from Childhood by Norah Lange, trans. Charlotte Whittle
Coffee House Press: Variations on the Body by María Ospina, trans. Heather Cleary
The Feminist Press: August by Paula Romina, trans. Jennifer Croft
Astra House: Dreaming of You by Melissa Lozada-Oliva
In Spanish, French, or Portuguese:
Dharma Books: Quisiera quedarme quieta by Lilián López Camberos
Paraíso Perdido: Quiltras by Arelis Uribe
Ediciones Antílope: Los eufemismos by Ana Negri
Editorial Sigilo: Cometierra by Dolores Reyes
Editorial El Cuervo: Humo by Gabriela Alemán
Editorial Argonáutica: Empty Pool / Alberca vacía by Isabel Zapata
Edições Relicários: Névoa e assobio by Blanca Dias
Editora Moinhos: Brazza by Mariana Brecht
I’ll be reading: Las Biuty Queens by Iván Monalisa Ojeda
Update: Read my review of Las Biuty Queens here!
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