Ever since the sexual assault allegations came out against Junot Diaz, one of my favorite Latin American authors, I’ve been performing literary penance. I’m not sure if it’s on my behalf or his but I’ve been diving into Latina authors in place of his work.
And what a world I’ve been missing. I’ve never felt so seen as when I’m reading these works. Not just because I’m Latina, but because these authors depict the female experience in such a powerful, necessary way. These are the titles that have gotten me hooked on the genre.
The House of the Spirits – Isabel Allende
In the Time of the Butterflies – Julia Alvarez
Dreaming in Cuban – Cristina Garcia
August – Romina Paula
Me, Who Dove Into the Heart of the World – Sabina Berman
Like Water for Chocolate – Laura Esquivel
The House on Mango Street -Sandra Cisneros
These works are not for the faint of heart. I cried after many of them, not just because there’s some tragedy in every life, but because I felt so connected to the narratives.
What recommendations for Latina literature do you have? I’d love to check them out!