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Latino Book Month
May is Latino Book Month -- Try these Five Titles to Celebrate!
May is a beautiful and vibrant month, so it's very fitting that it also marks Latino Book Month. As the name suggests, Latino Book Month is all about celebrating the rich culture and contributions of Latine authors and more. (In this space, we use Latine instead of Latinx and Latinos to reflect inclusive language derived from the people who speak and live the culture).
Started in 2004, by the Rhode Island Latino Arts and sponsored by the Association of American Publishers, it is a movement dedicated to Latine people in all aspects of the book publishing community -- that means authors, illustrators, publishers, etc. This month-long, multi-genre celebration encourages booksellers, librarians, teachers, and us regular folks to explore and promote the wonderfully written words of Latine people. At B&B, we're focusing on authors. Some are my favorites, and others I've recently discovered and can't wait to dive into more of their work
Five Books to Try for Latino Book Month
This list is multigenre and multicultural. Although all the books on this list are from Latine authors, they come from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
The epic journey of a nerd.
With a title like this, you know where the story end, but it's the journey that's important. Diaz expertly bounces between first-person multiple POVs. The result feels like a heartbreaking conversation between the reader and the narrator. We bear witness to the tragedy and triumph that is Oscar's life. The language is what some might consider coarse, and the book delves into subjects like SA, abortion, physical violence, and most prominently, fatphobia. Consider yourself warned.
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The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garica
Glamour, intrigue, and magic set during the late 19th century.
This Austeneque novel is full of romance and magic. Truly. Set in a parallel reality, and fictional city of Losail, where magic is real. Moreno-Garcia is the master of atmospheric. The book, although fantastical, reads like historical fiction. And even though it bears all the hallmarks of melodrama, it is grounded in the complexity of its characters. The romance is the type of yearning slow-burn that makes leaves you frustrated and swooning.
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After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez
A Shrew and Golden Retriever meet at a bar.
This book is what romance novels should be. This romance has everything: forbidden love, grumpy/sunshine, and of course, spice. Lopez turns the trope on its head by making Alex the fierce impersonal one and Jeremiah the affable shrinking violet. This is a sensual read with lots of chemistry between the main characters. The opening is a little dubcon, so if that's not your jam, skip that scene or skip this book.
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Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Short stories that span the breadth of human experiences.
These are short stories that breathe authenticity, and soulfulness. While all the stories are standalone, there is a common thread that weaves them together. On the surface, there is seemingly no theme that ties them together. The joy is in finding similarities in otherwise dissimilar stories. It's not until the reader realizes the essence of what unites their stories is their experiences as indigenous Latinas. Themes of anti-colonialism and resilience, sadness and hope, permeate the narratives.
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Promises of Gold by Jose Olivarez
Accessible (and relatable) poems about life.
