Elliott Turner's Blog - Posts Tagged "what-to-read"
Some Great Reads
Hey y'all,
it is summer, which can often mean beach reads aka campus novels with love triangles, grocery store checkout aisle and airport bookstore worthy romantic pageturners with a sprinkling of wit. Unless, of course, you are me.
Here are three kick ass books that will never be confused with commercial fiction.
Leonora
If you can read in Spanish, then you should read this award-winning biographical and historical novel about Leonora Carrington, the British-born surrealist painter who lived in France during World War II, was abused in a mental asylum in Spain, and finally landed in Mexico City.
Leonora was the muse of a few male Surrealist painters, but refused to linger in their shadow. Her drive to create art and grapple with the pros and cons of her English countryside cottage (privileged) childhood delves into mythology in a very cool way.
And, buey, there are more Mexican and Chilango americanismos than you can shake a stick at.
Sabrina & Corina
I know, I reviewed this story collection for Latino Book Reviews, but it deserves all the plugs, accolades, praise. Each and every one of these tales will make the hair on your arms and neck stand on end. The physical violence against women is never glorified and also overcome - due to the strength and determination of the protagonists - but you will never read or watch another "Western" the same ever again.
America is not the heart
If I had to make a bucket list of what I love in a novel, this would have ticked them all off. A complex tale of migration? The Philippines to the U.S. (and back). CHECK. A strong sense of place? The South Bay near San Jose. CHECK.
There are also beepers and landlines and TV's with rabbit ear antennas, so the 90's vibe is spot on, as are the music references. This is a great story about a young woman from the Philippines trying to restart her life in the US with extended family, and how gender identity and sexual orientation can still serve as barriers to acceptance both subtly and overtly.
it is summer, which can often mean beach reads aka campus novels with love triangles, grocery store checkout aisle and airport bookstore worthy romantic pageturners with a sprinkling of wit. Unless, of course, you are me.
Here are three kick ass books that will never be confused with commercial fiction.
Leonora
If you can read in Spanish, then you should read this award-winning biographical and historical novel about Leonora Carrington, the British-born surrealist painter who lived in France during World War II, was abused in a mental asylum in Spain, and finally landed in Mexico City.
Leonora was the muse of a few male Surrealist painters, but refused to linger in their shadow. Her drive to create art and grapple with the pros and cons of her English countryside cottage (privileged) childhood delves into mythology in a very cool way.
And, buey, there are more Mexican and Chilango americanismos than you can shake a stick at.
Sabrina & Corina
I know, I reviewed this story collection for Latino Book Reviews, but it deserves all the plugs, accolades, praise. Each and every one of these tales will make the hair on your arms and neck stand on end. The physical violence against women is never glorified and also overcome - due to the strength and determination of the protagonists - but you will never read or watch another "Western" the same ever again.
America is not the heart
If I had to make a bucket list of what I love in a novel, this would have ticked them all off. A complex tale of migration? The Philippines to the U.S. (and back). CHECK. A strong sense of place? The South Bay near San Jose. CHECK.
There are also beepers and landlines and TV's with rabbit ear antennas, so the 90's vibe is spot on, as are the music references. This is a great story about a young woman from the Philippines trying to restart her life in the US with extended family, and how gender identity and sexual orientation can still serve as barriers to acceptance both subtly and overtly.
