Julia Alvarez: A Critical Companion (Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers)
58 Inches (Free subscription) | 11/14/2009
Recently, I finished reading Something to Declare by Julia Alvarez, which I gave a shout out to do on this past Monday. Something is a collection of essays that deal with writing, acquisition of language and a variety of other topics. Alvarez is originally from the Dominican Republic but moved to the states when she [...]
Semicolon (Free subscription) | 11/12/2009
As soon as I realized that this middle grade fiction book was about illegal immigrants from Mexico and particularly about the plight of children brought to the U.S. by their parents, I was looking for a political bias or for an author with an axe to grind. And I found it. This story was unabashedly [...]
Literanista (Free subscription) | 11/11/2009
I would like to propose a new book challenge for bloggers (perhaps for 2010?), based on "the compilation of the best literature every Latina should check out put together by Latina Magazine: 25 Books Every Latina Should Read" The "25 Books Every Latina/o Should Read" Challenge: The House of Spirits Isabel Allende One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez In The Time of...
the scholastic scribe (Free subscription) | 10/19/2009
I've long been a fan of historical fiction. But the twist, for me, has always meant that the history had to be of the ethnic variety. In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez, is one of my favorites. For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Ernest Hemingway, does not ring my chimes one bit. Hence, I approached The Return, by Victoria Hislop, with no small amount of trepidation. I must say, however, that...
Madam Mayo (Free subscription) | 09/29/2009
I won't be there, alas, but for all writers (and beginning writers) in the Mid-Atlantic region, I recommend the 14th Annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference in Rockville, MD on Saturday October 17th (7:30am-6:15pm). Award Honoree this year is Julia Alvarez. Richard Peabody (who judged the short story contest) writes:"This is a great one-day conference and you should sign up. Other
Brockley Central (Free subscription) | 09/25/2009
The Guardian has written about Deptford's burgeoning arts scene, which it says is finally gaining momentum after a couple of decades of false dawns. The venues featured, including Gallop Space, Bearspace Gallery and Arch Gallery are all connected via the recently-launched Deptford Art Map , a smart initiative to encourage more visitors. We might ask if they'd be prepared to extend it southwards, to...
Somewhere in NJ (Free subscription) | 08/15/2009
I read the sweetest little book by Julia Alvarez yesterday evening... A Cafecito Story: A Story of Love, Coffee, Birds, and Hope . ;-) My coworker Linda, mi pana , is from the Dominican Republic and has been trying to sell me on Julia Alvarez for months. Mostly she writes something like historical fiction that spans the divide between her childhood in DR and her adult life here in the US. I enjoy the...
Book Nut (Free subscription) | 07/27/2009
Oh My Gosh. This was an incredibly hard thing to do: chop everyone's lovely recommendations to a list of 100 that is not only reflective of all the wonderful middle grade writing, but also reflects the diversity out there. There's books about people of color, of course (though not as many as I think there *could* be), but fantasy, adventure, family-oriented, classics, new books, boy books, girl books...
Book Nut (Free subscription) | 07/23/2009
Here's the first draft of the list. Some explanations: I checked everything against my library's catalog -- I figured they're a good standard (I love my library!) -- and if it was shelved in the teen space or they didn't have it, off the list it went. Also, for series, I put the first book, except for The Dark is Rising and Ramona Quimby, where I put what I thought was the best one, since they don't...
Literanista (Free subscription) | 07/19/2009
"Now in its ninth year, this popular event celebrating the joys of reading and lifelong literacy will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009,on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 14th Streets from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (rain or shine). The event, for which the Honorary Chairs are President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, is free and open to the public. More than 120,000...
MotherReader (Free subscription) | 07/18/2009
I saw this at Archimedes Forgets and thought that it was well-worth promoting. (And an easy post to write.) The list comes from Color Online . X means read, # means on the TBR list, and ! means loved. Susan’s Unofficial List of Great YA by or About Women of Color: 1. When Kambia Elaine Flew In From Neptune by Lori A. Williams (X) 2. Every Time A Rainbow Dies by Rita Williams-Garcia 3. No Laughter...
The Huffington Post (Free subscription) | 07/16/2009
They are Latinas, women of accomplishment, experience – and what might even be called wisdom. And they say there is no reason for Sonia Sotomayor to apologize for suggesting that they might bring special insight to the pursuit of justice. "Her background will only strengthen the court," said Teresa Puente, an assistant journalism professor at Columbia College in Chicago and the editor...
The Morning News (Free subscription) | 06/10/2009
Weekday articles from The Morning News
Literanista (Free subscription) | 04/23/2009
Sandra Cisneros and Friends: A 25th Anniversary Celebration of The House on Mango Street Sandra Cisneros will be appearing with Julia Alvarez, Maria Hinojosa, John Phillip Santos, Jessica Hagedorn, and her editor from Knopf, Robin Desser. Reading: Thursday, April 23, 6:30pm Cooper Union: The Great Hall 7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue in Greenwich Village, NYC Free and open to the general public....
Book Nut (Free subscription) | 11/15/2008
by Julia Alvarez age: adult Look, a non-Cybil's book! (And an adult one at that!) I've been reading this at nights (by eliminating my TV watching -- only one hour of the John Adams miniseries and a 1/2 hour 30 Rock this week...) for my on-line book group. It wasn't earth shattering, but I did like parts of it. The four Garcia girls are the daughters and granddaughters of a fairly powerful clan in the...
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