Mexico 2010 Reading Challenge

Mexico is the land of my birth, and a country with incredibly rich cultural and literary traditions. I’ve been meaning to read more Mexican literature for a while, and now is the time to get started. This year is the bicentenary of Mexico’s independence from Spain and the centenary of its revolution. What better way to celebrate two bloodbaths than with a nice reading challenge?

In honour of the tricolor, the flag of Mexico, the challenge is to read three books of Mexican literature, history, or art. Of course you can read more, and I certainly intend to. There is also a crossover with the Biodiversity Reading Challenge—Mexico is considered a “megadiverse” country and is home to 10% of Earth’s species. Books on on Mexican biodiversity will count for both challenges!

Below is my own list of books I want to read, as well as some resources (in English) about Mexican literature. At the bottom, as usual, I have posted badges for this challenge. I hope some of you still have some room in your reading calendar for this challenge. There is a lot more to Mexico than sun and sand, and I hope this challenge will do a little to show that Mexico has much to offer to readers.

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Web pages on Mexican Literature:

Wikipedia: Mexican Literature

Words Without Borders: The Online Magazine for International Literature: Mexico

Nobel Prize: Octavio Paz

Mexican literature at the crossroads of three cultures

20th Century Mexican Literature

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Books on Mexican Literature:

Mexican Literature: A History

Mexico: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Preface)

Mexican Writers on Writing

Best of Contemporary Mexican Fiction

The Mexico Reader: History, Culture, Politics

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My List:

	A Sor Juana Anthology Alan Trueblood (Trans.) 17th century poet, nun, feminist.
	The Underdogs Mariano Arzuela Most famous novel of the revolution.
	The Mangy Parrot: The Life And Times Of Periquillo Sarniento Written By Himself For His Children Jose Joaquin Fernandez De Lizardi The Don Quixote of Latin America.
	The Labyrinth of Solitude Octavio Paz (Nobel Prize, Cervantes Prize) Quintissential work on the Mexican national character.
	Where the Air Is Clear Carlos Fuentes (Cervantes Prize) On the character of Mexico City.
	Massacre in Mexico Elena Poniatowska (Xavier Villaurrutia Prize) One of the darkest chapters in Mexico’s recent history.
	El arte de la fuga Sergio Pitol (Cervantes Prize)
	Selected Poems of Pacheco Jose Emilio Pacheco (Cervantes Prize)
	Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies Laura Esquivel
	Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo Hayden Herrera On Mexico’s most famous artist.
	Malinche: A Novel Laura Esquivel Re-imagining the “Eve” of the conquest era.

...plus any winners of the Sor Juana Prize I can find in English.

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Badges:

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Compañeros y compañeras:

Lynda at Lynda’s Book Blog

Eva at A Striped Armchair

Iliana at Bookgirl’s Nightstand

Danielle at A Work in Progress

Lourdes at Pisti Totol

Poncho at Elogios

Richard at Caravana de Recuerdos : El Testigo

Andromeda at Letras en tinta

Taryn at bookwanderer