Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. I decided to celebrate by highlighting some of my favorite books by Hispanic authors. These books have a wide range of genres and countries of origin, so I encourage you to broaden your reading horizons and maybe learn something new about a different culture!Â
Elena Knows
By: Claudia Piñeiro
For the detective mystery fan
Elena is far from your unconventional detective, but after her daughter’s death, she has to set out for answers. A 60-year-old woman battling Parkinson’s, Elena travels through Buenos Aires, Argentina, to uncover the truth. Not a traditional, fast paced crime mystery, Elena Knows takes you on a slow journey with a fascinating exploration of bureaucracy, family relationships, and women’s rights to their own bodies.
I did read this book in the original Spanish, but I have heard great things about the English translation.
The House of SpiritsÂ
By: Isabel Allende
For the classics fan
This book is an Hispanic classic taught in high schools across the continent. A little whimsical while still having poignant commentary on politics and family history, Allende takes you on a journey through a family tree, blending the boundaries between what is real and what is magical. The story spans across generations as the women grow up in a country inspired by the history and political events of Chile.Â
Any fan of magical realism should read this book. If you enjoy genealogy or Latin American politics, Allende makes fiction feel real and draws heavily from her own life experiences.Â
Solito: A Memoir
By: Javier Zamora
For the nonfiction reader
Solito is the story of Javier, a nine-year-old boy, and his journey alone from El Salvador to the United States. Javier travels from his small town of La Herradura to Guatemala and then through sprawling Mexican cities he has never seen before, all to hopefully rejoin his family. Zamora has a unique voice that puts you inside the head of a young boy as he goes through the many hardships of traveling alone.Â
This is a great book if you want to learn more about the migrant experience. By seeing it through the unique eyes of a child, you get an unexpected humor while reading about the true experiences many people go through.
Like Water for ChocolateÂ
By: Laura Esquivel
For people who have not touched a book since middle school
If you have ever seen a telenovela, this is it in book form. Passion, forbidden love, and magical food make for a wonderful read set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution. The book follows Tita, the youngest daughter of a family marked with tradition. When Tita falls in love and is forbidden to marry, her emotions reach a boiling point.
I guess there is also a movie adaptation you could watch if you really wanted to…