Today’s Book Blogger Appreciation Week topic: … we likely have a book we wish would get more attention by book bloggers, whether it’s a forgotten classic or under marketed contemporary fiction. This is your chance to tell the community why they should consider reading this book!
There are so many books that I want to discuss. But I will limit my list to two. My first ‘forgotten treasure’ is Pedro Paramo by the Mexican author Juan Rulfo. Really, the book is hardly forgotten; it’s considered a masterpeice of Spanish literature. It tells the story of Juan Preciado’s return to Cormala to reclaim his family’s land and to find his estranged father. Narrated by a chorus of voices, Pedro Paramo is one of the most memorable, haunting and scary books that I’ve ever read. Many consider it as the first Latin American book to use magical realism as a literary device.
The second ‘forgotten treasure’ is Living, Loving and Lying Awake at Night, a collection of short stories, by the South African writer Sindiwe Magona. The stories detail the lives of African and mixed-race women under apartheid in South Africa. An important and powerful collection, with a section ‘Women at Work, that focuses on domestic workers.
Kinna Reads 
[…] note that he cites Juan Rulfo, among others, as a literary influence. I like it when writers talk about other writers they […]
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[…] especially read a lot of magical realism. I think books by Alejo Carpentier and Juan Rulfo (whose Pedro Paramo is the scariest literary fiction that I’ve read) helped me is break into and connect with […]
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My daughter had to read Pedro Paramo in high school; it was part of the IB curriculum at her school. My son and I read it together back in 2007–and loved it. I keep meaning to read the other Rulfo book, but, story of my life, other books keep taking priority since I’m so easily led astray by other readers’ recommendations.
The university library here has the Magona. I’ll see if I can lay my hands on it tomorrow.
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Oh, what an education. To read Paramo in high school. Isn’t it wonderful to share great books with one’s family? I hop you enjoy the Magona book.
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I just saw that Sindiwe’s book is on my Top 100 books. And I believe I saw it at the Legon Bookshop and walked past. Okay so I am printing my Top 100 list and keeping it in my pocket.
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Nana, you are more with it than you realize :). But, if it helps then do print it out and keep the list with you at all times. Now, I have to get to the Legon Bookshop.
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As I trust your taste in books blindly, these are definitely added to my wishlist!
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Phew, I’m glad that the books can more than hold their own. Otherwise, my credibility will go up in smoke ;).
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Okay- I’m adding Pedro Paramo to my wishlist right now! Looks like it would be right up my alley.
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I dare say that you will enjoy it. I found the chorus of voices quite scary. A very memorable book and well-written also. He didn’t write a lot of books – there is just one other book in addition to Pedro Paramo. yet, despite that he’s made a substantial contribution to Latin American literature.
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Great food for thought! Will check out this week. Glad you could make it back online for the festivities this week. Email me your shipping address? You won a copy of Vilnius Poker from Nonsuch Book. Congrats!
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I won a book! Thank you. My email is one its way to you immediately 🙂
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I ve read other Rulfo’s but this soinds greatr ,the other sounds great ,I love getting your African recs Kinna ,all the best stu
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I do think that you would enjoy the Magona book. Would love to hear what you think about it.
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Both of these sounds really interesting. Thanks for the recommendations!
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Thanks for bringing these two books to my atttention – A brilliant post I think it’s good to try different genres even if they do take us out of our comfort zone.
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I do agree about trying other genres. I’ve recently decided to read more fantasy. I’m starting with short stories and then will move on to novels depending on my experience.
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Two new books. Thanks Kinna.
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I loved Pedro Paramo when I read it about 2 years ago. It came highly recommended from another fellow magic-realism lover. It didn’t disappoint.
I’m a fan of Africa-lit, especially from the Portuguese-speaking countries. Do you know Conceição Lima (São Tomé and Príncipe), Mia Couto and Paulina Chiziane (Mozambique) and Pepetela (Angola)?
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I’ve read Couto. I’m yet to read the others but will hope to do so soon.
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Pedro Paramo sounds a lot like Marquez! And the cover is really surreal….
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In fact, Marquez thinks highly of the book. I came across it when I was looking to read other authors who had inspired Marquez. He frequently mentions Rulfo and Faulkner.
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Oohh I hadn’t heard of either, but both sound marvelous. Thank you for the recommendations!
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African lit. is one of the blank spots on my literary map, so I’ll have to remedy that a little over the next year. Good to have an expert on hand 🙂
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Please do remedy the situation :). Come back often to look for suggestions and inspiration.
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My current library only as Pedro Paramo in Spanish, but my new library (as of next month) has it in English too! Yay: it sounds like my kind of book, and I love that cover.
Unfortunately, neither has the South African one. I get so frustrated over the smallness of public libraries’ collections of African lit in general. Hmph.
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Eva, it’s not just public libraries. Sadly, getting one’s hands on some African lit, wherever one is can be quite difficult. Yes, I do think that you will enjoy Pedro Paramo.
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