Owner: Literanista URL:http://literanista.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:36:52 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: A blog about Hispanic books and authors, written by a Latina. Discuss & review books - new & classics, the literary world, the Hispanic book market, read interviews and more - a place for a multi-cultural dialogue. Site statistics:Click here
Lost and Found 2008-03-04 16:13:03 Ah, the irony! So yesterday I blogged about my lost ring and the ring I bought to replace it. Today, on my way to a meeting at work I reached in my pocket, which feels oddly jumbled up and feel something hard! I'm not in the habit of putting things in my pant's pockets but as I begin removing the item, the realization of what the hard item is hits me - my ring!I remember stashing it away for 'safe' keeping in my pocket as I went to wash the dishes week's ago. Thank god, it didn't fall out of my pockets when I hung my denim trousers up.Nothing like a safe homecoming, which brings to mind my favorite children's book: The lost playground by Patricia Coombs and the lost and found again beloved toy named Mostly Frederick Sometimes Sam, who isn't quite a rabbit or a bear or a kangaroo and doesn
Cherie, mi amor 2008-03-04 08:20:40 I have a serious condition, perhaps I've mentioned it before... I am a shopaholic, it's quite worse now that it's turned into full blown Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic. You see, I shop as if I were a hunter and the must-haves are my prey. Even though I often go home, ditch my bags in my closet and then forget about the items all together until the next time I clean the closet out. I still develop an unhealthy attachment to my things, which I've come to realize I must keep an eye on since my mom is a hoarder and this seems to be related to OCD . That's not something I want to foster within myself. I'm trying to get better, I swear, however once in a while I go astray.My 'ooh, cherie, mi amor' moments are long winded. I can't help it. This weekend I put together an entire collage of i
Friday Flummadiddle 2008-02-29 15:52:07 Galleycat had some great coverage on the PEN American Center - A Tribute to Chinua Achebe event that I couldn't attend but really, really wish I had!Edwidge Danticat, one of my favorite authors spoke about Achebe's influence on her and her work as did the bold and beautiful poet and political activist Suheir Hammad, whom I know from way back. We went to college together, took the same English classes and I also interviewed her for our college paper. Too bad, I missed it. Toni Morrison was there as well as all sorts of great literati. I remember reading Things Fall Apart in HS (Shout out to Ms. Rogers!) and it was a book and class (Mase was in my class too) I never forgot.I'm now looking forward to attending a different sort of cultural event on Sunday, In the Heights - The Musical. There's Read more:Friday
On the Right Path 2008-02-29 15:35:49 My mom is a very big believer in Destiny or el destino. When something is meant for you, is right for you, nothing nor anyone can deter it from your path.In Eastern philosophy and religion, it is the Tao, the way. It just IS.This week, I started my new position at Hachette Book Group USA and on my way home tonight, sitting on the bus through the warm and rainy commute, with thoughts of really wanting to be at the PEN American Center - A Tribute to Chinua Achebe - I came across this passage at the very beginning of my newly minted ARC of Nextville: Amazing Places to Live the Rest of Your Life by Barbara Corcoran and Warren Berger:And, so I truly believe in the transforming power of place. I believe that when you go to a new place--when it's the right place--you have permission to start over Read more:Right
Celebra: New Hispanic Books Imprint from Major Pub. House 2008-02-27 11:11:40 Penguin Group announced their latest new imprint yesterday, Celebra, which will focus on "mainstream Hispanic
personalities," beginning with yesterday's release of Geraldo Rivera's HIS PANIC: Why Americans Fear Hispanics. Run by publisher Raymond Garcia, who was associate publisher at Harper's Rayo, "the goal of the new imprint is to publish books for mainstream readers that will also resonate with the vast population of Hispanics in the United States."Garcia says in the announcement, "Hispanics are no longer a niche audience, but rather an integral and seamless part of today's mainstream America. With Penguin's excellent reputation for marketing and distribution, I’m confident we will make a significant impact." Celebra will publish as a part of New American Library. Other authors for t Read more:Books
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Literary Crushes? 2008-02-20 03:19:20 Okay, so I know Valentine's Day was last week and this post is all late... while Cupid's bow didn't exactly miss me nor leave me crippled, I was thinking about this just now - have you ever read a book and felt not only impressed by the weight of the work but so impressed by the dynamic of the person who thought it up that you felt (let's say 'intrigued') to find out more about the author?It's happened to me personally twice.The first time - it was Hemingway. Don't laugh, I know he's, well, old and dead! But I've always been attracted to older men and his writing - it's simply unparralled.Simple, strong, full of imagery and fills me with a wanderlust that I just can't describe.To me, he is Cuba, cats, cigars, manliness, the Florida Keys, Caribbean crystal waters and fishing, guns and the h Read more:Literary
, Crushes
Literanista Does Fashion Week in NYC 2008-02-19 18:11:19 A couple of years ago, I was asked by my dear friends to write for their little fashion blog. One that now is a huge hit and grown into a prosperous website, PapierdollLast night, they had a huge fashion week pool party at Hotel HQ in collaboration with Second City Style and projekt:nyc. Now not only was the sweet sparkling liquor, Nuvo tasty but also on the house, which made even better. It was fantastic to mingle poolside with talented photographers, beautiful models and witty stylists as well as old friends.The absolute coolest part, I have to admit was the free schwag. I love freebies, especially a cache like this one. I got a dark grey RUSK laptop bag filled with a Philips GoGear Audio Video Player, a sunless tanner kit, a makeup kit, Rusk hair products, a CD, nail polish and more!The Read more:Fashion
, Fashion Week
Free Movie Screening: UNDER THE SAME MOON 2008-02-18 21:57:42 MOVIE: UNDER THE SAME MOONRATED: PG-13 -From director Patricia Riggen, this drama centers on a young boy's journey across the US/Mexico border to be reunited with his mother. Adrian Alonso stars as Carlitos, a Mexican adolescent living with his grandmother while his mother works as a maid in the US, hoping someday to send for her child. But when the grandmother dies unexpectedly, Carlitos must sneak across the border and seek out his mother. Featuring a supporting performance by America Ferrara of ABC's Ugly Betty, The Same Moon premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival where it received a standing-ovation. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie GuideSTARRING: Adrian Alonso, Kate del Castillo, Eugenio Derbez, Maya Zapata FREE Promotional screenings are on a first-come, first-served basis and not gu Read more:Screening
Suze Orman's bestselling book WOMEN & MONEY: Free! 2008-02-14 10:21:46 Oprah Offers Free Download A lot of yesterday's extra stories in Lunch Deluxe covered various thoughts on profiting from "free" from four different vantage points, and now Oprah Winfrey is changing that experimental landscape even further. She announced on today's show that a free downloadable version of Suze Orman's bestselling book WOMEN & MONEY (published a year ago by Spiegel & Grau) is available at today and tomorrow through 5 pm Pacific time only. The PDF file is offered in both English and Spanish versions, and the site includes this message: "This book is copyrighted. You may view and download the file, but you may not copy the file or share or forward it to any other person."Orman was featured on today's show, helping out a family in financial crisis.The publisher notes
Free New Books Online, Including Paulo Coehlo 2008-02-13 14:55:37 Interesting play by Harpercollins, who is offering some books online for free. Those included are:"The Witch of Portobello" by Paulo
Coelho;"Mission: Cook! My Life, My Recipes and Making the Impossible Easy" by Robert Irvine (Food Network star);"I Dream in Blue: Life, Death and the New York Giants" by Roger Director;"The Undecided Voter's Guide to the Next President: Who the Candidates Are, Where They Come from and How You Can Choose" by Mark Halperin;"Warriors: Into the Wild," the first volume in a children's series by Erin Hunter.They cannot be downloaded, printed out and are only available for one month.More info via Mashable Read more:Books
New Music: Ayo 2008-02-08 15:25:57 Somewhere between the neosoul and caribbean silkyness of Jill Scott and Erykah Badu lies Ayo. I came accross her video this week and have fallen hard for her sound. You will too: Read more:Music
, New Music
Daniel Alarcón and Alex Espinoza 2008-02-06 15:53:02 Daniel Alarcón and Alex Espinoza by Gabriela JaureguiWEB EXCLUSIVE via Bomb! Gabriela Jauregui talks with Daniel Alarcón and Alex Espinoza, born in Lima and Tijuana, respectively, about how their daring recent novels cross the language barrier, the history/fiction divide, and Icarus’s fall. >>> Read more:Daniel
Yes, We Can! Vote! 2008-02-06 11:30:47 New York in da house!It may be gray and muggy out today but spirits are high in the city as we celebrate the homecoming of the victorious NY Giants and tackle the NY State Presidential Primary.Here's a little inspirational music:Now go out and vote!
Booknook Eye Candy 2008-01-30 16:02:24 When I was little, I often found refuge from the real world amongst the public library shelves and later on in high school too. My high school was priviledged enough to have a ginormous, beautiful library with columns and vaulted, cathedral ceilings and windows. I often asked for a pass to go there and sat in lithurgy with my dusty tomes and the basking in sun's warm glow, content and safe in the empty shrine of words and ideas.I first saw this when it was originally published but just got a reminder from my boldtype.com email: Top-shelf bookstores (The Guardian)A top-ten list of the world's most eye-poppingly beautiful book shops (with photos), including ones in converted theatres, bank buildings, and even a church. Read more:Candy
Mambo Kings Redux 2008-01-30 10:11:58 Hijuelos Plans New `Mambo Kings' NovelMy sister who has a huge crush on Ruben Blades will look forward to getting her hands on this one! Read more:Redux
Send an E-Card & Give a Free Book 2008-01-29 08:47:38 To celebrate the New Year, The Literacy Site is proud to announce that one new book will be donated to a child in need for every "Give a Free Book
" e-card viewed, for a limited time. Here's how it works: You send the "Give a Free book" e-card to family and friends. When your e-card is opened, First Book and our premier sponsor, Pi Beta Phi, will provide a new book for a child in need. So, when you send this e-card greeting, you're doing more than just saying hello--you're giving the gift of literacy. Spread the word and be sure to forward it on!The Literacy Site
From Baby Gangsta to Author and Actor 2008-01-24 16:55:32 The other day, I finally read my Essence issue from Nov. '07 (I've got so much to read that magazines and books just pile up at my house and yes, I read Essence) and was intrigued by a feature on a recently published memoir, Grace After Midnight: A Memoir by Felicia Pearson.I've always found memoirs inspirational and enjoy the opportunity to glimpse into other people's lives and tribulations, in a way, that's exactly why blogs have taken off - people enjoy playing voyeur.The book and the back story caught my eye and mentally I added it to my 'to buy' list. I was also considering passing it off to my friend's young son, who is very impressed by streets and needs books that both encourage him to read and that will also inspire him to look beyond the world of thugging and deter him from endi Read more:Gangsta
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Food for Thought 2008-01-24 16:37:37 Image via Su Blackwell and designers block
A bit of Saturday Satire 2008-01-19 18:01:18 Area Eccentric Reads Entire BookGREENWOOD,IN—"Instead of spending hours on YouTube every night, Mr. Meyer, unlike most healthy males, looks to books for gratification," said one psychologist. Read more:Saturday
Teachers Have a Special Place in my Heart 2008-01-10 17:05:26 I've always admired teachers, my sister is one and for the first year out of school, I also worked for the NYC department of education as a sub. and then permanantly in Special
Ed. classroom.Recently, I discovered that Dan Brown (UPDATED, he is not author of The Da Vinci Code, he's a different Dan Brown) penned a memoir called The Great Expectations School: A Rookie Year in the New Blackboard Jungle. It takes a fine human being to teach, not just anyone would teach public school in the Bronx. Kudos to him on his new book, which he says has gotten great reviews.This one's going on my reading list too! The other night, I had trouble falling asleep and watched Independent Lens . REVOLUCION: Five Visions on PBS - a look at five talented photographers in Cuba who documented the struggles of C Read more:Place
, Heart
The Second Sex 2008-01-09 11:56:49 Simone de Beauvoir, one the founding women of the feminist movement would have been 100 today. As France starts a celebration this week of the centennial of Simone de Beauvoir’s birth, The Guardian reports that scholars are worried that too much attention will be paid to the philosopher’s sex life and not enough to her ideas. Gee, it doesn't seem like things change do they, as our media concentrates on Hillary's emotional assertions.Here's your chance to take a look inside the head of woman far ahead of her time, I think we refer to that as genius or visionary, who would've thought those ideas lay inside that delicate, sensitive head.She Came to Stay, (1943)Pyrrhus et Cinéas, (1944)The Blood of Others, (1945)Who Shall Die?, (1945)All Men are Mortal, (1946)The Ethics of Ambiguity, (194 Read more:Second
Poets.org Goes Web2.0 2008-03-14 11:15:49 Sweet! Via Publishers Weekly * Poets.org on Handheld
Isabel Allende's New Memoir on her Daughter's Tragic Death 2008-03-14 11:15:13 I love Isabel
Allende and the happiness with which I realized she had a new book, The Sum of Our Days: A Memoir
, coming out next month dimmed when I learned that it's a very personal memoir that follows the days after her dear daughter, Paula, died.The book is already a bestseller in Spanish. I will be adding this as well as the heart wrenching tale she tells her 28-year old child as she lay in a coma published as a Postscript. I can't imagine anything as painfully devastating as losing a child.Latina.com has an interview with author but as usual with this publication, it's not as in-depth as one would hope.Visit her official website to view personal family photos and learn more: IsabelAllende.comI would advise keeping the tissue box nearby, just in case.* Photo: The author in happier time Read more:Daughter
For $50 One Can Buy a Slave - in 2008 in the Caribbean 2008-03-14 10:43:56 NPR takes a look at a new book,A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slave
ry by E. Benjamin Skinner that shines a light on human trafficking. In light of the whole Spitzer debacle, I think it's important to note that while some think the sex worker industry should be legalized let's not forget that in some places women and children are forced into becoming legal sex slaves to fulfill the demand.I'm simply repulsed by Spitzer's actions and after having voted for him as Governor feel angry and pity his family. Read more:Caribbean
Saving Money - Another Cherie Amor Post 2008-03-17 16:49:05 I really am trying to be good and save money I swear but temptation is everywhere.I opened a magazine perfume insert only to realize that I MUST HAVE this scent, Chloé. It just smells so clean and perfect for summer.I now have it hung inside my closet, if it stills ignites desire a month from now then I will go to Saks and shell out the $85 bucks for it.Then I looked through my Boden Catalog, why did I do that? Now, I can't stop thinking about the "oh, so cute and perfect for summer" stuff that caught my eye.I've come to the decision that I'm using 3/4 of my tax return this year to pay off my credit cards completely. I've also canceled my Netflix membership. It really was a waste. My boyfriend and I constantly debated over which movie was worth our time and money and often the DVDs sat ar Read more:Saving
, Money
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