Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Avant-garde literature from a new
generation of Latinos. . . .[Co-editors Augenbraum and Stavans] begin their
book with excerpts from their lively correspondence concerning what is and
who is Latino. . . .Each entry is unique."
Review
"The pieces selected in this anthology take on the intermingling of tongues, the fluidity of borders and the moments where public and private rub up against each other. . . The writing, true to the anthology's title, tries to keep the conversation fresh, relishing very unexpected turns."
Review
"This eclectic mix of writing -- fiction, journalism, essays, comics -- showcases Latino life in America." The Chicago Sun-Times
"The pieces selected in this anthology take on the intermingling of tongues, the fluidity of borders and the moments where public and private rub up against each other. . . The writing, true to the anthology's title, tries to keep the conversation fresh, relishing very unexpected turns." The San Francisco Chronicle
"Avant-garde literature from a new generation of Latinos. . . .[Co-editors Augenbraum and Stavans] begin their book with excerpts from their lively correspondence concerning what is and who is Latino. . . .Each entry is unique." Library Journal
Synopsis
Brazen, bold, edgy, and fresh: an unexpected take on Latino life, spotlighting some of the cultures most exciting innovative and emerging voices.
An entertaining, provocative and often exhilarating collection, Lengua Fresca celebrates some of the most original and cutting-edge work to emerge from the cultural collide that is Latino life in the United States. Featuring an eclectic mix of Latino writingincluding fiction, journalism, essays, comics, and even cultural ephemerathis unique anthology showcases literature found in unexpected places. Selections include stories from Salvador Plascencia, Christina Henriquez, and Ana Menendez; graphic pieces from the Hernandez brothers (creators of the groundbreaking comix Love and Rockets) and Lalo Alcaraz (creator of La Cucaracha); and essays by Stephanie Elizondo Griest and Dagoberto Gilb on pop culture topics such as The George Lopez Show and Taco Bell. The growth of Spanglish, the lingua franca of Hispanic communities, is highlighted as well. Compiled by the editors of the classroom favorite Growing Up Latino, Lengua Fresca offers an unconventional window on a vibrant, quickly expanding culture.
About the Author
ILAN STAVANS is the Lewis-Sebring Professor in Latin American and Latino Culture at Amherst College. He lives in Amherst and Wellfleet, Massachusetts.HAROLD AUGENBRAUM is the executive director of the National BookFoundation. He lives in the Bronx, New York.