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mikeisquixotic · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Vermont

Any suggestions for good literature for someone getting started on planning a move to South America for TESL. I've done most of my research thus far on Chile and will most likely go there. I'm looking for anything and everything to gain more insight on culture, economics, job market, food, nightlife. Any tips for good guide books, poetry, prose, magazines, etc. would be appreciated.

MELEE · Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:34 pm Post subject:

Chile has a long strong literary tradition, you should have no trouble finding English translations (you didn't say what your Spanish reading ablity is) of Chilean fiction and poetry.

Isabel Allende,
Ariel Dorfman,
Jose Dononso,
Francisco Coloane,
Luis Sep�lveda,
Antonio Skarmeta.
Fernando Alegria (look for "The Chilean Spring"!),
Lautaro Yankas,
Marcela Serano,
Alberto Blest Gana

I could go on and on.

The most famous poets, both noble prize winners, are Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral. There are countless contemporary Chilean poets. When I was a student there in 1993, it seemed like writting poetry was what most people aspired to!

Hit your library and look up what books they have on Chile, there is SOOO much published on the topic. As for guide books, for practicalities, how to get where, where to sleep and (about) how much it will cost, I'm a Lonely Planet girl. But for reading about the country, the regions, the culture, deciding what cities to visit and what to see there, I love the Insights Guides. I don't even bother looking at their hotel or restuarant selections
however.

Happy Trails!

nineisone · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 187

Also, the excellent writing on Pinochet and US involvement in Chile by Peter Kornbluh and others.

Mario Vargas Llosa(Peru) and Gabriel Garcia Marquez(Colombia) are a pair of widely available world class fiction writers focused on the South.

And I should mention the forthcoming book from Verso "Pirates of the Carribean: Axis of Hope" by Tariq Ali that will focus on Chavez, Da Silva, Morales and the turning tide of South American politics and what it means for the future.

mikeisquixotic · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Vermont

Thanks so much for the input. Guess I should have elaborated a bit more though, I was a Spanish minor in school and studied abroad in Spain so I'm pretty familiar with all the well known Latin American poets/novelists. I was hoping to get some names of people who are a little more under the radar.

I agree about the Lonely Planet and Insight suggestions. However, I myself am partial to Let's Go.

How about more writing from ex-pats in South America. Who is the Hemingway of Chile?

Good feedback though so far. Thanks again.

nineisone · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 187

Happened upon this old thread and wanted to throw the popular and trendy Roberto Bolano into the mix. Left him off my first list. Horrible neglect on my part!

More importantly, interested to note if anyone has read his just released(in the U.S.) novella 'Nazi Literature in the Americas' and has any impressions on it. Trying to decide whether to spend the 22$ on it or hope that my disfunctional library gets a copy in before I jaunt off to another locale.

For those unfamiliar with Bolano: a touch of Cortazar, a pinch of Lima, and the underpinnings of Borges with a deconstructed narrative to resemble his true love, poetry.

ajarnlilly · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Managua Nicaragua

Nazi Literature in the Americas
by Roberto Bolano, Dr. Chris Andrews (Translator)

About this title: A playful and entirely original novel masquerading as a mini-encyclopedia of nonexistent Nazi literature, Bolanos work is a tour de force of black humor.

nineisone · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 187

Thanks ajarnlilly,

I had read a brief review of the book online, but since the english translation release is so new, there is not much feedback on it.

Appreciate the response.

ajarnlilly · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Managua Nicaragua

Since I put it in the 'subject' line but not in the body, you may not have noticed that I said it is available for $9 plus shipping at www.alibris.com

It sounds like it would be worth it.

nineisone · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 187

Wow, that is cheap. I had seen 14$ on Amazon, but before the S&H. Will explore. Thanks for the assist.

ajarnlilly · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Managua Nicaragua

De nada!

They may only have one copy at that price so if interested, I wouldn't delay. To find it on their search engine, best to start with the author. It didn't come up for me using the title.

nineisone · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 187

The Nation magazine devotes it's Books and Arts section of the March 31st issue to Roberto Bolano with three wonderful articles:

http://www.thenation.com/issue/20080331

R.B.'s star continues its ascendancy in the English speaking world. Finally we have HQ english translations of recent L.A. works not in the magic realist realm(not that I dislike, just pained by its overwhelming popularity at the expense of books of more merit getting translated). Let's hope Bolano's popularity spurs on an appreciation of other spanish language authors not named Marquez, Allende, etc...