Luisa Valenzuela is a post-'Boom' novelist and short story writer whose work is characterized by an experimental, avant-garde style. She uses her writing to question hierarchical social structures from a feminist perspective. Valenzuela is best known for her pieces written in response to Argentina's 1970s dictatorship, combining a powerful critique of authoritarianism with an examination of patriarchal social organization and the power structures inherent in human sexuality and gender relationships.
A collection of works by diverse and celebrated authors showcases a range of voices and styles, from poetry to prose. Each contributor brings their unique perspective, exploring themes of identity, culture, and the human experience. This anthology highlights the brilliance of established and emerging writers, inviting readers to engage with thought-provoking narratives and lyrical expressions. The rich tapestry of storytelling promises to captivate and inspire, making it a significant addition to contemporary literature.
contributors include: Prize-winning Argentine Luisa Valenzuela, an early exponent of magical realism, who writes about mothers and knives; Argentine poet Carlos Barabrito, who writes about John Cage. New Yorker Liz Swados cartoons. Susan Daitch, who dissects a nightguard's sympathy with robots, Croatian artist Miroslav Nemeth, who describes his childhood in Zagreb in black & white linocuts, Croatian short story writer Gordon Nuhanovic, who becomes a spectacle at the hairdresser's. Also, Croatian poet Tomislav Marijan Bilosnic returns. Among Pacific Northwest writers, David Hapgood travels to Morocco, Jenny Forrester stands up to Colorado bullies, Coleman Stevenson has breakfast, Kassten Alonso goes to a punitive school on a punitive school bus, but learns to type. And there are feuilletons, typewriter collages, poetry from Lithuania, an Australian comic report on a trip to New York... A compendium of the global contemporary. Pan-lingual Gobshite Quarterly, where Paul Krassner meets Vénus Khoury-Ghata, is my favorite source for Hungarian fiction that reads like a song ("Hogy jaj. jaj. jaj. semirol semmi fogalma nines..."). Here English language poems, short stories, and "reasoned rants" nervously traverse a dark alley, past hipster Arabs, dangerous Czechs, Spanish cantoras... - Chris Dodge, Utne Magazine
This novel showcases the surreal and subversive storytelling style of Luisa Valenzuela, a pioneering figure in magical realism. Through its unique narrative, it explores themes of reality and imagination, challenging conventional perceptions and societal norms. Valenzuela's work is marked by its innovative approach and rich symbolism, inviting readers to delve into a world where the extraordinary intertwines with the everyday.
A collage made of pictures of Buenos Aires, divided in short stories (some surprisingly brief), told in the warm, humorous, precise and metaphorical style that made Luisa Valenzuela a recognized worldwide author.
