Great list, amigo! Hanging out in Chile does not seem that long ago, hard to believe it's been more than a year already. According to Goodreads, you and I had 9 books in common this year, and I'm sure you can guess which ones those are, haha. One to be excited about this year is Bazterrica's follow-up to TITF: "The Unworthy" translated by Sarah Moses (OG title "Las Indignas"). Post-apocalyptic religious cults and ultra-violence? Yes, please! I loved it, but you know how "American" audiences can be after an author has an unexpected major hit and then releases a new one...everyone expecting a sequel and then being unjustly let down. That one drops March 4th.
Also, Charco Press has launched a new line of "Classics" where, in addition to the amazing stuff they are releasing from contemporary LatAm authors, they will be unearthing some seldom-seen classics in all new translations. The first of these is "The Vortex" the only novel of Colombian author José Eustasio Rivera which originally published in 1924, translated by Daniel Hahn and Victor Meadowcraft. This one is already on my bedside table waiting to be cracked.
The other one I am really looking forward to is the English debut of "Chilco" by Daniela Catrileo, (TR: Daniel Edelstein), who is a Mapuche author and activist from Chile, and whose excellent book "Piñen" I JUST finished and loved the absolute hell outta. The latter will publish from
Charco in 2026 and is their first Mapuche author on their roster.
I claimed 2024 was the year of LatAm lit for me, but uhhhhh....well my TBR list extends well into the Summer at this point.
Man you guys were so close! Santa Fe and Colorado Springs are equidistant to the Great Sand Dunes, we coulda dropped some peyote and howled at the moon! Or, you know...just had some tacos and a nice chat. Much love to you two in the new year!
Awesome, Andres! I'll howl at the moon with you anytime. Will have to dig into this. I've never read a Charco title and I need to do something about that STAT!
Love love this list. Thank you! I listened to God of the Woods on a long road trip up the east coast and back. It was captivating. And I love how long it takes to listen to a book. I also read a Tremblay this year, A Head Full of Ghosts, and am an instant fan.
There is a lot here to add to my reading list. Thanks. Been really enjoying Joshua Mohr. Appreciate you sharing his work. I’ve read three of his books lately and plan to explore more in the coming months. I wanted to at least recommend one book: Chris La Tray’s “Becoming Little Shell:
A Landless Indian’s Journey Home.” La Tray is Montana’s Poet Laureate, and he is also on Substack. This book is a blend of history, memoir and activism.
Hope the Dodgers resign Kiké and Kershaw soon. Best wishes in 2025.
De nada and thank you for the recommendation. Becoming Little Shell looks amazing. Have you read Model Citizen? Happy New Year, Travis! Here's a year of great books...
Ah, I love this roundup, especially how you've grouped your reads thematically. Brilliant idea. (And Happy New Year, Jim!)
Thank you, Duane! Happy New Year to you as well!
Great list, amigo! Hanging out in Chile does not seem that long ago, hard to believe it's been more than a year already. According to Goodreads, you and I had 9 books in common this year, and I'm sure you can guess which ones those are, haha. One to be excited about this year is Bazterrica's follow-up to TITF: "The Unworthy" translated by Sarah Moses (OG title "Las Indignas"). Post-apocalyptic religious cults and ultra-violence? Yes, please! I loved it, but you know how "American" audiences can be after an author has an unexpected major hit and then releases a new one...everyone expecting a sequel and then being unjustly let down. That one drops March 4th.
Also, Charco Press has launched a new line of "Classics" where, in addition to the amazing stuff they are releasing from contemporary LatAm authors, they will be unearthing some seldom-seen classics in all new translations. The first of these is "The Vortex" the only novel of Colombian author José Eustasio Rivera which originally published in 1924, translated by Daniel Hahn and Victor Meadowcraft. This one is already on my bedside table waiting to be cracked.
The other one I am really looking forward to is the English debut of "Chilco" by Daniela Catrileo, (TR: Daniel Edelstein), who is a Mapuche author and activist from Chile, and whose excellent book "Piñen" I JUST finished and loved the absolute hell outta. The latter will publish from
Charco in 2026 and is their first Mapuche author on their roster.
I claimed 2024 was the year of LatAm lit for me, but uhhhhh....well my TBR list extends well into the Summer at this point.
Man you guys were so close! Santa Fe and Colorado Springs are equidistant to the Great Sand Dunes, we coulda dropped some peyote and howled at the moon! Or, you know...just had some tacos and a nice chat. Much love to you two in the new year!
Awesome, Andres! I'll howl at the moon with you anytime. Will have to dig into this. I've never read a Charco title and I need to do something about that STAT!
Love love this list. Thank you! I listened to God of the Woods on a long road trip up the east coast and back. It was captivating. And I love how long it takes to listen to a book. I also read a Tremblay this year, A Head Full of Ghosts, and am an instant fan.
De nada and thank you! That sounds like a great trip. I had a similar experience in 2023 listening to The Shards.
Thanks so much, Jim!
You know it, Alex!
I think my reading list just trebled. Ah! I already grabbed the Thurston Moore on your rec a few mths ago and am devouring it...
And makes me want to revisit Lydia Lunch's poetry and spoken word. Ah!!
Same! There's so much good stuff to check out from the No Wave scene.
I want to read more crime stuff this year, and am gonna use this list as a great place to dig in!
Also: your write up of the Hanukkah antho has two of my fave paragraphs about religion I’ve read in a while.
Happy new year, bud!
Thanks, Aaron! Happy New Year. If you haven't read Sara Gran definitely check her out. I need to send you an email...
There is a lot here to add to my reading list. Thanks. Been really enjoying Joshua Mohr. Appreciate you sharing his work. I’ve read three of his books lately and plan to explore more in the coming months. I wanted to at least recommend one book: Chris La Tray’s “Becoming Little Shell:
A Landless Indian’s Journey Home.” La Tray is Montana’s Poet Laureate, and he is also on Substack. This book is a blend of history, memoir and activism.
Hope the Dodgers resign Kiké and Kershaw soon. Best wishes in 2025.
De nada and thank you for the recommendation. Becoming Little Shell looks amazing. Have you read Model Citizen? Happy New Year, Travis! Here's a year of great books...
I have not, but it’s on my shelf.