THE LATINA BOOK CLUB

In honor of Veteran's Day, The Latina Book Club would like to take a moment to say "Thank You" to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in this country's armed forces around the world.   We thank you for our liberty and our freedom, and we wish you come home soon, safe and sound.   God bless You All.---mcf All gave some. Some gave all. Carlos Harrison has written a gripping, harrowing and triumphant book about Mexican families who immigrated to a small railroad town in search of a better life.   It was rough for them--learning a new language, adapting to a new cultural, and facing discrimination at every turn.   Yet, their faith in their new country never faltered.   These "new" Americans sent 57 of their sons to fight in two fierce wars; Not all came home.   Through interviews with families and friends, Harrison introduces us to the survivors and the fallen. Heroes all. BOOK SUMMARY :   They came from one street, but...

by Jonathan Marcantoni Authors Jonathan Marcantoni and Chris Campanioni are the founders of YouNiversity.   Their first class is about to “graduate.”   It’s been a learning experience for both the students and the teachers.   The Latina Book Club congratulates Jon and Chris on their vision, and wish their graduating students much publishing success.---mcf Jonathan Marcantoni   I am a Puerto Rican writer. That is how I introduce myself. Puerto Rican first, writer second. Writing, not only the practice but my entire conceptualization of the artform, is filtered through that identity. I pride myself in being a storyteller of my people, of our struggles on and off the island, of our pan-Latino community. As co-founder of Aignos Publishing, I put such a heavy emphasis on Latino literature I would receive emails from non-Latino authors asking if we signed them as well. I felt bad when I received those emails, I never meant to be exclusive, and it plan...

November is National Novel Writing Month  aka NaNoWriMo. The challenge is to write 50,000 words -- basically a 250 page novel! -- in the 30 days of November. I urge all Latino writers, especially the wanna-be writers, to take advantage of this opportunity and write, write, write.  Don't edit.  Don't revise.  Don't over think it.   Just write. We need more books with diverse characters, and in OUR case, Latino characters.  So start writing your own novel today.  It can be a children's book, a young adult, a memoir, a romance, a paranormal, a vampire novel....it can be anything.  Just add some Latino flavor! Register for NaNoWriMo at www.nanowrimo.org .  You can still "enter" the challenge. I too am taking up this challenge and have started my own novel with a sassy Latina heroine and a Latino hero that can cook!   Once you enter NaNoWriMo, make me one of your Writing Buddies; my moniker is "lovebooksmaven."   Very Lati...

   Poetry is the language of love, of revenge, of despair, of hope, of the people.   Here is a Top 14 List of Latino poets we should all be reading more of.  Among them we have the FIRST Spanish American Poet to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, an inaugural poet and two Poet Laureates.  I've tried to find websites for all the poets and, where there isn't any, I've posted a link where you could get more information on them.   Happy reading! --mcf TOP LATINO POETS Gabriela Mistral 1.     Gabriela Mistral (First Spanish American to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature) "Song of Death," http://www.poemhunter.com/gabriela-mistral 2.     Pablo Neruda, "Cantos Ceremoniales," http://www.fundacionneruda.org/en 3.     Julia de Burgos, "Rio Grande de Loiza," http://www.juliadeburgos.org 4.     Richard Blanco (Fifth Inaugural Poet of the U.S.), "For All Of Us, One Day...

   The Latina Book Club welcomes children’s author Diana Lee Santamaria .   As a child she struggled with reading so she understands the importance of literacy.   As an educator she recognizes the need for more diverse books.   Hence, the birth of DLee’s World – bright fun stories that engage young readers and expands their learning. GIVEAWAY!   Please leave a comment below to win a free copy of DLee’s World. "As a child who struggled with reading, I understand the importance of literacy and making it fun for children, so I work on bringing all the essential elements into DLee's World to engage children and increase learning."  --Diana Lee Santamaria     Q: Schools seem to slowly be coming to the realization that there are no books with “diverse” characters –African-American, Asian, and Hispanic – available for children. As an educator, do you also think that, “we need diverse books?”   Yes, I do believe t...

The Party Continues!   Join The Latina Book Club every week this month for new book reviews, fun “Top 14” lists, author interviews and book giveaways.   This week, we are giving away an e-book copy of EVERY HIDDEN FEAR.   Leave a comment below or tweet our hashtag -- #amreadingwiththelatinabookclub --   to win. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month and Good luck! --mcf If you’re not constantly watching and taking care of little things with a house, all kinds of things will fester in the dark and grow out of sight to damage it until they pull it down on your head. —Gran Riveting. Masterful. Suspenseful. Memorable. EVERY HIDDEN FEAR is book three in Linda Rodriguez’s Skeet Bannion series.  It’s a fast-paced, exhilarating drama starring a clever heroine, a ghastly murder and more suspects than innocents.  Readers will be enthralled (once again) from the very first page to the last.  NOTE: This may be third in a series, but it stands alon...

   La Latina Book Club continua con su celebración de Hispanic Heritage Month todo este mes.   Mas tenemos para ustedes reseñas todos los Viernes de libros en Español.   Le agradecemos a Open Media Español su regalo de una copia de DESEO DE UNA  NOCHE.   Dejen un comentario aqui o un Tweet con nuestro “hashtag” #amreadingwiththelatinabookclub.   Buena suerte!   //   The Latina Book Club continues celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and our Spanish reviews on Fridays.   We want to thank Open Media Español who is donating an e-copy of Alonso Cueto’s book, DESEO DE UNA NOCHE (in Spanish), to one lucky reader.   Enter to win by leaving a comment below or Tweeting our hashtag, #amreadingwiththelatinabookclub.   Good luck! Las historias pasan dentro de cada uno de nosotros. Y al final esto es lo que cuenta, creo: que las historias son parte fundamental de nuestras vidas y sirven para tratar de explicar lo que no tiene...