6 Books by Marie Arana: Multiculturalism in Literature
“Life is better when we imagine it.”
—Marie Arana.
I couldn’t agree more with author Marie Arana on this! Through her books, she tells us about her experiences with a touch of imagination and fictional stories like no other.
Join me and check out the amazing titles I’ve compiled in this blog post!
Should I Read in Spanish?
The short answer is: Yes! Reading in Spanish can improve and fast-track your learning experience! From learning new vocabulary to becoming a fluent and fearless speaker, some of the benefits you can get when picking a book in Spanish include a greater motivation to learn about the language, the authors, and their personal reasons behind their stories.
While you already know about grammar rules, reading in Spanish can help you understand the contextualization of language and observe the application of language rules.
Also, as you read you interact with the book to find different interpretations of the author’s purpose while noting the various uses authors can give to descriptive language.
You get to learn new idiomatic expressions and vocabulary, and become interested in new cultures and perspectives of the world.
Lastly, you can improve your fluency as you read out loud and translate from one language to the other to practice what you already know.
If you are looking forward to becoming a fluent speaker but didn’t know where to start, this is your sign! Pick a book in Spanish about a topic that you can connect with and step up your game! Luckily for you, I have some suggestions today!
Who Is Marie Arana?
Native to Lima, Peru (September 15th 1949) she started her bilingual journey at home, and moved to New Jersey when she was only 9 years old. She lives with her husband alternating from Washington D.C to Lima.
Her academic achievements include:
- B.A. in Russian Language and Literature at Northwestern University
- M.A. in Linguistics and Sociolinguistics at Hong Kong University
- M.A. in Mandarin at Yale University in China
She’s had multiple important posts, such as:
- Literary Director of the Library of Congress
- Director of the National Book Festival
- John W. Kluge Center’s Chair of the Cultures of the Countries of the South
- Writer at Large for the Washington Post, The New York Times, National Geographic, TIME magazine, and more
Writing Style
Marie Arana’s literature sparked from two main topics: her childhood and her passion for history. She uses both as the engine for her stories, whether they are fictional or not, giving us captivating novels and memoirs.
Among many recognitions, she earned the 2020 literary award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Check out these six books that will certainly spark your interest in Latin America and creative storytelling!
1. Silver, Sword, And Stone: Three Crucibles in the Latin American Story (2019)
What It’s About
Marie Arana presents here three Latin American characters symbolizing three factors embedded in Latin America’s history: exploitation (silver), violence (sword), and religion (stone).
She intends to demonstrate how the three aspects altogether shaped modern Latin America, without giving away a strict vision of the region’s history. Instead, she attempts to dive deeper into these aspects to find answers to historical events.
Marie Arana shows us that every historical event has shades of gray instead of plain black and white.
She combines literary tools with those historical and journalistic, not only to tell a story but to analyze it from various perspectives.
While this is a work of fiction, it is highly based on Latin America’s history and what every country has in common. Because of that, I would recommend this book if you have already learned about the aspects that have influenced the major countries of the region for you to have a better understanding of the references Arana uses in her book.
What Others Are Saying
Readers gave it high ratings due to Marie Arana’s ability to address these aspects in such a unique way, making them see Latin America’s past from a whole new perspective.
They agreed that after reading this hectic narrative, they needed some time to let it sink in and to come down from the train in motion that was this novel.
The Washington Post and The New York Times agree that this book is incredibly well-researched and structured, making it a powerful portrayal of Latin America.
2. Bolívar: American Liberator (Bolívar: Libertador Americano) (2013)
What It’s About
Marie Arana steps up for the challenge of telling Simon Bolivar’s biography and turning it into one of her literary masterpieces.
As she delves into the events that led to Bolivar’s rising and his eventual victories to free his fellow countrymen and women. She includes a vision of Bolivar in his many aspects: general, strategist, and even writer.
The spark to write this compelling biography came from acknowledging her family’s history. She learned that her great great grandfather took part in the revolts back in 1824 as part of Bolívar’s army. She assures it fascinated her to think of Bolívar’s legacy in liberating six countries from Spanish invasion.
Simon Bolívar was a key character in a specific region in South America and helped these countries gain their independence. While readers agree this is the ultimate Bolívar biography, you will enjoy it much more if you have prior knowledge of this region and other relevant facts that led to Bolívars rising and conquests.
What Others Are Saying
This book allowed readers to become interested and acquainted with South American history, which they claimed they knew very little about. They admired Arana for giving Bolívar such high praise and relevance in Latin American history.
The New Yorker affirms that in this book Arana offers a clear-eyed assessment of the ideals, alliances, and human frailties that drove Bolívar’s choices and shaped the Americas.
Other critics call this biography a highly inspired narrative of the brilliance of this conspicuous leader.
This book earned Marie the Los AngelesTimes Book Prize for the best biography of 2013.
3. Lima Nights (2009)
What It’s About
We read about a man and a woman with nearly opposite heritage who meet at a bar in Lima.
By telling this heartbreaking tale of nearly inappropriate love, Marie Arana also addresses the unnecessary relevance people give to differences in race, faith, and social prestige.
Though the two lovers differ in age, it does not refrain them from jumping in head first into their affair. It’s two decades of uncertainty, love, confusion, and lack of commitment that lead this book into a tense ending that will shake your senses.
Noches Limeñas is the Spanish version of this book but you can only in Peruvian bookstores.
If you are a fan of stories with tons of plot twists and complex situations involving characters just as complicated, this book is certainly your best option!
What Others Are Saying
Readers admired the fast pace that made it nearly impossible to put the book down. They assure Marie Arana did a great job in telling this unfortunate story that made it hard to love either of the characters. That is a positive aspect since Arana attempted to portray the consequences of their actions and she achieved it.
They didn’t miss the contrast between them—in every sense, that made them such a destructive couple.
Marie Arana earned a Washington Post Best Book of the Year for this book. The Post admired Marie’s take on ethnic and class differences while enjoying her exciting and surprising story with amazing characters.
4. American Chica: Two Worlds, One Childhood (American chica: dos Mundos, una infancia) (2002)
What It’s About
In this book, we catch a glimpse of Marie’s experience growing up as a bilingual and bicultural kid. She reflects on the hardships of blending two cultures that differ so much from each other.
She recalls her parents’ marriage to address the fact that no matter how strong a bond between two people is, there will be unresolved issues whenever there are differences that they cannot overlook.
She also talks about how people find ways to build bridges between cultures and heritage, between social class and beliefs.
Nonetheless, she includes colorful memories of attending schools in both countries and making friends with diverse backgrounds.
I am sure lovers of heartwarming stories and personal, relatable experiences of others will find this book is the perfect match.
As it is a memoir, this is a great choice for you if you want to begin a Spanish reading journey! Although it includes the author’s personal storytelling it could be a great option to become familiar with more simplified narratives in this language.
What Others Are Saying
This memoir with elements of a novel surprised readers with Arana’s ability to blend the two genres into storytelling. They also enjoyed reading a story about two cultures crashing into one another and the inevitable result of a girl constantly looking for her identity.
This book definitely speaks to those who grew up around diversity and multiculturality.
Critics have praised this memoir for having a unique style as it blends family history, socio-political situations, and other aspects that shaped Arana’s life.
This superb work was also a finalist for the 2001 National Book Award and the PEN/Memoir Award.
5. Cellophane (2006)
What It’s About
In this satirical novel, Marie gives us bizarre characters with hard-to-believe stories about truthfulness, secrets, love, and drama.
Set up in Peru, she describes the life of an apparently perfect family whose lives suddenly fall apart as their secrets come out to the world.
It starts with Don Victor, a factory owner that makes cellophane. He attends a funeral for a boy, which unlocks a chain for tragedies and revelations in the region.
We grab a taste of Arana’s creativity, imagination, and originality in this fun, twisted, intense novel.
According to the readers, this book addresses complex themes and the storytelling is quite unique. Therefore, when choosing this book you should expect a high-level narrative and a tangled yet entertaining story.
What Others Are Saying
Readers found this adventure entertaining and well written, with amusing characters that they often describe as realistic.
About this finalist for the John Sargent Prize, critics have said how creative this story was and how the passionate characters developed in a profound narrative that they can only describe as magical and bewitching.
6. The Writing Life (2003)
What It’s About
Marie Arana participated as the editor of this book that features not only her story, but many others. Several writers expose their perspective and insight into what it means to be a writer. The perks, the hardships, the fear, the success, and the failure. They are stories meant to inspire.
If you are anything like me, you will surely find this book useful as you become a more confident writer and discover stories similar to yours.
As it involves personal stories, it’s a good book to discover various writing styles and ways to tell stories.
What Others Are Saying
Even though this is a collection with many writing styles discussing the authors’ lives, readers enjoyed the particular way Arana united the writers’ insight to give the readers an entertaining yet profound view on what it is to be a writer.
Publishers Weekly recommends this collection for those who want to enjoy the “literary life” vicariously.
Read and Find Inspiration
The more I learn about Latino authors, the more I find inspiration to learn about the history and different cultural backgrounds. If the same thing has happened to you, step up for the challenge and read a book in Spanish. As a native Spanish speaker, I’ve improved my English by reading in such a language in ways I never thought possible.
Become a fluent speaker by reading new things in Spanish and by signing up for a free class at our academy today! With our 1-on-1 classes with native Spanish speakers, your Spanish will be neat in no time!
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