Caribbean Books

Alfonsina Storni had more guts than many men, although she was profoundly feminine, and, as she put it, she loved THE men. She used to say that she'd liked to have been a man "because you -the man- have the best part, that of the death and the hate". And she died as she liked to do, because she throw herself in the Atlantic Ocean, escaping thus of a cancer of her right breast, on October of 1938.

"Selected Poems," by Alfonsina Storni, brings together a wide selection of poems by an important Argentine poet. This volume has been edited by Marion Freeman, who also wrote the brief but informative biographical introduction. Unfortunately, this is not a bilingual edition; all of the poems are presented in English translation. The translations are by Freeman, Mary Crow, Jim Normington, and Kay Short.

Storni's poetry covers a number of topics. Some recurrent subjects include nature, women's issues, family, sorrow, and the urban environment. The specter of violence haunts many of her poems. At times, her sparse but elegant language, combined with a dark tone, reminds me of the work of United States poet Stephen Crane. At other times, the combination of sensuous, startling imagery and emotional nakedness reminds me of the work of Puerto Rican poet Julia de Burgos.

Editor Freeman has selected poems from eight of Storni's published volumes, as well as a selection of uncollected poems. One of her most striking poems is "Litany for a Dead Earth," an apocalyptic vision of a devastated world. Also excellent is "Fog," which uses fascinating imagery to describe a cityscape. Striking imagery is also used in her "Portrait of Garcia Lorca": "The Andalusian hills / of his cheekbones / and the trembling valley / of his mouth / are smothered in climbing vines."

In the first poem in this volume, Storni writes, "I am like the she-wolf. / I broke with the pack." Perhaps this describes her own approach to poetry. At any rate, hers was a remarkable voice, and this is a fine collection of her work. Those interested in Latin American literature or 20th century poetry should seek out this book.

Dr. Popovic has gathered many fine essays about Monterrey writer Alfonso Reyes. Borges described Reyes as the finest prose writer in Spanish. Popovic's book fills a much needed gap in this area.

Many, many striking visual images of the painter's work and thorough and fascinating text. Highly recommended.

Alisados: Vivencias de una Mujer Dominicana

As a brown skinned Hispanic I could relate to the author. I find her anecdotes similar to mines and it shows the intricate details of ones culture. I encourage others to get this book and pass it along as a form of knot to tie each others past and cultures together--to share friendship.

This is a fine book on the history of the FAT -- Mexico's oldest independent union federation. The book is well researched with interesting insights into how a truly movement-oriented unionism functions on the ground, definitely worth reading.

This is a hilarious story, smart, well written and very Jamaican. I laughed until I cried. The author captures the fine line between comedy and tragedy in a riveting story. The dialogue is real, there's a riveting plot and you can't help but cheer for Alonso. He's a loveable underdog.

Agosin creates yet another beautiful piece of literature in "Always from Somewhere Else." Her emotional and thought-provoking style provides the reader with an incredible inside view of Jewish life in Chile. A duet of pain and beauty, Agosin's memoir of her father's life is vivid and alive. This story, one of lost and newfound identity has the strong possibility of being close to us all. This book is a definite candidate for everyone's personal library of favorites.

If you like adventure,suspense and heart warming stories this book is just right for you.It is a classic written by L. Frank Baulm. If you haven't heard of the Wizard of oz I am sure your first encounters you will think you are in the book and you wont stop reading it until you are finished.

Ancestors is a "must' read for scholars and critics of Caribbean literature and poetry. Brathwaite (re)invents an invention - a technique that must be recognized as his signature. He is clearly "the" unique voice in the Anglophone Caribbean Literary Canon. My book, The Critical Response to Kamau Brathwaite, which will be published by Greenwood Press in 2003, will further demonstrate his artistry from the 1960s to the present.