Bill asked me to help out with his proposed theme for
January: Latino Noir and Hard-boiled Writing. I'm happy to do
what I can, but I am no expert on this topic (although I do
know something about Mexican-American literature, including
Chicano crime fiction, but not much of that is hard-boiled).
Since January is six weeks away, mas o menos, I thought I
would suggest a reading list of works available in English
and solicit suggestions from those of you who have any to
offer. All this assumes that Bill keeps this theme for
January; it's still listed as "tentative" in his periodic
announcement.
First, I'm using the term "Latino" in a very broad way:
Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, or
Cuban--as well as those whose origins are from Spain, the
Spanish-speaking countries of Central or South America, the
Dominican Republic or people who identify themselves
generally as Spanish, Spanish-American, Hispanic, Hispano,
Latino, and so on.
Here's the start of a reading list:
Paco Ignacio Taibo (Mexico/Spain): probably the best-known
Latino crime writer; produces the annual Semana Negra
conference/party in Gijon, Spain for the International Crime
Writers Association; has several books in translation, some
of which feature his one-eyed private eye, Hector Belascoaran
Shayne-- No Happy Ending; Return to the Same City; and others
like Shadow of a Shadow; Four Hands; Just Passing Through,
etc.
Daniel Chavarria (Uruguay): Adios Muchachos; set in Cuba,
highly amusing and entertaining tale about a Havana
prostitute and a kinky con man caught up in a scam that
involves sunken pirate treasure off the Cuban coast.
Luis Sepulveda (Chile): The Name of a Bullfighter; nazi gold
coins, a cold war spy reduced to working as a bouncer at a
German strip club, double-crosses, torture and Tierra del
Fuego.
Max Martinez (Chicano): White Leg; Layover. Redneck noir?
Gritty plots, sleazy characters and Texas.
Martin Limon (Chicano): Chicano military cop in Korea solves
crimes that usually embarrass the brass. Slicky Boys; Jade
Lady Burning; Buddha's Money.
Manuel Vazquez Montalban (Spain): Thrillers set in
post-Franco Spain featuring Pepe Carvalho, a "fast-living,
gourmet, private detective." Murder In The Central Committee;
Southern Seas; The Angst-Ridden Executive.
Jose Latour (Cuba): Outcast. Critically acclaimed, as they
say, Outcast is this fine writer's first English language
novel that takes place in Havana and the southern US.
Alex Abella (Cuban-American): The Killing of the Saints; Dead
of Night; Final Acts. Cuban-American lawyer, Charlie Morell,
takes on cult killings, corrupt politicians, and the
"tortured heart" of his native Cuba.
Abraham Rodriguez (Nuyorican): Spidertown; The Buddha Book.
South Bronx tales of teen-aged murder, drugs, sex--real
coming-of-age books.
Manuel Ramos www.manuelramos.com
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