It shouldn’t come as a surprise that in a list of the best Latino books of the year, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” by Junot Daz, got the most votes.
But Viva’s second annual favorites-of-the-year survey also proves that there is much more out there to discover in the Latino literary scene in and outside the U.S., in English and Spanish.
To help you browse through an endless array of novelties, we asked 12 leading authors to name their favorite book of the year, and to let us peek into what they have in store for 2008.
EDUARDO LAGO (Spain-New York City)His 2006 debut novel “Llmame Brooklyn” won Spain’s Nadal and National Critics’ prizes, and was voted best Latino book in last year’s Viva list.PICKS: “The Art of Political Murder,” Francisco Goldman: “A very rigorous investigative work about political corruption in Guatemala, which also serves as a metaphor for all Latin America.”"The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” Junot Daz: “A miracle in the current culture of junk entertainment.”
JUNOT DAZ (New York City-Dominican Republic)Author of the literary event of the year “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” which is raking in the awards, including best novel by New York and Time magazines and Viva. “Hopefully next year I’ll actually start writing something else. Something longer than five pages.”PICKS: “A Chance in Hell,” Gilbert Hernndez: “A terrifying graphic novel. Couldn’t put it down, so disturbing and merciless.”"El Olor de la Memoria,” Rhina Espaillat: “Tender, cunning, ravishingly beautiful.”
FRANCISCO GOLDMAN (New York City-Guatemala)Twice a PEN/Faulkner award finalist for his novels, this year he published the non-fiction “The Art of Political Murder: Who killed the Bishop?” about the murder of the Guatemalan Bishop Gerardi in 1998.PICKS: “Oscar Wao”: “Tremendous and trailblazing.”"Lost City Radio,” Daniel Alarcn: “Lucid, terrifying, poetic and brilliant.”
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