#3 Latin American Short Fiction

Monday – 10:00 a.m.                                                         Winter Term 2009 (14 weeks)
Coordinator:  Lee Silver                                                   Co-coordinator:  Juanita Davis

Course Description
During the fourteen weeks of this S/DG we will read and discuss short stories and novellas by authors from many Latin American countries, mostly written during the 20th century.  Each week two short stories or one novella by an author deemed one of the most outstanding and influential writers of his or her country will be chosen.  The significant literary, social, psychological, and historical features of the writings will be emphasized and explored in detail, and we’ll also try not to lose their entertainment value.  Particular attention will be focused on uses of magical realism, and recurrent common themes in the fiction from the various countries represented.  It will be immediately apparent to all participants that the Latin American literary tradition is quite unique and wonderful, a stimulating departure from the familiar North American and Western European tradition we all studied in school and which defines our usual reading.  The captivating quality and power of the writing we encounter should provide a pleasurable and fascinating fourteen week trip south of the border. 

Because of the length of some of the chosen works and because participants will be expected to read each story at least twice, the time spent reading  per week may have to be more than the traditional two hours.  However, the time spent preparing for one’s presentation should be less than other SD/G’s since most of the time in the sessions will be spent discussing the works, rather than critical reviews.  Presenters will be primarily asked to prepare a set of questions for the discussions they will lead to be given to the group two weeks in advance.

Planned Readings (subject to change)
Week 1.          Borges, Jorge Luis.  The Garden of Forking Paths (1) and The Circular Ruins (3)
Week 2.          Marquez, Gabriel Garcia.  The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Erendira and                            Her Heartless Grandmother (2)
Week 3.          Amado, Jorge.  The Miracle of the Birds (3) and TBA
Week 4.          Llosa, Mario Vargas.  The Challenge (1) and The Chilean Girls
Week 5.          Fuentes, Carlos.  The Doll Queen (1,3) and Chac Mool
Week 6.          Allende, Isabel.  Toad’s Mouth (3) and The Little Heidelberg
Week 7.          Skarmeta, Antonio.  Burning Patience
Week 8.          Quiroga,  Horacio.  The Decapitated Chicken (1)and The Dead Man (3)
Week 9.          Valenzuela, Luisa.  Panther Eyes (4) and The Word Killer
Week 10.       Carpentier, Alejo.  Journey Back to the Source (1,4) and TBA
Week 11.       Cortazar, Julio.  The Night Face Up (1)and Axolotl (3)
Week 12.       Ribeyro, Julio Ramon.  The Featherless Buzzards (1)and The Wardrobe, the Old               Man and Death (4)
Week 13.       Onetti, Juan Carlos.  The Dog Will Have Its Day (3)and Hell Most Feared (4)
Week 14.       Diaz, Junot.  Ysrael and Alma

Bibliography
Most of the above works can be found in one of the anthologies listed below and the number is in parentheses after the listing.  Also, many of the works can be found online by Googling the title.  The Skarmeta work is listed separately.

1.         Echevarria, R.G., ed.  The Oxford Book of Latin American Short Stories. Oxford      University Press, 1997.
2.         Canfield, C., ed.  Masterworks of Latin American Short Fiction.  Harper Collins, 1996.
3.         Colchie, T., ed.  A Hammock Beneath the Mangoes.  Penguin Group, 1991.
4.         Fuentes, C. and Ortega, J., eds.  The Vintage Book of Latin American Stories.   Vintage    Books, 1998.
5.         Skarmeta, A.  Burning Patience.  Greywolf Press, 1994.

Pre-Meeting:  Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 10:00 a.m.

Note:  This S/DG will normally meet on Monday.  Only the pre-meeting day of the week has been changed.