Photo credit: bookriot.com
The following comes to you from the Editorial Desk.
This week, we spotlight a piece that has lingered in the thoughts of our Managing Editor, Vanessa Diaz. Even five years after its initial release, Vanessa continues to have strong feelings about American Dirt. Below is a brief overview, with a full analysis available for our All Access members.
Imagine the scene: The United States in January 2020. A book adorned with a striking blue and white cover is capturing the attention of the literary community online. The cover features a vibrant hummingbird design, notable for its cultural significance as a symbol of the sun god Huitzilopochtli in Aztec tradition. In contrast, delicate yet foreboding barbed wire slices through the artwork, creating a grid reminiscent of Talavera tiles. This visually appealing package seems to echo themes of Mexican heritage, borders, and the migrant experience.
The narrative follows a bookseller from Acapulco, Mexico, who finds herself forced to flee her homeland following a harrowing tragedy that leaves her family shattered due to a drug cartel’s violence. With her young son in tow, they undertake a perilous journey northward to the United States, dodging dangers and forging connections with fellow migrants throughout their ordeal. The book is not merely celebrated as a seasonal favorite but heralded as a definitive immigration narrative. Garnering the prestigious Oprah endorsement, it has received accolades from notable figures like Salma Hayek and literary luminary Sandra Cisneros, who referred to it as “the great novel of Las Américas.”
Even as time passes, the impact of this book has left a lasting impression, eliciting a mix of admiration and critique.
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Source
bookriot.com