LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS NATIONAL LATINO BOOK CLUB RELEASES 9TH ANNUAL SUMMER READING LIST

 

** Connecting Readers All Over The World

Through Latino Literature **

 

9^th ANNUAL

SUMMER READING LIST

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --  JUNE 21, 2023 

CONTACT:  Teresa M. Tobin, Project Manager 

tmtobin.lcbookclub@gmail.com

 

 

New York, NY—Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club is pleased to announce the release of its ninth annual Summer Reading List on this the first day of the summer.

 The Las Comadres & Friends Book Club is celebrating its Sweet Sixteen, and they have selected 16 books in commemoration.  The Summer Reading List includes a new Pulitzer Prize Winner; a celebrity memoir; a self-help book from the Boogie Down Bronx and a career guide for Latino Leadership; two wonderful children’s books; a poetry collection; two short stories collections; mysteries and thrillers; and a classic novel with a “masterful translation.”

 “Did you know,” asks Las Comadres National / International Founder Dr. Nora de Hoyos Comstock, “reading helps put your consciousness on another plane? It helps you move into a fictional world, easing tension and helping you relax. Our readers will have a hard time selecting which book to read first because all 16 books are delicious and enticing.”

 We encourage readers of all ages to purchase our Summer Reading List selections and add them to their TBR piles, give copies to family and friends, donate copies to neighborhood libraries, and enjoy Reading Latino Lit.

 Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club

2023 Summer Reading List

 

1.     ALBORADA (DAWN): A Cross-Cultural Memoir in Poetry by Nylda Dieppa (Orange Blossom Publishing) - poetry

2.    CALL ME CASSANDRA by Marcial Gala (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) – 

       LGBTQ+ fiction

3.    *CHITA: A MEMOIR by Chita Rivera (HarperOne) - biography

4.    DULCINEA by Ana Veciana-Suarez (Blackstone Publishing) – 

       historical fiction

5.    *FRIZZY by Claribel A. Ortega (First Second) – children’s fiction

6.    GOOD NIGHT, IRENE by Luis Alberto Urrea (Little, Brown & Co.) – 

        historical fiction

7.     HOLLOW BEASTS by Alisa Lynn Valdés (Thomas & Mercer) - thriller

8.     LOTERÍA by Cynthia Pelayo (Agora Books) – short stories

9.     THE LUIS ORTEGA SURVIVAL CLUB by Sonora Reyes (Balzer & Bray) – 

        young adult fiction

10.   MR. PRESIDENT by Miguel Ángel Asturias, translated by David Unger 

        (Penguin Classics) - fiction

11.   NINE STRAY SHOTS by Jesús Miguel Soto (Disaster Books) – 

        short stories

12.   OUR OTHERNESS IS OUR STRENGTH: Wisdom from the Boogie Down 

        Bronx by Andrea Navedo (Broadleaf Books) – motivational self-help

13.   PLÁTANOS ARE LOVE by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris (Atheneum Books 

        for Young Readers) – bilingual, children’s fiction

14.   THE POWER OF LATINO LEADERSHIP: Culture, Inclusion, and 

        Contribution by Juana Bordas (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2^nd edition) – 

        career guide

15.   RED QUEEN by Juan Gómez-Jurado (Minotaur Books) – mystery

16.   *TRUST by Hernan Diaz (Riverhead Books) – fiction, 

          2023 Pulitzer Prize Winner

*Book also available in Spanish.

   

Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club started in 2007 and is currently in 15 cities, with more cities to follow.  All books are in English, written by Latino authors. Membership is free and open to all readers.  Each month, Las Comadres & Friends Book Club features a Book of the Month selection and one or two additional “Conversations with” books.  At the end of the month, there is a LIVE zoom teleconference with the author(s), plus a simultaneous TwitterChat on @ReadLatinoLit. Registration is free and open to all readers.  The interviews are recorded and uploaded to the Las Comadres YouTube Channel (@LasComadresParaLasAmericas).

 For more information on Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club, to register for the monthly teleconference, and to submit your book for consideration, visit www.latinolit.com.

 For more information on the 2023 Summer Reading List, email Teresa M. Tobin, Project Manager, at tmtobin.lcbookclub@gmail.com. 

 

Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club

www.latinolit.com

Twitter: @ReadLatinoLit

YouTube: @LasComadresParaLasAmericas

Hashtags:  #ReadLatinoLit, #LasComadres, #LCBC

  

Leadership Team

Maria C. Ferrer, Executive Director

Teresa M. Tobin, Project Manager

Dora M. Abreu, Social Media Coordinator

Karen D. Gonzales, Assistant Coordinator

 and

Dr. Nora de Hoyos Comstock, National / International Founder

#####

 

HAPPY READING 

#READLATINOLIT

WED, JUNE 14 --- LAS COMADRES PRESENTS MIND, BODY & SPIRIT WITH HOSTESS JEANNIE DIAZ -- YOGA PRESENTATION & CLASS

  LAS COMADRES PARA LAS AMERICAS PRESENTS

MIND, BODY & SPIRIT

Wednesday, June 14

8pm ET, zoom

 

Hostess: Jeannie Diaz

 

   

                

Our hostess Jeannie Diaz will lead a discussion with Comadres Sabina, Lissette and Lucinda -- ages 25-75--, who will share their experiences and how yoga has strengthened their mind, body, and spirit. Jeannie will end the presentation with a 20-minute session of Chair Yoga.  All welcomed. All you need is a sturdy chair (no wheels) and a bottle of water. 

 

DATE:   Wednesday, June 14, 2023

 

TIME:  Check your time zone: 5pm PT / 6pm MT/ 7pm CT/ 8pm ET & PR

 

WHO:  Hostess Jeannie Diaz of Jeannie Diaz Yoga

ZOOM LINK:   will be emailed to all Comadres and registrants

 

 

 
ABOUT OUR HOSTESS:  JEANNIE DIAZ

Jeannie is a 200-hour Yoga & Meditation teacher based in New York City. Her classes focus on breathwork, mindfulness, body positivity and are accessible to all.  Jeannie teaches classes in both English and Spanish. Contact her at jnamaste18@gmail.com or visit her website at  https://jeanniediaz.offeringtree.com/ and Instagram @Jnamaste.

See you on Wednesday!

 

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS -- MAY 2023

 

 

Work hard in silence.  Let Your Success be your noise.

 

Congratulations to all Comadres!    We have some anniversaries, retirements, awards, new positions, new books, appearances, exhibitions, etc. 

 Andrea Arroyo (NY) – She is thrilled to share that "Goddesses at the Palace," a large-scale, site-specific art installation will be on view at the Historic United Palace in Manhattan, the project is presented as part of her Creatives Rebuild New York AEP Fellowship. Unveiling June 29, on view through July 10, 2023. Free and open to the public. More info: https://bit.ly/GoddessesAtThePalaceEB

 

Idamarie Collazo (IN) – After an intensive year, she finally graduated from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis with her Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health and Addictions! She is proud to be among the 8% of Latinas who earn a master’s degree. More recently, she accepted a full-time position as an outpatient therapist. As a Latina (Mexican & Puerto Rican) single mom, the road has been met with a great deal of challenges and blessings. “I am my ancestors wildest dreams!”

 

Lynette Correa-Velez (IL) – Lynette and her husband celebrated 10 years together and 8 years married this past 5/15/2023.

 

Nylda Dieppa (FL) – Nylda’s second, enhanced edition of her award-winning book "Alborada: A Poetic Memoir Across Cultures" was published on May 3, 2023. With the new title "Alborada (Dawn): A Cross-Cultural Memoir in Poetry, it includes fourteen new poems to inspire the joys of spiritual and emotional healing. It has been received with wonderful reviews and is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and through Ingram Sparks. More info is available at www.nyldadieppa.com.

 

Sonia Diaz (CA) – Sonia is happy to report that on May 15, 2023, she began consulting work!

 

Brianna Dimas (TX) – Brianna was recently accepted into the competitive New Bridge Program fellowship which takes 10 cohort members each year to Berlin and Brussels. This program is focused on economic development and transatlantic relations.

 

Anika Fajardo (MN) – Anika be in conversation with Erika Sanchez with Hennepin County Library's Talk of the Stacks author program July 12 at 6:30p (Central). The event is virtual, free: https://www.supporthclib.org/erika-sanchez

 

Vanessa Chica Ferreira (NY) – Vanessa co-wrote a poetic play titled “Live Big Girl: A Chair That Fits” where Fat is deconstructed and reimagined. It speaks on how larger bodies navigate the world. We are currently in the preparation process and will soon to debut at Lehman College in The Bronx on October 14 and 15 of 2023. Support! Info to come at https://livebiggirl.wixsite.com/livebiggirl

 

Grace Flores-Hughes (VA) – Her latest book, The Opaque Conspiracy, launched on May 30th. Copies of the book are available through Amazon.com.

 

Dra. Lizabeth Garza-Garcia (TX) – Liz is the new Director of Secondary Emergent Bilinguals for Fort Worth ISD.

 

Karen Gonzales (CO) – Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Authors was honored to host a Meet & Greet with Author Reyna Grande on May 27th at the Denver Woman's Press Club. Author Juana Bordas member of both offered the space. Reyna was keynote speaker at Writing Heights Writers Conference in Fort Collins, CO and accepted the invitation to meet with our Denver community too. Reyna was interviewed about her book A Ballad of Love and Glory by Paul Lane, host of KUHS Weekend Boost internet streaming radio show. View pic at: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=719854753477255&set=pcb.719854896810574

 

Liz González (CA) – Liz’ creative nonfiction and poetry were featured in Hispanic Theological Initiative's Open Plaza.  See it here: https://www.htiopenplaza.org/content/ode-to-olg-san-bernardino

 

Patty Gonzales (TX) – Patty is celebrating her retirement as a Bilingual Teacher on May 26. After 25 years that went by fast, she’s excited about her new journey.

 

Paulina Rael Jaramillo (CA) – Her book, Life Resumed, won the finalist award in the Reader's Favorite Book Award international contest.

 

Elvira Ledezma (IL) – Elvira graduated from DePaul University with a Master’s in ECE and a bilingual endorsement!

 

Laura Lopez Cano (TX) – Laura was honored and grateful for being named a Woman of Distinction by TAMACC (Texas Association of Mexican American Chamber of Commerce).  Presentation will occur on June 16 in Austin.

 

Raquel “Rachel” Moran Nevarez (TX) – Rachel was named STCC Chairman of Paralegal Advisory Board 2023.

 

Claudia Nascimento (FL) – Claudia has obtained Life & Annuities license and is officially a Licensed Financial Consultant!

 

Venus V. Pineyro de Hoyos (TX) – Venus was also named a Woman of Distinction by TAMACC (Texas Association of Mexican American Chamber of Commerce).  Presentation will occur on June 16 in Austin.

 

Elsa Prado (IL) – On May 22, 2023, she received a Community Service Award at Horizon Science Academy. It was presented at the First Responder’s & Community Members Breakfast.

 

LeAnne Salazar Montoya, PhD (NM) –  LeAnne was the 2023 Keynote speaker for the 30th anniversary Hispanic Educators Association of Nevada (HEAN) Class of ‘23 Baccalaureate for the cities more than 2k Hispanic/Latino graduates in Clark County (5th Largest school district in the nation).  Check out the program here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_I3keRVUavvde5vM2Up23wl-PCTVmY4J/view

 

Barbara Salcido (VA) – Retired January 2023 after 30 years and 10 months of Federal service.

 

Esmeralda Santiago (NY) – In May, Esmeralda finished recording the English version audiobook for her next novel, LAS MADRES. She’s filled with admiration for audio artists who do this professionally. It's harder work than it seems, and it's satisfying, at the end of hours of talking into a mic, to utter the last sentence and leave the dark sound booth into the light. Later this month, she’ll be narrating the Spanish version so that both languages of the novel will be available, author-read, when the book launches, August 8.  (NOTE:  Esmeralda’s book, LAS MADRES, will be an October Book of the Month for Las Comadres & Friends Book Club.)

 

Aileen Roberta Schlef (DC) – Her water colors were featured in the June 9-10 waterfront Art Show: Art of the Ages in Washington DC.

 

Marisa Schor (GA) – Got a new job as a Clinical Dietitian in Wellstar - Kennestone hospital. Started May 8, 2023!

 

Vicky H. Sepulveda (TX) – Vicky has completed her Google Digital Marketing and E-commerce Certificate; six-years Grow with Google Digital Coach.

 

Ada Vilageliu Diaz (DC) – Ada is happy to share that she just became president of College English Association Middle-Atlantic Group (CEAMAG).

 

Becky Villareal (TX) – Becky is happy to report that her books, Gianna the Great, Hallito Gianna, and Gianna the Treasure Hunter are being relaunched by Anaiah Press.

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

 
NOTE:  these listings are for congratulatory purposes only. We are not endorsing any products, services, or candidates for public office.  

 

To read last month's Comadres Accomplishments, visit us here: https://comadresconnect.blogspot.com/2023/05/las-comadres-celebrates-its-members.html

  

Congratulations to our Comadres!