Ana María Shua

The Book of Memories, originally published in Spanish in 1994, is a humorous yet moving exploration of a Jewish family's history, as seen through the eyes of three generations of women. The story begins with Grandfather Gedalia leaving Poland with forged papers to escape the army and sailing to Argentina, the "other America." Sometimes charming, sometimes stingy, this patriarchal figure, a peddler and sometime moneylender, heads a clan that includes, among others, the feisty and foul-mouthed Aunt Judith, and Uncle Silvester, a seducer of young girls who has such high principles that he turns himself in after missing the Argentine police raid on his socialist printing press. From the assorted perspectives of these and other characters, this tale of Jewish immigrants explores life in Argentina, the role of women, and the power and the limits of machismo and nationalism.

"Appropriately colloquial, idiomatic translation of prolific Argentine writer's novel Soy paciente. A humerous satire on the state's health care system, novel may remind readers of Ken Kesey's One flew over the cuckoo's nest. No accompanying materials, which is unfortunate since Shua's work is not yet well known in English"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.

"Ocho relatos. Destinada a un público juvenil, esta colección de mitos, leyendas y cuentos abarca algunos relatos originales de la autora y otros adaptados de fuentes diversas. Organizada con interés didáctico a cada relato sigue un 'entrecuento' que explica su genealogía; se añade una introducción general esclarecedora de las tradiciones tratadas"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.

A small boy experiences some unexpected things at the circus.