Unlike many Latin American writers whose work has been published in the United States, Francisco Hinojosa does not rely on magical realism, exotic recipes or cultural nostalgia. Rather, his stories convey a mercilessly sardonic view of family and society, and his ingenious array of anti-heroes embodies a conspicuous disdain for convention.
Here, in eight masterly stories that are as cruel and pitiless as they are hilarious, he explores the complexities of love and human relationships. These fiercely funny picaresque adventures are peopled with characters who inspire feelings of both solidarity and derision, but let the reader beware: just when you find yourself laughing out loud, you might recognize your reflection in the funhouse mirror.
"Francisco Hinojosa's stories are like a Mozart overture executed by a crazed orchestra playing noisemakers instead of violins." Giullermo Sheridan
"Known as the Mexican Brother Grimm, Hinojosa is internationally recognized for his children's fairy tales (The Old Lady Who Ate People). This collection offers eight of his brief experimental fables for adults contending with the absurdities of 20th-century life. . . . this a spirited and amusing book. In a new version of the creation story, God, bored by a regime of 'loneliness and silence' he has impetuously imposed, grows desperate to hear anything: 'he'd even be content with a poetry reading.' In another tale, an artist confesses a tryst to his wife because he had 'always believed that women can tell when a man has slept with an actress.' The translation is generally solid, especially given the challenges of experimental fiction. One hopes that more of Hinojosa's grown-up fables will be made available in English."--Publishers Weekly
"A bright star in the Mexican literary firmament can now be enjoyed by U.S. readers in this first English translation of Hinojosa's work. The eight stories in this knockout collection reveal in no uncertain terms Hinojosa's mastery over a rewarding form, which he has tailored to fit his own personal expression. The short story thrives because of its flexibility, the elasticity of its definition; and this author manipulates the form with razor-sharp deftness and remarkable ingenuity. He writes sparingly but can hardly be called a minimalist, a label that tends to suggest a certain blandness of prose style. Instead, he luxuriates in language while stripping plot and characterization down to bare bones. His stories deal with the spirals of life--downward ones, in particular. Dark, sarcastic humor permeates them all ('the depression that was creeping up on him with dark feelers couldn't be halted either by a double session of psychoanalysis nor by his favorite television program'). 'An Example of Beauty' is structurally amazing. With no sense that this story is really a condensed novel in story clothing, Hinojosa satirizes the career climb of an artist who wants to create something beautiful and finds fame as a consequence. And 'This Time, the War Was Getting Serious' is a hilarious picture of families feuding in an apartment building, with shades of the Hatfields versus the McCoys and the Montagues versus the Capulets, with a hint of West Side Story thrown in."--Brad Hooper, Booklist,
Francisco Hinojosa was born in Mexico City in 1954, and is the author of three story collections, two volumes of poetry, and numerous childrens’ books. He is the recipient of Mexico’s National Prize for the Short Story, among other awards.

Hectic Ethics

Literature & Fiction

HINOJOSA, FRANCISCO

Humor & Satire

City Lights Publishers

MI HERMANA QUIERE SER UNA SIRENA

Santillana

Ana finds herself in a place where things have strange names, and people have customs that are very different from hers. Ana is criticized for being different. The authorities decide she must become like them. She must learn new customs and answer to a new name. Upset, Ana rebels.

Ana, ¿verdad? (Spanish Edition)

Children's Books

Loqueleo

Juan Domingo Águila hace siempre un regalo a los padres del primer niño que nace en el año; los regalos son extraordinarios, y cuando la suerte llega a Fortunato Feliz y su esposa Estrella, no imaginan que de ese regalo dependerán sus vidas. Lunes Feliz, el hijo de ambos, tendrá que hacer frente a la adversidad y enfrentarse a un enemigo cuya identidad desconoce pero que está estrechamente ligado a su pasado más remoto.

De domingo a lunes (A La Orilla Del Viento) (Spanish Edition)

Teen & Young Adult

FONDO DE CULTURA ECONOMICA*

En el norte de Turambul vivía la peor señora del mundo. A sus hijos los castigaba cuando se portaban bien y cuando se portaban mal. Todos se alejaban en cuanto la veían acercarse. Hasta que un día, sus hijos y los habitantes del pueblo decidieron hacer algo para poner fin a sus maldades. Uno de los libros más emblemáticos del catálogo para niños, ahora en una edición a color y empastada, que deleitará a todos los fanáticos de esta malvada mujer.

La peor señora del mundo (Spanish Edition)

Humor

An eight-year-old boy named Leobardo lives in the small town of Cerro Viejo with no other children his age, but when he takes a canoe down the river he discovers Tierra Dulce, a place full of children where he learns to play different games.

Un pueblo lleno de bestias / A Town Full of Beasts (Mar De Cuentos / Sea of Stories) (Spanish Edition)

Action & Adventure

Ediciones El Naranjo Sa De Cv

Lucas had no idea what the next few weeks would bring him, naturally destined for laziness after completing one more school year. Surely they would sign up for one of those summer camps that have activities around the clock. Or, maybe they would be surprised with a beach vacation. But no, the punishment for Lucas would be much more severe: no computer! No chat or Facebook or anything to converse with his classmates during break. He’ll have to come up with something to avoid isolation, but what? ¡Ahora sí! Lucas no tenía ni idea qué le deparaban las próximas semanas, destinadas de forma natural a holgazanea después de concluir un año escolar más. Seguro lo inscribirían a uno de esos cursos de verano donde tienes actividades contra reloj. Quizá sólo sorprenderían las vacaciones a la playa. Pero no, el castigo para Lucas sería muchísimo más severo: ¡nada de computadora! ni de chat ni de facebook ni nada de nada hasta mejorar su promedio escolar. Algo tendría que pensar Lucas para evitar el aislamiento y la incomunicación durante estas semanas, pero ¿qué?

El castigo de Lucas (Spanish Edition)

Activities, Crafts & Games

Nostra Ediciones

Featuring well-known authors and illustrators from Latin America, Spain, and the US, each one of these 10 titles focuses on one of the children's rights promoted by UNICEF. Ana finds herself in a place where things have stange names and people have customs which are very different from her own. Ana is criticized for being different. The authorities decide she must become like them. She must learn new customs and answer to a new name. Upset, Ana rebels.

Ana, Verdad/ana, Right (Derechos Del Nino) (Spanish Edition)

GEDOVIUS, JUAN

Francisco, Hinojosa

Education & Reference

Alfaguara, S.A. Grupo Santillana

3. Right to a Name and a Nationality. Ana finds herself in a place where things have strange names, and people have customs that are very different from hers. Ana is criticized for being different. The authorities decide she must become like them. She must learn new customs and answer to a new name. Upset, Ana rebels.

Ana, Verdad?/ Right, Ana? (Spanish Edition)

Alfaguara Infantil

Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 23x16 cm. 68 p. Encuadernación en cartoné de editorial. Colección 'PALABRAS DEL VIENTO'. Ilustrado por San Vicente Oliveros, Luis .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y señales de su anterior propietario. ISBN: 978-84-944378-9-2

HADAS

HERREROS, ANA CRISTINA

Cruz Ruíz, Juan

ARTEAGA SERRANO, ROSALÍA

RODRÍGUEZ ABAD, ERNESTO

LOME SERRANO, EMILIO

MARTÍN HORMIGA, ANTONIO FÉLIZ

SUÁREZ SUÁREZ, MARIA DOLORES

Hammú, Mohamed

DOCAMPO, Xabier P.

DIEGO PUN EDICIONES

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