eNewMexican

Exploring New Mexico Literature

1937-2020 Rudolfo Anaya in His Own Words

By: Patricia Marina Trujillo

“The artistic impulse is an energy most intricately bound to the soul of the people. Art and literature reflect the cultural group, and in reflecting the group they deal not only with the surface reality but with that substratum of thought that is group memory. The entire spectrum of history, language, soul, voice and the symbols of the collective memory affect the writer. A writer becomes a prism to reflect those elements that are at the roots of the value system. We write to analyze the past, explore the present, and anticipate the future, and in so doing we utilize the collective memory of the group. We seek new visions and symbols to chart the future, and yet we are bound to mythologies and symbols of our past.”

From the essay, “An American Chicano in King Arthur’s Court,” (1984)

Visit anaya.unm.edu for a comprehensive online resource for information about Rudolfo Anaya and his work.

We’ve been asked to stay close to home this season, and as the days grow shorter, what will New Mexicans find to do? Don’t despair! Lucky for us there is a surfeit of amazing books all about the beautiful land of enchantment for us to snuggle up with on these cold nights. The selection provided here is a curated grouping based on the Fall 2020 “New Mexico Literature” course I taught at Northern New Mexico College that highlights contemporary authors. The novels on the list each offer a unique perspective on many of the historical narratives we are familiar with – Spanish colonization, Indigenous slavery, introduction of tourism, and land-based traditions – and complicates what we know.

In this moment where our region continues to grapple with the legacies of many of these narratives, paralleled with the fatigue of the pandemic response, it is of particular healing importance to embrace these books. Throw some leña in the fógon, pour yourself some coffee or a nice glass of wine, and curl up with one of these book recommendations. Settle in and strengthen your relationship to New Mexico.

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https://enewmexican.com/article/281827171317716

Santa Fe New Mexican