Popular North American Cultural Books
Find cultural books written by authors from North America for the next part of the Read Around The World Challenge. (48)
41.
The Squatter and the Don by María Amparo Ruiz de Burton EN
Country: North America / 
Mexico
Mexico
Description:
The Squatter and the Don, originally published in San Francisco in 1885, is the first fictional narrative written and published in English from the perspective of the conquered Mexican population that, despite being granted the full rights of citizenship under the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848, was, by 1860, a subordinated and marginalized national minority.
42.
The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill EN
Country: North America / 
United States of America
United States of America
Description:
"A heartbreakingly resonant debut, The Turtle House is a tender, big-hearted story about women, family, and the complicated history of Texas. These characters, and their tentative, flawed stumblings toward grace, will stay with me."--Elizabeth Wetmore, author of Valentine "Sweeping yet intimate, Amanda Churchill's Turtle House spans cultures and continents. Minnie and her granddaughter Lia are unforgettable protagonists, whose grit and grace will inspire you. Together, they find a way through in this gripping debut."--Vanessa Hua, author of Forbidden City Moving between late 1990s small-town T... continue
43.
The Vulnerable Observer : Anthropology That Breaks Your Heart by Ruth Behar EN
Country: North America / 
Cuba
Cuba
Description:
The 25th-anniversary edition of the groundbreaking book that changed anthropology, asserting that ethnographers needn’t exclude themselves or their vulnerabilities from their work In a new epilogue to this classic work, renowned ethnographer and storyteller Ruth Behar reflects on the groundbreaking impact The Vulnerable Observer has had on anthropology, sociology, and psychology and on scholarly writing. A pocket companion for writers, journalists, documentarians, and activists alike, this book speaks to the power of including oneself in the story, bringing deeper meaning to the relationship b... continue
44.
Tropic Death by Eric Walrond EN
Country: North America / 
Barbados
Barbados
Description:
Finally available after three decades, a lost classic of the Harlem Renaissance that Langston Hughes acclaimed for its “hard poetic beauty.” Eric Walrond (1898–1966), in his only book, injected a profound Caribbean sensibility into black literature. His work was closest to that of Jean Toomer and Zora Neale Hurston with its striking use of dialect and its insights into the daily lives of the people around him. Growing up in British Guiana, Barbados, and Panama, Walrond first published Tropic Death to great acclaim in 1926. This book of stories viscerally charts the days of men working stone qu... continue
45.
Jamaica46.
Where the Air is Clear by Carlos Fuentes EN
Country: North America / Mexico
Mexico
Description:
"Where the Air Is Clear," Carlos Fuentes's first novel, is an unsparing portrayal of Mexico City's upper class. Departing from a traditional linear narrative, Fuentes overlays Mexican myths onto contemporary settings, showing that even the rich and powerful must succumb to the indomitable spirit of Mexico, which undermines all institutions and shapes all destinies. First published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1988, Dalkey Archive Press in 2004, now available again.
47.
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo EN
Country: North America / United States of America
United States of America
Description:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the National Book Award longlist title The Poet X comes a dazzling novel in prose about a girl with talent, pride, and a drive to feed the soul that keeps her fire burning bright. Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago’s life has been about making the tough decisions—doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela. The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Even though she dreams of working as a c... continue
48.
Woman Take Two by Telcine Turner EN
Country: North America / 
Bahamas
Bahamas
Description:
A three-act play that deals with love and greed. Set in The Bahamas, it tells the tale of a few people forging alliances for themselves - for love and/or money. Suspenseful and intriguing, it provides a glimpse into the darker side of the human character.