Celebrating Extraordinary Voices in Mexican Literature: Join Our Spanish Book Club
- chtopete
- May 26
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 4
For many of us, learning Spanish is a journey that goes beyond vocabulary and grammar. It becomes a way to connect with diverse cultures and understand voices that enrich our worldview.
This summer at Instituto Cultural Oaxaca, our Spanish Book Club (Club de Lectura en Español) invites you to celebrate the remarkable voices of three extraordinary Mexican women authors. Through their stories, we dive into experiences of justice, resilience, and womanhood in Mexico.
Rosario Castellanos: 100 Years of a Literary Pioneer
Rosario Castellanos (1925 - 1974) stands out as one of the most significant literary figures of 20th-century Mexico. As a poet, novelist, and diplomat, she boldly examined themes of gender, identity, and power during a time when few dared to do so.
In 2025, Mexico will commemorate the 100th anniversary of her birth. At Instituto Cultural Oaxaca, we are honoring her legacy with two Tertulias Literarias. These small-group discussion courses focus on her short stories and essays, inviting participants to read, reflect, and converse in Spanish.
Cien años de Rosario Castellanos I
Readings:
Kinsey Report
Lección de cocina
Modesta Gómez
Cien años de Rosario Castellanos II
Readings:
Telenovela
Las amistades efímeras
La muerte del tigre
These tertulias offer more than just literary appreciation. They provide a chance to deeply connect with Castellanos' voice and with others who share a passion for Spanish literature.
Cristina Rivera Garza: A Pulitzer-Winning Voice of Memory and Justice
Cristina Rivera Garza's El invencible verano de Liliana is among the most powerful memoirs released in recent years. In 2024, it gained recognition as the first Spanish-language book to win the Pulitzer Prize for Memoir or Autobiography— a historic moment for Mexican literature.
This memoir serves as a tribute to her sister, Liliana Rivera Garza, murdered in 1990, a victim of feminicide. Through lyrical and poignant language, Rivera Garza reconstructs Liliana's life and exposes harsh realities of violence against women in Mexico.
Reading this memoir in Spanish offers an intimate layer of understanding. In our Spanish Book Club, we will collectively explore the text, enhancing our linguistic fluency and emotional connection.
Dahlia de la Cerda: Fierce, Funny, and Unflinching
Dahlia de la Cerda represents a bold new generation of feminist Mexican literature. Her 2019 short story collection, Perras de reserva, won the Premio Nacional de Cuento Joven Comala and is a contender for the 2025 International Booker Prize.
These thirteen stories are raw, darkly humorous, and unapologetically honest. They illuminate the experiences of being a woman in a society shaped by violence, classism, and systemic injustice. For advanced Spanish learners, these texts provide rich language and complex themes for in-depth discussions.
In our Club de Lectura en Español course, we will read and discuss selected stories, pushing our Spanish language skills and broadening our understanding of contemporary Mexico.
Why Join Our Club de Lectura en Español?
Our Spanish Book Club courses are specially designed for upper-intermediate and advanced Spanish learners (B2-C2). If you have studied Spanish for years, this is your chance to grow personally and culturally. Each course meets live online via Zoom in small, supportive groups where you will read, think, and speak in Spanish, all guided by one of our experienced teachers based in Oaxaca.
It is not just about perfection; it is about connection.
How to Register?
Whether you have participated in our Spanish Book Club before or are about to join us for the first time, our featured literary courses are here for you.
Visit our website at ICO Online at www.icomexico.mx.
Tertulias Literarias: 100 años de Rosario Castellanos
Spanish Book Club: El invencible verano de Liliana and Perras de reserva.
Language is a lifelong journey, and literature is one of its richest paths. These women writers open doors into Mexico's history, struggles, and hopes. We invite you to walk through those doors with us.
Let's continue learning, reading, and connecting—en español!
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