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Here is the place to discuss retellings, traditional tales, or books inspired by the mythology, folklore, or fairy tales of Central and South America

I remember from the time we had South America as a group read theme how hard it was to find fitting books from this area!
You can't go wrong with the Latin American Magical Realist authors. Persinally I don't like Gabriel García Márquez like I used to, but Isabel Allende is still an all time favourite of mine. Not all her books have magical realism or paranormal elements in them. Many are straight historical fiction. In any case I am going to read her latest book Violeta

I've recently read The Actual Star set in Belize over three timelines ranging across two millennia, and based on Mayan mythology.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have also ordered The Invention of Morel by the Argentinian author Adolfo Bioy Casares

Other Argentinian authors who's works could be considered surealist, magical realist or fantasy are Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar

I wish I knew about more newer authors! I'm sure there are many!

Amanda wrote: "I've recently read The Actual Star set in Belize over three timelines ranging across two millennia, and based on Mayan mythology.

I thoroughly enjoyed it."
That looks very good! I see you gave it 5 stars.

The Decapitated Chicken and Other Stories at the very least skirts magical realism/the paranormal I believe, and I've only heard good things.

Jalilah wrote: "I have also ordered The Invention of Morel by the Argentinian author Adolfo Bioy Casares

Other Argentinian authors who's works could be considered surealist, magical ..."

I liked The Invention of Morel but it's a sci-fi novel without fantasy or magical realism elements from what I remember. The book surprised me positively back then because I hadn't had much luck with Central And Southern American authors beside Carlos Fuentes

Jalilah wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I've recently read The Actual Star set in Belize over three timelines ranging across two millennia, and based on Mayan mythology.

I thoroughly enjoyed it."

That looks very good! I see you gave it 5 stars"

I did. I thought it had a tremendous amount of energy. However, some readers picked up on various triggers. So, you may need to approach with caution.

Signs Preceding the End of the World is by a Mexican author, about Mexico, and is based on the Orpheus myth (Ancient Greek) - so it might fit into this category as well as Western Europe.

It won the Winner of the 2016 Best Translated Book Award for Fiction.

Perfect if you are after something other than high fantasy.

Amanda wrote: "Signs Preceding the End of the World is by a Mexican author, about Mexico, and is based on the Orpheus myth (Ancient Greek) - so it might fit into this category as well as Western E..."

Because even though Mexico is part of North America, culturally it has more in common with South America, including it would give us more choices. We could change South America to Latin America. I think Margaret originally suggested it that way.

Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands by the Brazilian author Jorge Amado is excellent! It involves Macumba, the Afro-Brazilian equivalent to Voodoo and also has ghosts.
Another Brazilian author is Paulo Coelho although as far as I know none of his books take place in Brazil. My favourite is The Alchemist

Jalilah wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Signs Preceding the End of the World is by a Mexican author, about Mexico, and is based on the Orpheus myth (Ancient Greek) - so it might fit into this category as we..."

Ah, yes, my mistake. Perhaps just leave as is, but allow people to interpret either way? (or does that confuse things?)

Jalilah wrote: "We could change South America to Latin America. I think Margaret originally suggested it that way."

Ah, did I? I'm fine either way. In a way I'd like Mexico over here because it's always pretty easy to find indigenous North American authors I want to read but harder to find Central and South American retellings (especially on audio), but I'm open to either way!

I did a little research research and found something I want to share. I still haven't read any of this books, just found them through internet research, and I'll admit I was thinking of this category as Latin America more than South America already so I included a collection of Mexican myths...
One more thing, since I haven't actually read any of the books, I'm still unsure if some of them would fit as "mythic fiction", I'll just leave them to see if maybe someone knows them and can share some more details.

- ²Ñ²¹³¦³Ü²Ô²¹Ã­³¾²¹ by Mário de Andrade - Brazilian author trying to craft a Brazilian mythical hero, I've read some of de Andrade's poems and loved them, he's an author from the 20s and 30s... Not sure if this is available in English though.
- Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico by David Bowles - Mexican author, I think, writing retellings of Mexican myths; this is one of my favourite choices, the other would be Macunaima.
- Popol Vuh: A Retelling by Ilan Stavans.
- Middleworld by Jon Voelkel - YA.
- Palmares by Gayl Jones - African-American author, Brazil setting.
- The Lanin And Other Mapuche Legends by Natalia Tortora (author not found on GR)

And here are the ones I'm not sure about:

- The Promise or Thus Were Their Faces by Silvina Ocampo
- Grande Sertão: Veredas by João Guimarães Rosa
- The Old Man Who Read Love Stories by Luis Sepúlveda
- Zoratama: The Muisca Princess by Jaime Bedoya Mart�nez

I also found a short and simple summary of some ancient South American mythologies, here it is in case someone is interested:

Marta wrote: "I did a little research research and found something I want to share. I still haven't read any of this books, just found them through internet research, and I'll admit I was thinking of this catego..."

Thanks for this roundup!

Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "We could change South America to Latin America. I think Margaret originally suggested it that way."

Ah, did I? I'm fine either way. In a way I'd like Mexico over here because it's ..."

Amanda wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Ah, yes, my mistake. Perhaps just leave as is, but allow people to interpret either way? (or does that confuse things?) .."

I am fine either way, Latin America or South America!

Marta wrote: "I did a little research research...- The Lanin And Other Mapuche Legends by Natalia Tortora"

This is one of the few books in the English language which are specifically on Mapuche mythology/folklore and for this reason it is a worthy contender on your list. A very slender book, it reads like a collection of fairy stories. By that I mean there is a flatness to the the storytelling, so the reader is always aware they are reading a story. This is in contrast to what the best retellings do, where the reader is totally immersed in the story.

Marta wrote: "I did a little research research and found something I want to share. I still haven't read any of this books, just found them through internet research, and I'll admit I was thinking of this catego..."

Thank you for your research!

I've added a couple of these to my want to reads.

Marta wrote: "I did a little research research and found something I want to share. I still haven't read any of this books, just found them through internet research, and I'll admit I was thinking of this catego..."

Wow! Thank you Marta!

I remember now we did a "buddy" read ( a smaller group read) for Thus Were Their Faces here /topic/show/...

I didn't finish it as the style wasn't my cup of tea.

Okay, here are some folklore books I've read that take place in South or Central America. Not that many at all!

Argentina:
Kalpa Imperial: The Greatest Empire That Never Was by Angélica Gorodischer
Mouthful of Birds by Samanta Schweblin

Ecuador:
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

Chile:
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

If we're including Mexico/Latin America in general:
The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Spirits of the Ordinary: A Tale of Casas Grandes by Kathleen Alcalá

Margaret wrote: "Okay, here are some folklore books I've read that take place in South or Central America. Not that many at all!

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (where does this take place?)


House of the Spirits takes place in Chile. It's a classic. Isabel Allende is a Chilean author but as lived in the US for many years. Many of her newer books take place in the US but IMO her best books take place in Chile.
I will be reading her newest book Violeta

Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "House of the Spirits takes place in Chile. It's a classic. Isabel Allende is a Chilean author but as lived in the US for many years. Many of her newer books take place in the US but IMO her best books take place in Chile.
I will be reading her newest book Violeta..."

Thanks! I may end up reading Violeta too.

Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale by Robert D. San Souci

I set up a thread for Violeta by Isabel Allende if anyone cares to read it and join in!
/topic/show/...

I’m still hoping to find something from South America for this challenge. I tried The Invention of Morel and The Divorce but couldn’t get into either of them.
There is just way more Mexican literature out there!
I changed the title of this thread to Latin American for this reason. I know Mexicans always find it annoying when people ( usually US Americans) say they are part of South America!

Jalilah wrote: "I’m still hoping to find something from South America for this challenge. The Invention of Morel and The Divorce but couldn’t get into either of them.
There is just wa..."

I ended up reading The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta and Amazona by Canizales for this category. Not sure if you'd enjoy them though! Amazona is a quick read, a slim graphic novel. The Lost Dreamer is a YA fantasy set in ancient Mesoamerica. It's a solid read. I didn't love it but I did like it and would be willing to read more in that series.

Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I’m still hoping to find something from South America for this challenge. The Invention of Morel and The Divorce but couldn’t get into either of them.
..."

Lost Dreamer actually looks interesting! Since reading The Rebecca Roanhorse series I’ve gotten better about that type of fantasy. I like the fact that the author seems to be of the cultures she’s writing about so I might try it.

I am currently reading Pierced by the Sun, but not sure if I’ll count it for the challenge

Jalilah wrote: "Lost Dreamer actually looks interesting! Since reading The Rebecca Roanhorse series I’ve gotten better about that type of fantasy. I like the fact that the author seems to be of the cultures she’s writing about so I might try it."

The fantasy aspects aren't too dense, though it is a bit slow in pacing in areas.

I finished Pierced by the Sun and although it’s more realistic, I will count it for this part of the challenge because of all the Aztec mythology in it

Jalilah wrote: "I finished Pierced by the Sun and although it’s more realistic, I will count it for this part of the challenge because of all the Aztec mythology in it"

I don't know why Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ has it marked as "read" for me. I haven't! Looks good though.

Latin American Challenge was tricky for me. To stay true to what's seem popular in Latino countries, I should went with magical realism.

But I remembered one author from the region who sourced her country's history, Mesoamerican folklore and tradition to create Tolkien's inspired chronicle/epic feel, and fantasy world. Argentinian Liliana Bodoc. I wasn't keen on her, though, because years before I sort of disliked The Days of the Deer. Turns out either switching translation to Polish helped or she really spread creative wings in the sequel, because I really enjoyed this mythic/oral storytelling style present there.

Asaria wrote: "Latin American Challenge was tricky for me. To stay true to what's seem popular in Latino countries, I should went with magical realism.

But I remembered one author from the region who sourced her..."

I've heard of that one.

Although I loved Violeta ( I was sobbing in the end because it moved me so much! ), I’m not going to count it for this challenge because I did not really see any myths or magic realism in it. I’ve already read Pierced by the Sun, but am currently rereading Like Water for Chocolate by the same author Laura Esquivel

Jalilah wrote: "Although I loved Violeta ( I was sobbing in the end because it moved me so much! ), I’m not going to count it for this challenge because I did not really see any myths or magic real..."

I read Like Water for Chocolate years ago and enjoyed it, but it's been so long I barely remember it!

I read three books for this category, all of which I enjoyed:

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse
The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta
Amazona by Canizales

I am double posting this article by Silvia Moreno-Garcia about how the term magical realism is often over used or misused
I post it here because she mentions other Latin American authors I am not familiar with!

I read The Actual Star by Monica Byrne which has made Belize go hiiiiigh on my travel hitlist!