#Erika L Sanchez

[asoftepiloguemylove]

Wendy Cope Summer Villanelle / Clementine von Radics Mouthful of Forevers / Pierce the Veil Caraphernelia / Erika L. Sànchez Spring; Lessons on Expulsion / Yves Olade Bloodsport / 방탄소년단 BTS 134340 / Taylor Swift All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) [From The Vault] / pinterest / Mahmoud Darwish Memory for Forgetfulness (tr. Ibrahim Muhawi) / Car Seat Headrest Happy News for Sadness / Amanda Rose I Don't Think People Love Me / Taylor Steele Shocker

[metamorphesque]

Six Months after Contemplating Suicide, Erika L. Sánchez

[lillyli-74]

Who is this in the mirror? Why won’t you love me? Why won’t you let me be?

~Erika L. Sánchez

[emiliosandozsequence]

the phantom of the opera (2004) dir. joel schumacher / lessons on expulsion, 'la cueva', erika l. sánchez

[poetlcs]

books read in 2023: I am not your perfect mexican daughter by erika l. sánchez

Happiness is a dandelion wisp floating through the air that I can’t catch. No matter how hard I try, no matter how fast I run, I just can’t reach it. Even when I think I grasp it, I open my hand and it’s empty

[mythoughttherapy]

“I don't know why I've always been like this, why the smallest things make me ache inside. There's a poem I read once, titled "The World Is Too Much with Us," and I guess that is the best way to describe the feeling– the world is too much with me.”

—Erika L. Sánchez, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

[nat-reviews-books]

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

To be honest, I thought I was going to hate this at the beginning, but I ended up really liking it. The narrator, Julia, is a tough protagonist to get to like, but I did like her by the end. I really liked this book. It dealt with a lot of tough topics, but was still very good.

Trigger warnings: death, depression, suicide attempt, rape mention, cartel violence

[anicarissi]

We love a hot pink paperback

[queerauntie]

December Reads

As the end of the year comes to a close, I wanted to reflect on my latest hyperfocus- books! It's been a lot of fun the past few months diving in deep and enjoying a wide variety of stories, and December was no exception. This year rounds us out with a total of FOUR books! And the titles are, in order of when I read them:

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby

I Think I Love You by Auriana Desombre

Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

Every Body Shines Edited by Cassandra Newbould

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

ain't i a woman by bell hooks

Let's start with the Shades of Magic series. This series was absolutely phenomenal. I couldn't put it down, that is to say, my friend and I sat in silence for 12+ hours (for each book) so I could get through them. From the characters to the plot twists, this book is God Tier and definitely is going in the "Read Again" file of books to enjoy when I feel like revisiting that magnificent world. After reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue I was sure I would enjoy the series and was more prepared for the world-building I knew would require my attention. It did not let me down!

Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby was a really enjoyable read, it made me learn some things about myself, connecting those childhood dots to their adult patterns. My friend always asked me if Gadsby's special, Douglas, made me feel as autistic as they did when I watched it, and while I didn't quite get what they meant, in this memoir, I completely understood what they were asking. Hannah goes into even more depth about how their diagnosis came around (and all the signs that should've been picked up on) and it hit very close to home. It was frustrating and hilarious and heartbreaking. It gave me even more respect for my queer elders and the road they've paved for us. For any fan of comedy, autism, and lesbians, I highly recommend this book.

Now, I Think I Love You was a completely different tone shift from the previous books this month, I picked it for two reasons. I saw it here on tumblr looking for lesbian love stories. and secondly, because of all the books I saw, this was the only one that was available instantly in the Libby App. All that to say it wasn't one I was extremely invested in and therefore I didn't pay extreme attention to it. Similarly to sitcoms, I tend to zone out on additional characters and scenes and then tune back in when it's the main character talking, the plot is pushed forward, and conflict is being created and resolved. I did enjoy this story, while some teen fics hit me hard, this one did feel like it was for the younger (middle school) grades. But while no tears were shed, I did enjoy this sweet story!

Witchful Thinking was a book I put on hold around October (Halloween theme). It was another book I saw at Target, so now we're getting a feel for the Target Tier as I am now calling it! I would say it's a 3.75 on my personal scale. I really really like the books, but I just can't say that I loved them. This book was right in there, and I honestly don't even believe it's the book's fault. I am quickly discovering that books that don't include or center queer characters are really boring. The trials and communication problems that cishet characters go through are a little tired out for me. I love a will they won't they, but when it's high school sweethearts and he's too cool to commit, and she's scared to get what she wants... It's like nah that's not my vibes thank you though! Now what I was NOT expecting was for the breeders to get hot and HEAVY! Suddenly nipples were getting hard and thrusts were being matched, I was wholly unprepared and thankful I was in private 😂. All in all, it was a fun ride and I'm certainly glad the girl got her happy ending. Good for him too I guess but who cares about a MAN?! I swear we're going for all non-male protagonists for next year lol I can't stand myself!

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter was a book that caught me off guard a bit. I don't read the book trailers or try to learn anything about a book before getting into it, I like the surprise you know? I thought this book would be very relatable, and it was, but it wasn't from my perspective, family dynamically speaking. While I am the oldest, the third parent, and the one whom all the expectations were put upon, my character was dead. So, this book felt a lot like reading from my younger sister's perspective. When my parent's gaze falls off me, who would they have next to target? It worked through a lot of cultural family dynamics that were very relatable. Julia goes through the hardest thing imaginable and doesn't come through unscathed.

Every Body Shines was a random book that I picked up because I saw a teacher that I follow on twitter was hosting the book club for this book, and I had a day to read it so, challenge accepted! What I didn't know is that it was a series of short stories, not a non-fiction about body acceptance. Now, I have tried reading collections like this but the short stories just always fall a little flat for me, that being said, there were a few stories that stuck out to me so it was worth the read after all. What was the most disappointing was I couldn't find out access to the book club so I ended up not getting to read others' thoughts which was what I was really looking forward to!

I came across The Complete Maus at the library and grabbed it without a second thought. I remember when the last school year started and certain (read antisemitic and racist) people were trying to ban this book in schools. I ended up reading over 70% of it in one night and finished it the next morning. It was beautifully told, devastating to witness, and immensely kind. I have continually used that word to describe books, but it's the highest compliment I can give a story. In this age of shock culture, it's a popular trend to create untrustworthy stories and be deceitful as writers. It's been ongoing for years now, and it's scary when you don't know if you can trust that a writer will be mindful of your emotional journey. But Spiegelman does a phenomenal job showing his capturing of the story within the story. It helps the reader to ease in and out of these extremely difficult and dark moments. It was also beautiful to be able to get into the author's head a little more as he tells his story. I think it's insane that it was ever attempted to be banned and instead believe it would be a great alternative to The Boy In The Stripe Pajamas which is taught in middle school! Regardless, it's a very good piece of writing and art.

We're here, the last book of the year! I finished ain't i a woman by bell hooks earlier today and will definitely need to read it again because i was distractedly cleaning while listening. But it was a really good read, discussing how Black Women have been left out of both Black liberation movements and White Women's feminist liberation movements. I don't know what I could say that hasn't been said far more eloquently and it's just the tip of the iceberg for me, so keep an eye out for more thoughts as I get through her writing. But just from this first exposure, I can already tell that hooks is going to be a brilliant teacher in the next upcoming year.

Well, that's it y'all! 32 books in 6 months! I am very impressed with myself, this has been such a fun journey and I am so excited to continue this lovely hobby into the new year. This averages around 5-6 books a month which is so wild and very sprinty of me, so I'm going to be subtly ambitious with my first intentional reading goal: 50 books in 2023! I'm looking forward to sharing them all with you and getting much better at these reviews along the way! If you have any suggestions for me please feel free to drop an ask or send a message!

Happy New Years to everyone celebrating the gregorian calendar and I hope we all have a fantastic adventure ahead of us!

Yearly Book Count: 32/32!!

[havingapoemwithyou]

six months after contemplating suicide by Erika L. Sanchez

[asoftepiloguemylove]

SHE HATED HER LIFE, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS BAD, BUT BECAUSE WHEN YOU HATE YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR BODY, IT'S HARD TO ENJOY THE REST.

Franny Choi I Guess By Now I Thought I'd Be Done With Shame / Erika L. Sánchez Amá / Franz Kafka Letters to Friends, Family, and Editors / Hanif Abdurraqib A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance / Richard Siken Birds Hover over the Trampled Field / Hélène Cixous The Selected Poems of Hélène Cixous / Alberto Zamboni Ovunque / Oscar Nin / Richard Siken Crush

i. Franny Choi I Guess By Now I Thought I'd Be Done With Shame [ Somewhere, / there is a version of me that isn't neck-deep in her invented filth. ]

ii. Erika L. Sánchez Amá [ Amá, I leave because / I feel like an unfinished / poem, because I'm always trying to bridge the difference. ]

iii. Franz Kafka Letters to Friends, Family, and Editors [ I don't feel particularly proud of myself. / But when I walk alone in the woods or lie in the meadows, all is well. ]

iv. Hanif Abdurraqib A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance [ I've run out of language to explain the avalanche of anguish I feel when faced with this world, and so if I can't make sense of this planet, I'm better off imagining another. ]

v. Richard Siken Birds Hover the Trampled Field [ The enormity of my desire disgusts me. ]

vi. Hélène Cixous The Selected Poems of Hélène Cixous [ You horrify me. But at the same time, I horrify myself. We are horrible. ]

vii. Alberto Zamboni Ovunque [ The silhouettes of two human figures stand in a room. The background is blurred around them. ]

viii. Oscar Nin [ Distressed painting portrait of a man. ]

ix. Richard Siken Crush [ a gentleness that comes, not from the absence of violence, but despite the abundance of it. ]

[bookaddict24-7]

AUTHOR FEATURE:

﹒Erika L. Sánchez﹒

Three Books Written By this Author:

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

Crying in the Bathroom

Lessons On Expulsion

___

Happy reading!

[fromdarzaitoleeza]

{Words by Erika L. Sanchez, from "La Cueva" /Charles Bukowski, Ham on Rye}

[onebluebookworm]

31 Days of Literary Spookiness: Poetry Edition - October 26

Art by Ravi Zupa

“Kingdom of Debt” by Erika L. Sanchez

Two boys, transfixed, watch a pixelated video: a family fed to a swarm of insatiable pigs. A butcher sweeps blood from an empty street. Death is my godmother, he repeats.

[firstroseofspring]

b’elanna, miral, and ‘otherness’: a study using ds9/tng/voy scripts, and writing by: richard siken, erika l. sanchez, maggie nelson and shauna niequist!

[ezrisdax-archive]

- erika l. sanchez