Next to writing, reading has always been one of my greatest joys. The first book I remember loving as a young reader was a graphic novel adaptation of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It was a Spanish edition, and Tom and Huck became mis amigos—from where else but la tierra mágica de México. Years later, when The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn appeared on my high school English syllabus, mis amigos de la infancia were suddenly transported to the Mississippi River, speaking English instead of Spanish. I was devastated and enchanted. It was my first conscious encounter with the magic of literary translation, and I’ve been captivated ever since.
In that spirit, I’m delighted to share a selection of literature in translation—books I’ve read in Spanish, English, or both—that honor culture, history, and the feminine experience. These stories reflect the values and perspectives that shaped me growing up in a bicultural, bilingual, and deeply feminine familia.
For avid readers and for those who don’t quite see themselves as readers yet, these recommendations are available in both print and audiobook formats. If you haven’t tried audiobooks, I encourage you to begin. Nearly all of us love listening to a good story—and these are meant to be saboreados.
The Book of Emma Reyes
My first literary recommendation of 2026 is The Book of Emma Reyes by Emma Reyes. This remarkable memoir unfolds through 23 letters recounting the author’s harsh childhood as an orphan alongside her sister, Elena. Emma Reyes, a celebrated Colombian realist painter, was also what translator Daniel Alarcón calls “a magnetic storyteller.” At the urging of her friend, historian Germán Arciniegas, she began writing about her early life. What emerges is a vivid, unflinching account of deprivation, cruelty, and survival, told with the clarity, innocence, and resilience of a child’s voice.
The Invisible Mountain
My following recommendation is The Invisible Mountain by Carolina De Robertis. Set in 20th-century Uruguay, this brilliant work of historical and magical fiction traces three generations of women as they navigate love, loss, and the search for their authentic selves within a patriarchal society. The novel beautifully explores female resilience, identity, and the profound and mystical bond between madres e hijas.
English Audiobook, $22.50 w/o membership / $14.99 w/ membership
Finally, as an independent bookseller, it would be my pleasure to ship you a copy of either or both titles in print and as audiobooks. Please visit my website to place your dulce book order at https://sententiavera.com/bookshop/.
However, whether you borrow them from the library—and if not there, request it— or welcome a personal copy into your home, I invite you to prepare your favorite beverage, settle into your reading chair, or press play on a long drive, and lose yourself in these extraordinary works of literature.
