Notes and Links to Jazmina Barrera Velázquez’s Work

For Episode 233, Pete welcomes Jazmina Barrera Velásquez, and the two discuss, among other topics, her idyllic early childhood reading, her love for British, American, and Latin American authors, the ways in which Mexico City and Yucatán have informed her work, translation as an art, a craft, and a deep methods of editing, as well as salient themes from the story collection like evolving friendships, memory and tangibility, women’s agency, and one’s connection with her forebears and the sensitivities that come with living in a fragile world.

Jazmina Barrera was born in Mexico City in 1988. She was a fellow at the Foundation for Mexican Letters and at Mexico’s Fonca’s Program for young writers and she’s a member of the SNCA (National System of Art Creators in Mexico). She was a beneficiary of the residencies at Casa Estudio Cien años de Soledad. She has published work in various print and digital media, such as The Paris Review, El Malpensante, Words Without Borders, El País andThe New York Times. She has a Master's Degree in Creative Writing in Spanish from New York University, which she completed with the support of a Fulbright grant. She is the author of four books in Spanish: Cuerpo extraño, Cuaderno de faros, Linea nigra and the children’s book, Los nombres de los animales and Punto de cruz. Her books have been published in nine countries and translated to English, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese and French. Her book of essays Cuerpo extraño (Foreign Body) was awarded the Latin American Voices prize by Literal Publishing in 2013. Cuaderno de faros (On Lighthouses) was long listed for the von Rezzori award and chosen for the Indie Next list by Indie Bound. Linea Nigra was a finalist for the National Book Critics Cricle’s Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Autobiography Prize, the CANIEM’s Book of the year award and the Amazon Primera Novela (First Novel) Award. Punto de cruz (Cross-Stitch) was a finalist in the Calamo Awards and long-listed for the Republic of Consciousness Prize. She is editor and co-founder of Ediciones Antílope. She lives in Mexico City.

Jazmina Barrera (Ciudad de México, 1988) fue becaria de la Fundación para las Letras Mexicanas y beneficiaria de las residencias de la Casa Estudio Cien Años de Soledad. Fue becaria del programa de Jóvenes Creadores del Fonca y es miembro del Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte. Estudió la maestría en Escritura Creativa en Español en NYU con el apoyo de la beca Fullbright. Sus textos han sido publicados en revistas como The Paris Review, El País, Words Without Borders, Malpensante y The New York Times, entre otras. Es autora de Cuerpo extraño, Cuaderno de faros, Linea nigra, Los nombres de los animales y Punto de Cruz. Su libro de ensayos Cuerpo extraño / Foreign Body ganó el premio Latin American Voices 2013. Linea nigra fue finalista del premio CANIEM al libro del año, del premio Primera Novela, del National Book Critics Circle Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize y del National Book Critics Circle Autobiography Prize. Cuaderno de faros fue parte de la longlist del premio Von Rezzori. Punto de cruz fue finalista del premio Cálamo y parte de la longlist del premio The Republic of Consciousness. Sus libros han sido publicados en nueve países y traducidos al inglés, italiano, holandés, portugués y francés. Es socia fundadora de Ediciones Antílope. Vive en la Ciudad de México.

Buy Cross-Stitch

Jazmina's Website

Review of Cross-Stitch in The New York Times

At about 3:00, Jazmina talks about her early reading and writing life, including experiential coolness and professional-style printed books

At about 8:45, Jazmina’s reciting of her first short story leads to her making an astute observation about the famous Ernest Hemingway quote

At about 10:40, Jazmina recounts some of the books and writers that ignited her love of reading

At about 12:00, Jazmina describes Harry Potter as a gateway to learning English

At about 13:05, Jazmina talks about her studying English literature at UNAM, and discovering many contemporary Latin American writers at NYU

At about 15:10, The two talk about the ways in which American literature is often translated abroad, but not the other way around as much

At about 17:05, Jazmina shares cool connections in her writing life to Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s former writing haunts

At about 18:10, The two discuss Garcia Marquez legends about time in Mexico City

At about 19:20, Jazmina highlights “so many” Latin American standout contemporaries, including Mariana Enriquez, Dolores Reyes, Marta Jimenez Serrano, and Marina Azahua, Astrid López Méndez, Isabel Zapata, César Tejeda, Irad León, Paula Abramo, Mariana Oliver, Veronica Murguia, and of course, her husband, the brilliant Alejandro Zambra

At about 21:40-a cool Chilean word is introduced-”fome”

At about 22:35, Jazmina reflects on the gendered language of “padre” and other expressions that seem to speak negatively about women

At about 23:40, Jazmina speaks about the unique literary culture of Mexico City (en español),

At about 26:25, Jazmina discusses Ediciones Antílope as a place to publish more eccentric, daring books and poetry

At about 27:30, The two discuss translation, specifically with regard to Juan Rulfo’s work, and the ways in which titles are rendered

At about 28:45, Jazmina responds to Pete’s questions about how she sees the art of translation, and she responds through talking about “untranslatable” words, diminutive words, and the power of translators as “the closest readers”

At about 33:10, Jazmina provides background information on the book’s title and her experience with needlework/embroidery

At about 36:10, Jazmina talks about seeds for the book

At about 37:50, The two lay out the book’s exposition

At about 39:00, Jazmina responds to Pete wondering about the narrator, Mina’s, frustration/anger with her friend after a tragedy

At about 42:20, Jazmina describes the main character of Dalia

At about 44:35, Historical and mythical ideas of rebirth and needles bringing health and connection are discussed

At about 47:30, Jazmina talks about a “genealogy of women” that is connected to embroidery

At about 48:50, Jazmina responds to Pete’s questions about her family history with embroidery and her family connections to Yucatan and her interest in xmanikben

At about 51:20, Jazmina gives background on the indigenous communities of México and their rich history around textiles

At about 54:15, Jazmina gives background on the literacy program in Queretaro in the book and her real experience with it

At about 57:20, Pete traces some of the final scenes of the book and asks Jazmina about Citali’s world view

At about 1:01:35, Discussion of “empath” leads to discussion of “emos” and a shoutout to Daniel Hernández’s Down and Delirious in México City

At about 1:02:40, Pete points out an uncomfortable and well-written scene that highlights traumas in Citlali’s life

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Please tune in for Episode 234 with Sasha Vasilyuk, a journalist and the author of the debut novel Your Presence is Mandatory, which came out to great acclaim on April 23 of this year. Sasha has won several writing awards, including the Solas Award for Best Travel Writing and the NATJA award.

The episode will go live on May 7.

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