I grew up in a bilingual family, speaking English generously peppered with Spanish. Although we all spent time living in Mexico and Spain, somehow I am the only one who ended up with a Castilian accent. Born to a Chicana teacher and a Jewish professor of Spanish literature, it makes sense that both of my sisters work in bilingual education of one sort or another. (I am the anomaly.) We are three daughters, linked by blood and by our inherited passion for language. My sister Susi (Susana Chávez-Silverman) has just published her second memoir, Scenes from La Cuenca de Los Angeles y Otros Natural Disasters.
Like her first one, Killer Crónicas, published in 2004, it is written in its own unique back-&-forth between English and Spanish—what she refers to as “code-switching,” and others have called Spanglish. Each chapter is a “crónica,” an episode culled from diary entries and letters that trace her journey from California to South Africa to Australia and back. The prose crackles, as full of quirky charm and deep insights as my beautiful sister. I hope you get a chance to lose (and find) yourself in her lyrical writing.
I agree and am enjoying her journey…
Posted by suzinn on 4.5.10 at 11:34 pmcongratulations to your sister! we also speak a strange language- ‘unglish’? ‘englu”? urdu/english! and my friends and colleagues just dont understand how we can speak that way. we are also three sisters- it’s so lovely to find out more things about you- all wonderful things. again, best wishes to your sister.
Posted by shayma on 4.6.10 at 6:05 pmThanks, faithful reader. Where do you fall amongst the sisters? I am the youngest…
Posted by laura on 4.6.10 at 7:27 pma ha! the youngest- i know all about your type tee hee i am the eldest, ahem. my youngest sis is spoilt but in a lovable way. she gets to do everything i wasnt allowed to do! x
Posted by shayma on 4.7.10 at 10:44 amAh, I see your family is very different from mine…;-))
Posted by laura on 4.7.10 at 11:18 amYour blog is very unique and fun to read. All the Silverman sisters are brilliant and I feel blessed to be able to witness your passages through life. Susana’s books are a joy to read and humorous as well.
Posted by Elaine on 4.7.10 at 7:28 pmHigh praise indeed! Thanks for visiting, Elaine!
Posted by laura on 4.7.10 at 7:30 pmNot speaking Spanish does not mean that you can not appreciate, identify, comprehend and enjoy the writing of Susana. Not speaking Spanish only requires that you read slowly and savor the emotions that get triggered in you by her work. Believe me-you will get it. Her work is like a vacation-you forget your present and are one with her past. Her past is your past too thought-you just could not put it into words like she does. My hat is off to the Chavez-Silverman sisters! Thank you for the lovely blog, Laura.
Posted by Tina on 4.7.10 at 7:41 pmThank you, Tina, for your support and good wishes!
Posted by laura on 4.7.10 at 8:00 pm