Books to help me appreciate our upcoming trip to Oaxaca?

February 12, 2022 11:33 PM

In a few months I'll be visiting Oaxaca for the first time (if Omicron levels decrease to save levels and the warnings are no longer in place.) I generally like to read books (fiction or nonfiction) about a place in advance of traveling there -- are there any engaging pieces of literature which will help give me some context for this interesting place, beyond a standard guidebook?
posted by egeanin to Society & Culture (7 answers total)

Under the Volcano is one of the best novels written in the 20th century, and is set in Morelos, between Oaxaca and Mexico City. There's a very good film as well.
posted by kickingtheground at 1:03 AM on February 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Oaxaca is a cuisine capital of Mexico and a Product of Origin for mescal. I don’t know any great books offhand, but searching for Oaxacan cuisine or mescal is bound to bring up some very interesting stuff! Also stories about the Zapotec traditions and cultures — I did my linguistic field research documenting a dying dialect of Zapotec and learned so many amazing things about the people and culture there. The books and articles I know are all academic and technically dense, but I’m sure there must be more accessible stories out there too. Will be watching this thread!
posted by iamkimiam at 2:02 AM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: There's a Word for It in Mexico is full of cultural insights.
posted by Wet Spot at 2:23 AM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Oliver Sacks' Oaxaca Journal
posted by 15L06 at 5:10 AM on February 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Maybe you'll find some ideas in this thread, although it's not Oaxaca-specific.
posted by latkes at 9:17 AM on February 13, 2022

Best answer: John Vaillant's (The Golden Spruce) debut novel The Jaguar's Children was written/set in Oaxaca. So, fiction, but by one of the best non-fiction writers today. The themes include indigenous archaeology and GMO crop production.
posted by mannequito at 9:26 AM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Another book you may enjoy is The Mexicans: A Personal Portrait of a People.
posted by Wet Spot at 4:49 PM on February 13, 2022