Sun, Stone and Shadows
20 Great Mexican Short Stories
Summary for Book Club Discussions
Sun, Stone and Shadows is divided into four sections. While all the stories have been chosen for
their quality and unique link to the Mexican character, for the limited time that book discussions
take place you may want to focus the meeting on a specific story. Additional resources about the
text can be located on the NEA’s Big Read site or at our Waves Seen, Waves Heard blog:
http://youngauditorium.wordpress.com Each participating library will also have on display
readers guides that detail themes from the book and Mexican history. Be sure to check out the
author biographies in the glossary of the book and the forward is also a great resource.
Please encourage your readers to visit the blog and post their discussion comments.
SECTION I – The Fantastic Unreal.
SECTION II – Scenes from Mexican Reality.
SECTION III – The Tangible Past.
SECTION IV – The Unexpected in Everyday, Urban Life
Title/Author
My Life with the Wave;
Octavio Paz
Pages:
27-33
Summary:
Takes the reader through the vast geography of Mexico.
Explores two of Mexican literatures favorite themes: women
and water. A good choice for discussions.
A Chac-Mool, (a Mexican Indian religious statue) takes on
lifelike characteristics and becomes an unwelcome guest.
Chac-Mool; Carlos
Fuentes
35-47
History According to Pao
Chang by Salvador
Elizondo
The Night of Margaret
Rose by Francisco Tario
49-51
A philosophical musing.
53-68
You are left wondering what is reality. Is reality a single state
or something everyone creates for themselves? Young adults
might like this.
The Mist by Juan de la
Cabada
71-76
The Little Doe by Jose
Revueltas
77-79
Explores stereotyping social classes, “appearances can be
deceiving.” Sterotyping is not bound by borders. Young
adults might relate to this.
Readers might relate to deer hunting in Wisconsin.
The Medicine Man by
Francisco Rojas Gonzalez
81-93
Occurs in the jungles of Mexico, Subordinate women are an
integral part of the story; depicts “indigenous religions and
the unfathomable miracle of change” p.234 -a good choice
for discussions
Blame the Tlaxcaltecs by
Elena Garro
The Dinner by Alfonso
Reyes
95-115 Written by the wife of Octavio Paz, depicts a “passionate love
affair” during the time of the Conquest. Should she stay with
her man or go with her love?
119Who is living and who is dead? A man has an out of body
126
experience and views his own wake.
Tell Them Not to Kill Me!
By Juan Rulfo
The Carnival of the
Bullets by Martin Luis
Guzman
Permission Granted by
Edmundo Valades
127134
135148
The Shunammite
By Ines Arredondo
159171
Cooking Lesson by
Rosario Castellanos
173185
Tachas by Efren
Hernandez
What Became of Pampa
Hash? By Jorge
Ibarguengoitia
The Switchman by Juan
Jose Arreola
187193
195201
The Square by Juan
Garcia Ponce
215219
The Panther by Sergio
Pitol
221225
August Afternoon by Jose
Emilio Pacheco
227230
149155
205213
A universal story that any human being under the blade of
terror can understand. A good choice for discussions.
Young adult men might like this one. It leaves one wonder
what it would be like to be a duck in a carnival shooting
game.
“It summarizes an entire panorama of contemporary Mexican
reality. It condenses centuries of history with bittersweet,
even irrational wit.” It is a fun read that anyone dealing with
bureaucracy can relate to.
Universal theme of family duty to the elderly. Written by a
female author who writes to “encounter and try to
comprehend souls.”
Written by a female author who wants “attention to the role of
women in the world. It is also a form of protest against the
old Mexican machista, which confined women to resignation,
silence, obedience and the kitchen.” A good choice for
discussion.
A good choice for young adults who can relate to letting their
minds wander while in school.
“The two main characters survive the bewildering and
hilarious mishaps of a bizarre love affair.”
Waiting for the train becomes an allegory for the directions
one takes in life. Is it a political statement or a traveler tease?
A fun discussion.
Revels in the comfort of memories in a familiar routine, and
the imperceptible sensation washes over a person reliving
those memories.
The messenger in a dream. Might be a good choice for young
adult men and women.
Lasting emotional memories of innocent kindness.