Amazon employees share their favorite books to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Books are at the heart of sharing experiences, and as we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Latino bibliophiles on Amazon to share what they love to read. Learn more about each employee and their favorite book below as we celebrate the distinctive tastes and interests that make up Culture.

Anna Hernandez, UX Researcher, Accessibility within Alexa

My name is Anna Hernandez and I’m a UX researcher working on accessibility within Alexa for All, a team that creates experiences to help people with disabilities lead more independent lives and stay connected with loved ones. . When it comes to books, I like everything from magical realism and poetry to speculative thrillers and essays. This time of year, I’m getting ready to start my scary reading list, which means lots of horror novels. One of my favorites is mexican gothic, a strange, interesting and scary period thriller. This one has a special place in my heart, because it’s hard to find books like this that are both set in Latin America and feature a strong Latina as the main character. A non-scary book that I return to again and again is a collection of poems titled illegal citizen by José Olivarez, a poet from Chicago. It describes what life is like as a first-generation Mexican American, and the result is a collection that is honest, powerful, and easy to resonate with.

Carlos Marciano, Software Development Engineer, Amazon Ads

Ola! I’m Carlos Marciano, Software Development Engineer at Amazon Ads based in Toronto. Brazilian fiction is one of my favorite genres of books, especially when it allows me to reflect on our reality. For instance, The posthumous memoirs of Brás Cubas is a masterpiece written by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis illustrating the aristocratic society of the 19th century, while Captains of the Sands by Jorge Amado boldly chronicles the escapades and dreams of 100 marginalized teenagers living in the slums of Salvador, Bahia. Although both of these books are works of fiction, they constantly remind us of the fine line between fiction and reality.

Karla Guadron, Software Development Engineer, Amazon Publishing

My name is Karla Guadron and I am a software development engineer at Amazon Publishing. I mostly read nonfiction books on social identity and justice, personal growth, psychology, and science. I occasionally throw myself into fiction for a bit of levity or to escape into a different world. One of my favorite fiction books is The sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, because Nguyen illuminates the complexities and legacy of the war in a way that was missing in existing Vietnam War literature. My favorite non-fiction book right now is For Brunette Girls with Sharp Edges and Soft Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez, because it talked about my experiences like no other book I’ve read before.

María José Soto, Content Program Manager, Alexa International

Hey ! My name is María José Soto, or Majo as my colleagues at Amazon call me. I’m the content program manager for Alexa International, based in Seattle. I’m originally from Chile and love books that dive into our Latin American culture or explain various historical facts from different angles. My favorite books are Cien Años de Soledad (A hundred years of loneliness) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and La Tregua (The Truce) by Mario Benedetti. I also like the work of Gabriela Mistral, my favorite poet. Her poetry book Desolation (Desolation) is a masterpiece. I think all of these authors give us the opportunity to look into their hearts and minds, allowing us to see the world through their perspective.

Rubi Romero, Sales Partner Success Representative

Hey ! My name is Rubi Romero. I am currently a Seller Support Representative for Amazon Canada. In my spare time, I like to read books that help me grow as a person and as an Amazonian. A book that I can read again and again is The four chords by Don Miguel Ruiz, based on ancient Toltec wisdom. I also like to read Spanish literature. One of my favorites is The Casa de los Secretos (House of Secrets) by María de Lourdes Victoria, set in two fascinating historical moments, the American intervention and the Revolution. It is a novel full of passion, ambition and mystery that immerses us in the most exquisite traditions of Oaxaca, its exotic festivities, the unmistakable smell of chocolate and the sweet taste of ancestral dishes.

Alex Chavez, Program Manager, AWS

My name is Alex Chavez and I’m a program manager for AWS. I enjoy reading a variety of books, but most are historical accounts of world events, bibliographies, and other materials that provide insight into human struggles of recent times. Some of my current favorite authors are Erika L. Sánchez, Maria Hinojosa and Gloria Anzaldúa. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, it is important to remember the history of our communities and the struggles they have endured in their fight for inclusion and equality.

If you’re looking for more titles, you can check out Amazon Book Review’s article, “Must-Have Books Recommended by Latinos at Amazon Employees» and discover Hispanic and Latino storytellers on our Hispanic Heritage Month book page.

Learn more about how Amazon is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.