The novel tells the story of gustavo highway sanchez sanchez, an auctioneer in mexico city who auctions off various historical and literary figures teeth. Wonderful and strange, the story of my teeth transgresses against straightforward storytelling by witnessing and remixing to make something so fresh and. This free printable social story about brushing teeth is the perfect way to teach kids why to brush, how often to brush, how to floss, and more. Mexican author valeria luisellis new novel, the story of my teeth. Show children where to write their names on the front covers and let them color their book covers while you circulate the room and staple their craft stick toothbrushes to their booklets. In a similar vein, the latest book by valeria luiselli, the story of my teeth, is a jovial little tale about an auctioneer who has sussed out the secret of success, that if you attach a good story to a piece of tat, people will pay good money for it. Luisellis third novel, she collaborated with workers in a jumex juice factory to write the story of my teeth.
The story of my teeth by valeria luiselli, paperback. Gustavo highway sanchez sanchez has always been a collector, of everything, from art to books to his fathers fingernail clippings to the teeth of notable authors, philosophers, and celebrities from throughout history. The story of my teeth, by valeria luiselli the new. A lively, loopy experimental novel rich with musings on language, art, and, yes, teeth. Just for fun, a free minibook to celebrate dental health month in february. Whether youre searching for a new pediatric dentist, preparing for your childs first visit to our office, or looking forward to your childs routine checkup, our top priority is helping children achieve and maintain a healthy smile. Updated in 2017 for additional pages and improved images. The story part of the story of my teeth is told with considerable charm, and the name dropping is just enough to signal that theres more afoot here than merely an oldfashioned good time. The story of my teeths playful recontextualizations and detours are bound to leave you puzzled at some pointperhaps even many. Usually one read through of a social story is enough for him to retain all the concepts, and even the exact phrases to say if included. Sep 14, 2015 the story of my teeth is a playful, philosophical funhouse of a read that demonstrates that not only isnt experimental fiction dead, it neednt be deadly, either.
The story of my teeth is a renowned experimental novel by valeria luiselli. Critics praise luiselli for her ability to capture the forgotten spaces in mexico city, bringing them to life in her books. Writing under the guise of her narrator, luiselli wrote the book in. Sep 15, 2015 but the book lives in its offbeat digressions, like an extended discussion of literary eminences lives via their teeth. Free dental health minibook dental health preschool. Five great books to teach children about brushing teeth.
The story of my teeth is playful, attentive and very smart without being for a minute pretentious. Valeria luiselli is a rising star in mexican literary circles and this novella is published by granta. Readers would have preferred if the afterword had been a foreword as they appreciated the book more once they learned of the idea behind it. The story of my teeth, by valeria luiselli the new york times. Luisellis elastic mind comfortably stretches to wrap itself around molars, montaigne, fortune cookies and various theories of meaning. Publishers weekly the story of my teeth has a joycean playfulness with words, events, structure, literary theory, languages not always translated, and human nature. The story of my teeth book the seattle public library. The book itself is a postmodern pastiche of styles which. Sep, 2015 the story part of the story of my teeth is told with considerable charm, and the name dropping is just enough to signal that theres more afoot here than merely an oldfashioned good time. Named one of the best books of 2015 by the new york times, npr, the guardian, publishers. But im grateful for that inauspicious start because ugliness, as my other uncle, euripides lopez sanchez, was given to.
Again, the allegorical connotation hardly needs elucidating. Written in collaboration with the workers at a juice factory, the story of my teeth is an elegant, witty, exhilarating romp through the industrial suburbs of mexico city and luisellis own literary influences and a meditation on, as highway says, the variable value of artback cover blurb. Highway is a lateinlife world traveller, yarn spinner, collector, and. The story of my teeth npr coverage of the story of my teeth by valeria luiselli and christina macsweeney.
It breaks down this everyday skill into simple steps. Sep 15, 2015 finishing the story of my teeth will leave you wanting more of luisellis sense of humor and grace, her perfect ear for entertainment and epiphany. For starters, the books narrator, gustavo sanchez sanchez, aka. Indeed, the life of this novels protagonist, gustavo sanchez sanchez aka highway, is chronicled from beginning to end in this very first section. The story of my teeth is a 20 spanishlanguage novel by valeria luiselli, translated into. The story of my teeth by valeria luiselli chicago tribune.
The story of my teeth follows the life of the protagonist, gustavo sanchez sanchez, as he recounts his life to the reader. Each section of the second novel by mexican author luiselli faces in the crowd, 2014 opens with an epigram about the disconnect between the signifier and signified. Grandpas teeth is a childrens book by rod clement and it is about how grandpa wakes up one morning to see his teeth missing, which causes uproar in the town. Valeria luisellis story of my teeth, a comic memoir of an auctioneer part gogol and part steven millhauser dares to throw in a lesson or two on formal logic into each lot. The blurbs praise her intellect and her mastery of prose. The story of my teeth is a playful, philosophical funhouse of a read that demonstrates that not only isnt experimental fiction dead, it neednt be deadly, either. This deeply playful novel is about the passion and obsession of collecting, the nature of storytelling, the value of objects, and the complicated bonds of family. I was born in pachuca, the beautiful windy city, with four p. Apr 02, 2015 buy story of my teeth by valeria luiselli isbn. I was born in pachuca, the beautiful windy city, with four premature teeth and my body completely covered in a very fine coat of fuzz. At first when i was younger i didnt had any teeth and when i got older my. The story of my teeth paperback the elliott bay book company. The story of my teeth is an unusual book, which the author herself describes as a collective novelessay.
The story of my teeth is a collision of storytelling, lying and. Luiselli wrote the book after being invited by the galeria jumex in mexico city to contribute to a catalogue for a modernart show jumex is a. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. The book was to be a work of fiction for the catalog of an exhibition. A finalist for the national book critics circle award in fiction. Story of my teeth covers art, identity and dental adventures. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Divided into seven sections, the story of my teeth lays everything out at the startchapter one, after all, is titled. An npr best book of 2017 that exposes our oral health crisis and the astonishing role that teeth and oral health play in our society infuses what could be a mundane topic with quirky history, heartwrenching reallife stories, and prose that is. If you dozed off during lectures on semiotics in college, fear not. Pick up your own copy of the story of my teeth by valeria luiselli from the book depository affiliate link. Valeria luiselli, author of the book the story of my teeth. This book is the story of an odd yet oddly compelling eccentric. The story of my teeth is the third book of mexicanborn valeria luiselli, who lives in new york city.
The story of the story of my teeth is in itself remarkable, inviting us to reflect on its own selfparodying nature. As the acknowledgements explain, the book began as a catalog for an art exhibition that took place in a gallery located next to a juice factory in mexico city. Jul 18, 2016 the story of my teeth, on every level, is obsessed with artifice and the slipperiness of identity. The story of my teeth by valeria luiselli, paperback barnes. Gustavo lives in mexico, the country of his birth, and at the age of 40, he entered the profession of auctioneering. Highway is a lateinlife world traveller, yarn spinner, collector, and legendary auctioneer. The story of my teeth thrives on a books inherent ability to contain multitudes, a tension inherent in its title. Augustine was inspired to write his confessions due to a toothache. Now translated by christina macsweeney, in collaboration with luiselli, the book mimics her own play with authorial identity. Just for fun, a free mini book to celebrate dental health month in february.
The story of my teeth book hennepin county library. The story of highway sanchez bon vivant, world traveler, auctioneer and his teeth is like johnny cash meets robert walser in mexico. Check out my blog teachings a hoot for more freebies. Booklet includes easytoread directions on how to care for teeth. Luiselli was born mexico city and grew up in south africa. Luiselli decided to write what became this short novel in installments, which. The following is from valeria luisellis novel, the story of my teeth. The story of my teeth is a playful, philosophical funhouse of a read that. Its very clever and very witty but i cant say that i really enjoyed reading it. But more importantly, this novel will change the way you look at writing and storiesand will reveal that in the end, what is imagined is as important as anything else. The story of my teeth by valeria luiselli goodreads. Welcome to tooth story, experienced pediatric dentist in columbia.