The New Latino Boom and the filiation narrative or how the García sisters recovered their accent

Abstract

This article explores the literary work of Luis Hernán Castañeda (Lima, 1982), one of the authors associated with the New Latino Boom, focusing on his novel Mi madre soñaba en francés (2018). Through a meticulous exploration of the narrator’s family history, the novel aligns with what Dominique Viart refers to as filiation narrative. Straddling the realms of autofiction and fiction, Mi madre soñaba en francés presents a thought-provoking discrediting of the father figure while simultaneously engaging in a complex process of restoration surrounding the mother figure, thus pushing the boundaries and complexities of the filiation narrative. I argue that the narrator’s investigative journey extends beyond personal introspection, branching into broader societal issues. It delves into the subject of sexual violence against women in Peru, as well as the impact of the #MeToo movement in the United States. By interweaving the personal and the collective, the novel’s exploration also encompasses language usage, particularly Spanish, and the nuanced experiences of migrants on the borderlands of the United States. While the characters in the story consciously embrace a return to their native language, this deliberate choice holds political significance for Hernán Castañeda as a Latinx writer in the United States. It positions Spanish as a language of resistance, offering vast potential to challenge dominant cultural norms, renegotiate power dynamics, and expand the boundaries of the Latinx identity.