Episode 41 with Dynamic Author of the Thrilling, Heartfelt, and Profound, YA Novel, Throw, Ruben Degollado

Show Notes and Links to Ruben Degollado’s Work and Allusions/Texts from Episode

On Episode 41, Pete welcomes Ruben Degollado, author of 2019’s Throw, a gripping, heartfelt, and profound book that deserves a place in every library and high school English classroom. Ruben and Pete discuss Ruben’s history in the Río Grande Valley, ideas around identity, pochismo, representation in literature and the media, his fictional piece about the iconic Selena Quintanilla, his blockbuster Throw, redemption, the genre of young adult fiction, Ruben’s exciting upcoming projects and much more.

Ruben’s Website

Buy Throw Through Amazon 

Buy Throw Through Bookshop

Buy Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla Pérez

 

-at about 3:30, Ruben talks about growing up in McAllen, Texas, pochismo, and his language background

 

-at about 6:30, Ruben talks about the interplay between Spanish and English in his writing

 

-at about 9:15, Ruben talks about the connotations of the term pocho, and the “third country” of the Río Grande Valley, being in the physical location that it is

 

-at about 11:30, the above leads to discussion of the beloved Pocho by José Antonio Villarreal, as well as the books and writers that interested Ruben as a kid and an adolescent

 

-at about 14:20, Ruben talks about the incredible change in his writing and reading when he first read Sandra Cisneros’ work when he was in college

 

-at about 15:40, Ruben talks about Oscar Cásares, whose book Brownsville, among others, has given him “chills at will” and spoken to him so profoundly

 

-at about 17:50, Ruben talks about the “lightbulb moment” when he was published for the first time at UT-Pan American’s Gallery student literary journal, which was such a proud moment and catapulted him into writing as a more serious pursuit

 

-at about 21:00, Ruben talks about his early writing being “more like auto fiction” 

 

-at about 22:40, Ruben talks about mentors and writing supporters like Rene Saldaña, 

 

-at about 24:20, Ruben talks about his schedule and routine as a writer

 

-at about 25:40, Ruben talks about his piece “La Milagrosa Selena,” anthologized in Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla Pérez and how he has some characters who show up in multiple texts of his

 

-at about 31:30, Ruben reads his piece “La Milagrosa Selena” and discusses her legacy, as well as the recent Netflix series

 

-at about 42:22, Ruben discusses the background and ideas for Throw, including the minor and major characters and their storylines, characteristics and analogues; this also leads to a discussion of those Chicanos who speak Spanish fluently and others who don’t and issues of identity around this

 

-at about 50:20, Ruben discusses the main character of “Llorona”/Karina, the dichotomy of her personality, and her connections to the Legend of La Llorona

 

-at about 53:45, Ruben discusses Young Adult as a genre and giving young readers more credit as deep thinkers, and Pete reads a couple of profound observations from characters in Throw to illustrate Ruben’s point

 

-at about 55:40, Ruben discusses the “father figure”/”cautionary tale” character of Benny and the inspiration for the character; this goes with the book’s theme of redemption that Ruben talks about

 

-at about 59:15, Ruben reads, and he and Pete discuss the resonance of the moving excerpt from Throw

 

-at about 1:03:50, Ruben talks about his two major upcoming projects, including his literary adult book coming out-The Family Izquierdo-and a sequel/prequel to Throw

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