I would like to second Polyana's recommendation of Jorge Amado in the magical realism style. If you aare still interested in trying something new, how about Angeles Mastretta? In my opinion, it is essential to read her work in Spanish - it loses way too much sensuality in translation.

What about The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea? Set in Mexico around the turn of the century, it was an excellent read, however, I think it was actually written in English, though I could be mistaken.

If you're interested in magic realism written by Mexican-Americans "Bless Me Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya and "The Road to Tamazuchale" by Ron Arias are fun books to read. In these stories you can discover the magic that's instilled in the Native American, Chicano experience in the Southwest United States.

Hello Leonor,

I'm also Latin American, but I agree with Doug, Latin American literature is so vast, Magic Realism is just a little part of it. In my opinion, Cortazar and Vargas Llosa don't qualify as Magic Realism writers, so I can understand why you can't get what you are looking from them. I personally love their styles, but if Magic Realism is what you are looking for, I would sugest Jorge Amado's "La Desaparicion de la Santa", "Doña Flor y Sus Dos Maridos" and there's a book that you would probably love, but the author is not a Latin American is from Mozambique. The name of the book is "Terra Sonambula" by Mia Couto. This book is pure Magic Realism, I read it in Portuguese, but Portuguese translates so nicely to Spanish that I'm sure you won't lost anything.

Leonor, I might point out that many contemporary Latin American writers get very frustrated with the idea many outsiders have that all Latin American literature is (or should be) "magical realist." In other words, I would encourage you to explore some of the other many and rich styles that Latin American literature has to offer. Having said that, I suggest that you read Laura Esquivel's "Como agua para chocolate" if you haven't yet done so. Esquivel is a controversial writer: often hated by critics and other writers and yet very popular with the reading public. Personally, I love "Como agua para chocolate" and hate everything else she's done. This novel is certainly in the "magical realist" vein. Enjoy!