"My Life with the Wave" by Octavio Paz


By Adam Kampe
black and white image of woman carrying a pot in shadow against wall
Cover of Sun, Stone, and Shadows: 20 Great Mexican Short Stories  
Several years back, Jorge F. Hernandez edited a fine collection of short stories for the NEA by notable Mexican authors, including Rosario Castellanos, Carlos Fuentes, and, Juan Rulfo. In this collection, Sun, Stone, and Shadows (or Sol, piedra, y sombra), are 20 excellent short stories that cover a wide range of styles. This year happens to be the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of these masters of the written word, Nobel Prize-winning writer and poet, Octavio Paz. The NEA produced a suite of materials for Sun, Stone, and Shadows in both English and Spanish. You can find the Readers' Guides, Teachers Guide, and Audio Guides housed together on the wonderful Big Read site. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we present a short and sweet listening gift. Here's Paz's original and touching story, "My Life with the Wave," as read by actor Tony Plana.   A special thanks to producer Cecilia Vaisman. 

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