Autobiografías lectoras de escritoras latinoamericanas. Notas en torno a Lector&s, colección de la Editorial Ampersand

Abstract

Lector&s, collection by Editorial Ampersand, aims to explore the connections between life and reading experiences for a diverse group of writers from various geographical backgrounds. The collection spans a spectrum from essays to autobiographies. In this article, I propose an approach to the collection by analyzing three works: El texto encuentra un cuerpo (2019) by Margo Glantz, El ojo en la mira (2021) by Diamela Eltit, and Una lectora de provincia (2023) by María Teresa Andruetto, all through the lens of reader autobiographies. By the term “reader autobiographies,” I refer to a narrative practice of recollection that connects the aesthetic experience of reading with cultural memory. This practice exists in the space between the public and the private. As a hypothesis, I argue that the creation of these reader autobiographies serves as a critical exercise. Through them, the authors not only reflect on their own cultural journeys but also raise concerns related to the roles traditionally assigned to women in the cultural sphere. Specifically, I highlight three major themes in my exploration of each text: reflection on reading, (political) revision of the literary canon, and the conceptualization of “women’s writing.”