Bookworm

Valeria Luiselli: The Story of My Teeth

Originally commissioned to write a novel for Jumex, a Mexican beverage company and supporter of the arts, Luiselli instead chose to write a novel for Jumex's factory workers.

By Michael Silverblatt • May 19, 2016 • 29m Listen

Valeria Luiselli's latest book, The Story of My Teeth (Coffee House Press), had a very unique origin. Originally commissioned to write a novel for Jumex, a Mexican beverage company and supporter of the arts, Luiselli instead chose to write a novel for Jumex's factory workers. Using the nom de plume Gustavo Sanchez Sanchez, aka Carretera, she would write a chapter, have the workers read it, then write the next installments based on their feedback. For a story with an odd premise – an auctioneer saving up money to purchase Marilyn Monroe's teeth and have them implanted in his mouth – she found it interesting that her factory readers were mainly women.

Read an excerpt from The Story of My Teeth.

Photo: Alex Pieros

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Bookworm

Valeria Luiselli: The Story of My Teeth

Originally commissioned to write a novel for Jumex, a Mexican beverage company and supporter of the arts, Luiselli instead chose to write a novel for Jumex's factory workers.

Share

Bookworm

Valeria Luiselli: The Story of My Teeth

Originally commissioned to write a novel for Jumex, a Mexican beverage company and supporter of the arts, Luiselli instead chose to write a novel for Jumex's factory workers.

Share