The Stories We Grew Up On: Featuring Paula Jiménez
In honor of Children's Book Week, our Meg Team members are sharing the books and stories that impacted them as young readers!
For almost 80 years, the CBCA has been celebrating and commemorating the incredible impact and significance of children’s literature through a beloved one-week event known as Children’s Book Week. This year, the Meg Team takes a walk down memory lane, recalling the “Stories We Grew Up On.” These books and stories ignited our imaginations and left an everlasting impact.
Let’s continue with Paula Jiménez, our Spanish team’s Program Manager!
1. Paula, what is a book, story, or series that impacted your life as a young reader?
A Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Marquez.
2. Describe how you remember reading/being read this book, e.g. how did you “grow up on this book?”
I found the book in the local library and fell in love with the images that came with it. While reading it I could see my family, my roots and traditions in the book. The town of “Macondo” became my house, the characters were my family. The way in which García Marquez portrayed Colombia’s Caribbean culture struck me, and to this day, this is my favourite book.
3. What is your favourite quote, image, or character from this book or story?
Two parts of the book. First, the image of one of the characters descending into madness and eventual death while tied to a tree. Decay after a life of achievements. Second, the end of the book was perfect. The story comes full circle for the Buendía family.
4. Did this book inspire you or impact you in any way?
This book made me fall in love with Magical Realism and put me face-to-face with realities of my society and culture. It opened a door for me to explore my country’s history, and figure out myself as a member of Colombian society.
5. Why do you recommend this book to others?
Because it is a story of a family, but it is the story of ALL families. Everyone could find a little bit of themselves in this book. It is also a fantastic representation of Colombia’s Caribbean culture, society, politics and history.
6. Anything else you’d like to share, Paula?
Books like A Hundred Years of Solitude can seem daunting to many readers, but I still recommend giving it some time and creating a family tree to keep track of which characters are doing what.
Paula is the Program Coordinator and Curriculum designer of the Spanish Program for Meg. She has been teaching English and Spanish to students from Colombia and Australia for six years. She is passionate about languages, culture, and communication in context, which led her to complete a Master program in Applied Linguistics. Her interests include; intercultural communication, cultural linguistics and the greater role of technology in education. She can be found on LinkedIn.