The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli, author of Lost Children Archive, is a wholly original book, not fitting into any category. Written in collaboration with Jumex Juice factory workers in Mexico City, this novel-essay took form by drawing on the tradition of tobacco readers in mid-19th century Cuba, who read to factory workers to alleviate the tedium. Luisella decided to write this novel, in installments, for and with the factory workers.

Gustav Sanchez Sanchez, known as Highway, is a great auctioneer, he can auction anything, but mostly what he is selling is stories. Through this wildly imaginative book we learn the story of his teeth. it is so wonderful, that I don’t want to spoil it for the reader with too many details, I will only say that Marilyn Monroe’s teeth play a big role.

This is a meditation on art, literature and storytelling among other things; Luiselli brings forth deeply profound ideas with hilarity and wit. This earlier book is nothing at all like Lost Children Archive, but it gives the reader insight into the author’s brilliant and wholly original mind.