C.M. Vazquez
Bio
She/Her. English Professor. Aspiring Novelist. 30+. Proud Latina.
I'm obsessed with my cat and fantasy fiction.
Stories (48)
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Catharsis on the Silver Screen
This piece was originally written in 2019 for a graduate school course. Some revisions were made. My first job when I was eighteen years old, wide eyed and bushy tailed and more than willing to do anything to prove myself. It did not matter that I was just working at an AMC, making minimum wage for far too much work and far too irregular schedules. I had to do my best at the job I was given. Sometimes, I put too much into. Way, way too much.
By C.M. Vazquez2 years ago in Geeks
Legacy
I do not enjoy breakfast food, much less in the morning. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, and waffles are best served at night, for dinner. Leftovers are best for breakfast, such as steak from the night before or a slice of pizza with cheese that melts in your mouth when the pizza is reheated. However, I have, by some cruel twist of fate, become an expert in cooking breakfast food. I can cook dinner, particularly Italian fare, and many Mexican-style dishes, though most of the job is left to my mom and dad, the latter which honestly cooks better than any man has a right to, particularly a non-feminist conservative. However, there is an aspect of food neither of my parents has ever conquered: American breakfast.
By C.M. Vazquez2 years ago in Families
What Stories Should We Tell?
Reposted for Vocal's new Writers community. What stories are we allowed to tell? I would argue this question is as old as what constitutes literature and is especially provocative in our current socio-political climate. Everyone has a story inside them, but what stories are you allowed to tell? How far are you allowed to share them? With fiction, this is a complicated question. It can lead to angry fans who claim you did not portray a culture or gender correctly. It can lead to backlash from individuals who find an experience too narrow, even if it relates to your own experiences. However, creative nonfiction comes with its own problems as well. In some ways, the questions are more intense because nonfiction writers are bearers of truth. They discuss real people and real stories, which creates ramifications about everything they write. So, the ramifications don’t just land on them, but on other people as well. The truth is enough, but when is the truth too much? When do we hold back? When do we plow forward? What are willing to give up to have our stories told? The truth is not simple. It is complicated. But, sometimes a story just needs to be told. We decide what stories we are allowed to tell by deciding what is most important to us in our pursuits of the truth.
By C.M. Vazquez2 years ago in Writers
Me Before You
Me Before You deserves credit for evoking a visceral reaction from me. The book is ableist, even ignoring the ending. The story didn't dive deeply enough into any real trauma (such as Lou's sexual assault) and treated Will like a vehicle for overcoming Lou's issues. It's a tone deaf romance.
By C.M. Vazquez2 years ago in Critique
The Chronicles of Narnia
Reposted for the new Book Club community. Warning: Very academic. Most scholarship centered around the Chronicles of Narnia focuses on the religious imagery C.S. Lewis utilized within his fairytale world. Christianity is undoubtably an important aspect of the Chronicles of Narnia; Aslan represents Jesus, Edmund represents Judas, and countless other religious allegories litter the series, but that is not all the series has to offer. In fact, whether intentional or not, Lewis wrote a compelling tale of the immigrant journey, particularly with the Pevensies. The four siblings are activists and provide a service to the Narnia, freeing them from the White Witch. However, they are deported from their true home, sent back to England. They eventually return, only to make the journey back to England because it is what is best for their people. They are forced to leave their kingdom in the hand of another king, a descendant of colonizers, though Narnia is where they feel they truly belong.
By C.M. Vazquez2 years ago in BookClub
Me and Natasha: Excerpt
Context: My ass was named Natasha by a childhood friend of mine because it is so big it was its own person. Assess are useful, so I will never call anyone who made me feel like shit as a teenager an ass. I will, however, call them everything else. Natasha was not the only part of my body that attracted attention, but she was the star of the show. Frankly, even I was just supporting cast, especially to teenage boys and men.
By C.M. Vazquez2 years ago in Chapters
A Defense of New Moon
New Moon is a harrowing depiction of an insecure girl suffering from depression. Whether or not we agree with why Bella is depressed, Meyer captures her internal turmoil perfectly. The book is lacking as a romance and it's definitely not a feminist masterpiece, but it is a fascinating psychological study.
By C.M. Vazquez2 years ago in Critique
Bass Cleft
Written four years ago. D major. F minor. G major. There were so many keys when playing the cello, but those were my wheelhouse, the ones I gravitated towards. Was I a good player? I still cannot answer that question, though I have not touched a cello in seven years. Funny, considering it was my life for seven years as well. Soon, it will be a longer time since I touched a cello than when I played.
By C.M. Vazquez3 years ago in Confessions
The Chronicles of Narnia: An Immigration Story
Most scholarship centered around the Chronicles of Narnia focuses on the religious imagery C.S. Lewis utilized within his fairytale world. Christianity is undoubtably an important aspect of the Chronicles of Narnia; Aslan represents Jesus, Edmund represents Judas, and countless other religious allegories litter the series, but that is not all the series has to offer. In fact, whether intentional or not, Lewis wrote a compelling tale of the immigrant journey, particularly with the Pevensies. The four siblings are activists and provide a service to the Narnia, freeing them from the White Witch. However, they are deported from their true home, sent back to England. They eventually return, only to make the journey back to England because it is what is best for their people. They are forced to leave their kingdom in the hand of another king, a descendant of colonizers, though Narnia is where they feel they truly belong.
By C.M. Vazquez3 years ago in Geeks
