My Body is Paper

A newly discovered manuscript of unpublished poems and stories by one of the most important Chicanx voices of the last thirty years.

"Before he died in 1996, Cuadros left behind this remarkable gift. . . . this intense work depicts the rejection . . . often faced in Latino families, the empowerment spurred by sexual freedom, the menacing impact of the epidemic and the personal toll on Cuadros and his friends." --Los Angeles Times on Gil Cuadros' City of God, honored as an "Essential Los Angeles Book," April 2023

Although written more than a quarter century ago, these captivating stories and evocative poems leave an indelible mark on readers, speaking to issues we grapple with today--sex, spirit, family, religion, culture of origin, and the betrayals of the body. Cuadros fearlessly sheds light on the indifference and cluelessness of the healthcare system toward people from marginalized communities: the trauma of HIV/AIDS still reverberates for those afflicted with our most recent plague. Family and church may be the first experiences of love and community, but too often try to tamp us down, leaving a trail of profound mistrust. Sex can free us, and can wound us, and we may welcome both. Cuadros dives into these complexities with a resilient spirit, animating the everyday and the imagination.

Cuadros's distinctive gifts breathe life into this writing, among them an unwavering willingness to address the truth head-on, however searing; a fearless capacity to risk it all; a dark sense of humor that exposes vulnerabilities and captures the essence of his life experience; and a lack of sentimentality that feels both bracing and cleansing. He creates an unapologetically raw and authentic experience for the reader, never coddling or patronizing but, instead, showing us that we too can survive these times--and beyond. Cuadros invites us to join him on this transformative journey.