Jan Baross debuts as novelist with magical-realist story
By Paul Haist
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What do Garbriel Garcia Marquez, Isabelle Allende, Jorge Amando, Jorge Luis Borges, Umberto Eco, Julio Cort?zar and Portland's Jan Baross have in common?
It's certainly not that they are North American Jews, which only Baross is.
No, what links these writers is that they all have published stories and novels in the style of magical realism.
Baross, who is known locally as an artist and dramatist, offically joined the ranks of magical realists recently with the publication of her first novel, "Jose Builds a Woman," due out this month from Ooligan Press, the publishing arm of Portland State University.
"Jose Builds a Woman," in the words of the Ooligan Press publicist, is the story of Tortugina, whose happiness and hardship are tied to the sea and to the men in her life, from her demanding father and dead lover to her cruel, abusive husband and beautiful, sensitive son.
Where in the world does a Jewish woman find the inspiration to create a story whose broad form is so closely tied to a culture or cultures vastly different from her own?
"I was reading a newspaper story about a guy in Tijuana who built a five-story woman and lives there," said Baross. "I though that would be a nice metaphor for rebirth."
She says she never really intended to write a novel. She began the project—trapped in the rain and with time on her hands in Seville—merely to see if she had the ability to write in the manner of a novelist.
"I started writing and it just flowed out of me," she said.
It flowed out of her for six years, during which time she studied with novelist Tom Spanbauer ("The Man Who Fell in Love With the Moon," "Now Is the Hour," "In the City of Shy Hunters") and noted writing teacher Carolyn Altman.
As for writing a magical-realist story she said, "I didn't choose the genre. Magical realism is the way I think."
Baross' book already has garnered praise from other noted writers.
Portland's Ursula LeGuin said, "Let Baross take you for a wild ride on her magical-realism camel from the village of Octupus to the village of The Women through an extravagantly carnal Mexico of the Imagination."
Oregon writer Molly Gloss called Baross' book "one of the most magical and beautiful and honest novels about men and women, lovers, mothers and sons, about life and death that you'll ever be privileged to read. Baross has a gift for tender beauty on the page."
Baross will read from her novel at Mark Woolley Gallery at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 25. She also will show a series of her paintings inspired by her travels in Mexico. Baross also created the cover art for her book.
Mark Woolley Gallery is located at 120 NW Ninth St.
Pre-sale copies of Baross' novel are available. Send $15 to Ooligan PRess, 6426 SW Barnes Road, Portland, OR 97221. The book will retail for $24.94.
