Price: $8.00 CDN
JULY 2024
Nonfiction / Essays
A first-generation scholar, Maria João Maciel Jorge immigrated to Canada from the Azores in 1989 and holds a PhD from the University of Toronto. She is an Associate Professor of Portuguese and Luso-Brazilian Studies and Associate Dean of Global and Community Engagement in the faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at York University in Toronto, Canada. Her research and academic publications focus on early modern Spanish and Portuguese literature, colonial and New World encounters, and Portuguese island culture and literature. For her work in raising the profile of the Azores abroad, including the creation of an undergraduate course at York University focused on the culture and literature of the Azores, Professor Maciel Jorge received a Medal for Professional Merit from the Government of the Azores in 2019. She lives in Brampton, Ontario.
Praise for THE HYPHEN AND OTHER THOUGHTS FROM THE IN-BETWEEN
“An exquisite exploration of immigrant life: bent by empires, living in between…no book connects me better to my Azorean ancestors.”
~ Elaine Ávila, Fulbright Scholar to the Azores and author of FADO: The Saddest Music in the World
“In THE HYPHEN and Other Thoughts from the In-Between, Maria João Maciel Jorge shares a deeply personal narrative of identity and belonging. Having migrated from the Azores to Canada, she finds herself in a liminal space, not quite Portuguese, not entirely Canadian, and grappling with the intricacies of her Azorean heritage. In this compelling narrative, she takes us on a profound journey into the heart of micro-aggressions faced by Azoreans. With raw and personal anecdotes, she peels back the layers of subtle yet damaging prejudices hidden beneath the surface of seemingly innocent remarks. This book exposes the often-overlooked reality of being underestimated and stereotyped based on one’s regional background. These are not narratives about lost identity or cultural abandonment. Instead, they are a candid exploration of embracing a dual heritage, navigating the challenges and joys of living between two worlds. This is a heartfelt account of the author’s journey to harmoniously blend her Azorean roots with her new Canadian life, revealing the rich tapestry of a bicultural existence.”
~ Irene Maria F. Blayer, PhD – Professor – Brock University, Canada
“This collection of short essays is smart, cleverly crafted and packed with insight and humour. Some of these stories made me laugh out loud. Others made me think and will stay with me for a long time. A most enjoyable read.”
~ Esmeralda Cabral, author of How to Clean a Fish: And Other Adventures in Portugal
