August Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Books for Adults: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Also in Translation
English-language reviews of the latest Spanish-language books for adults
Edited by Aida Bardales -- Library Journal, 08/15/2009
FICTION | NONFICTION | ALSO IN TRANSLATION
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Ella, que todo lo tuvo.
(Ella, Who Had It All)
Becerra, Ángela.
Mexico: Planeta. 2009. 422p. ISBN 978-607-07-0143-6. pap. $21.95. FICTION
Colombian Becerra is a well-known and widely read novelist, particularly in Spain. Formerly a creative director in advertising, she left her career behind and turned to literature, publishing a poetry collection in 2001 and her first novel two years later. In this, her third, winner of the III Premio Planeta Casamérica, a writer named Ella has ended up alone in Florence after possibly killing her husband and child by accident. The plethora of characters and events can be a bit overwhelming: schizophrenia, prostitution, death, voyeurism, and historical reconstruction are only a few of the themes touched upon, some for no apparent reason. Still, the prose is well executed, and Becerra’s capabilities and her extensive knowledge of Latin American fiction and poetry, which are quoted throughout, are evident and enriching. A great beach read; recommended for all bookstores and large library collections.—Sophie Lavoie, Univ. of New Brunswick, Fredericton
Los esclavos.
(The Slaves)
Chimal, Alberto.
Mexico: Almadía. 2009. 149p. ISBN 978-607-411-011-1. pap. $14.95. STORIES
Recognized Mexican writer Chimal received the Juan Luis Potosi National Award for short stories in 2002 and the award Cuento Benemérito de América several years prior. In this latest compilation, Chimal uses two different stories to describe the horrors that sex slaves experience. Living in contemporary Mexico, his characters are hidden away, removed from civilization. Yuyis is an underage girl, a sex slave for a cheap pornography production house. Her owner, Marlene, constantly abuses her physically, mentally, and sexually. Yuyis has never been outside the walls of the house where she has grown up, tied to iron bars. She is kept mostly naked, and the few items of clothing she possesses are all sex costumes. When one of the many policemen she is forced to sleep with (as payment for his silence) grows attached to Yuyis, her fate changes. Conversely, Mundo is the sex slave of a rich, older man, Golo, who makes him his pet dog. Mundo, a thirtysomething married man with children, switches roles from dog to human at Golo’s command; he is also the victim of Golo’s physical, mental, and sexual abuses. Mundo’s destiny changes when he is eventually granted his freedom. Chimal’s description of the scenery, smells, and feelings his characters experience are accurate and essential yet so effective that the reader is truly disturbed. Even his language is precise, employing swear words or refined vocabulary to better depict each character’s world. Recommended for libraries with large literary collections or serving mature readers.—Ana Katherine Bonfante, Berwyn, IL
Papeles inesperados.
(Unexpected Papers)
Cortázar, Julio.
México/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2009. 486p. ISBN 978-607-11-0208-9. pap. $21.99. LITERATURE
Renowned Argentine writer Cortázar revolutionized the international literary world with the publication of his avant-garde novel, Rayuela (Hopscotch). Twenty-five years after his death, his widow, Aurora Bernárdez, and literary critic Carles Álvarez Garriga have published a collection of various texts divided into three sections: Prosas (“Prose”), Entrevistas ante el espejo (“Interviews in Front of the Mirror”), and Poemas (“Poems”). The editors note that the texts follow an internal logic and are grouped by affinities. This volume includes interviews, prologs, and musings about art, literature, and other topics. Most of the texts are quite short, some just a paragraph. Particularly notable are the “Historias,” which have unexpected endings, à la Cortázar. The “Fondos de cajón” section comprises unrelated pages that “cannot be compared even among themselves,” according to the editor. This collection offers Cortázar aficionados and readers in general new facets of the author. Recommended primarily for academic libraries.—Liliana Wendorff, Univ. of North Carolina at Pembroke
Sinfonía en blanco.
(Symphony in White)
Lisboa, Adriana.
tr. by Álvar Inchausti. Mexico: Alfaguara: Santillana, dist. by B&T. 2009. 230p. ISBN 978-970-58-0453-3. pap. $22.95. FICTION
First published in Portuguese in 2001, this award-winning novel paints a vivid picture of two sisters who are survivors of incest at the hands of their father, María Inés as witness and Clarice as victim. Intrepid María Inés continually does things because they are forbidden, while and Clarice is the good girl who follows the rules until it almost destroys her. The title is taken from the James Abbott McNeill Whistler painting of a girl in white, a vision of María Inés that Tomás, an artist, fell in love with as a young man in Rio de Janeiro. Whether they can recapture their lost passion is in question as the novel opens, with Tomás and Clarice—now living next door to each other in Jabuticabais—awaiting María Inés on a long postponed visit. The action takes place among Jabuticabais, in rural Brazil; Rio de Janeiro; and Venice, Italy. As members of the privileged, landowning class, the protagonists appreciate classical music, paintings, and gelée exfoliante Lancôme. By the final chapter, which takes place the day after María Inés’s arrival, Lisboa has taken the reader through the crucial moments in each sister’s life, deftly weaving a satisfying tale of pain and survival. While it is not an easy read, the novel contains an important story artfully told. A good selection for both public and academic collections.—Sara Martinez, Hispanic Resource Ctr., Tulsa City-Cty. Lib. Sys.
El viajero del siglo
(The Traveler of the Century)
Neuman, Andrés.
Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2009. 531p. ISBN 978-607-11-0226-3. pap. $19.99. FICTION
STARAt only 32, Spain-based Argentine writer Neuman has become a leading voice in Latin American 
literature. His fourth and most ambitious novel is this year’s winner of the prestigious Premio Alfaguara. Hans, a traveler and translator, arrives in the fictional Central European town of Wandenburgo, where some mysterious force prevents him from leaving. There, he befriends a street musician and courts Sophie Gottlieb, daughter of a local patrician, even though she is engaged. The main accomplishment of this literary tour de force is its blending of styles and genres, from essay to history, poetry, fantasy, and eroticism. Hans and Sophie are engaging in their worship of love and poetry, but their adulterous romance goes by with surprisingly little drama. A mysterious masked attacker creates a bit of suspense in a town that everybody says is often rocked by historical tidal waves but where we never see much happening. Long philosophical, ethical, literary, religious, and historical discussions about the fate of post-Napoleon Europe take place in the Gottlieb house, some of which are connected to current events, but often they seem far too detached from the characters’ lives. Still, the highly accomplished Neuman manages a lot of brilliant writing. Recommended for general fiction collections.—Carlos Rodríguez Martorell, East Elmhurst, NY
El dinero del Diablo.
(Devil’s Money)
Palou, Pedro Angel.
Mexico: Planeta. 2009. 277p. ISBN 978-607-07-0144-3. pap. $17.95. SUSPENSE
Palou has had a distinguished career in academia and is the prolific author of dozens of books, many of them acclaimed. This tale of Vatican intrigue was a runner-up for the 2009 Premio Planeta-Casamérica. Because of his past detective work, Ignacio Gonzaga is called to the Vatican to investigate the grisly murder of a fellow Jesuit priest. A conspiracy is afoot to conceal deplorable but decidedly dull dealings in Vatican history that involved anti-Semitism, concordats with Fascists, Swiss bank accounts, homicide, and papicide, which unfold in flashbacks to the 1930s in alternating chapters. While the details of papal politics and misdeeds may be fascinating, the leaden chapters disrupt the flow of the narrative. Readers expecting another Da Vinci code will be sorely disappointed: Palou’s historical preoccupation is framed in a formulaic crime novel with all of the standard elements, but the action is primarily to be found in the dialog. Recommended for bookstores where highbrow espionage has its fans.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
Los vivos y los muertos.
(The Living and the Dead)
Paz Soldán, Edmundo.
Spain/U.S.: Alfaguara: Santillana. 2009. 206p. ISBN 978-1-60396-624-5. pap. $19.99. MYSTERY
Bolivian Paz Soldán was inspired to write this rather dark novel by combining true stories of crimes committed during the 1990s in the little town of Dryden in upstate New York, not far from Cornell University, where he 
lives and teaches. A pervert who likes to wear masks and spy on neighbors and strangers pursues a young cheerleader who lives in his neighborhood; she later turns up dead, along with her friend. Paz Soldán manages to convey the perverse and often violent permutations that can flourish in seemingly wholesome and innocent settings of the American Dream world. He certainly has all the little details of daily life—particularly from a high school perspective—down pat. To some readers, Paz Soldán’s attention to details like fast food, computer games, web sites, and social pressures may seem like criticism of all that makes U.S. life so appealing but finally horrific, and it’s unclear whether he is playing with the horror genre or doing something deeper—e.g., noting the great local capacity for violence in daily life or exploring personality disorders or even the self-indulgent perspectives of persons who live in countries where violence is seemingly less random. Recommended for libraries with strong thriller and mystery collections.—Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
La sombra de lo que fuimos.
(The Shadow of What We Once Were)
Sepúlveda, Luis.
Spain: Espasa Calpe: Planeta. 2009. 174p. ISBN 978-84-670-3100-3. pap. $14.95. HISTORICAL FICTION
Multi-award-winning Chilean author Sepúlveda has many published works to his credit, most notably Un viejo que leía novelas de amor (The Old Man Who Read Love Stories). This latest work centers on the lives of three ex-militants who fled Chile after General Pinochett took over in 1973. Expatriates Cacho Salinas, Lolo Garmendia, and Lucho Arenciba return years later and try to enjoy a normal life in modern democratic Chile. After a mysterious character known as La Sombra (“The Shadow”) contacts all three, they reconnect via e-mail and meet to relive the emotions they experienced during the coup—and to perform one last deed. Sepúlveda effectively portrays the current political sentiment and culture of Chile, using aptdescriptions of important cultural places to help transport readers there. Despite the weighty issues, Sepúlveda’s voice is at times comical, making for an entertaining and easy read. Recommended for all bookstores and especially individuals with an interested in Chile and its history.—Ana Katherine Bonfante, Berwyn, IL
Paraíso es tu memoria.
(Your Memory Is Paradise)
Tovar y de Teresa, Rafael.
México: Alfaguara: Santillana, dist. by B&T. 2009. 290p. ISBN978-970-58-0362-8. pap. $19.99. FICTION
This marks the first fiction foray of Tovar y de Teresa, best known for his leadership on the Mexican cultural scene as a former ambassador and current director of the National Institute of Fine Arts. The author takes as his subject the De la Llave family, wealthy land owners of the Mexican ruling class. The nonlinear narrative opens in the mid-20th century and spans multiple generations, though it most closely follows the life of Justo de la Llave, the youngest of 13 children, born in Mexico in 1913 in the midst of the Mexican Revolution. Through the story of Justo’s parents, the author explores the lifestyle of the upper class during the Porfiriato, the golden age of the Mexican oligarchy under 19th-century liberal dictator Porfirio Díaz. Scenes of Justo’s girlfriend (and later wife) in mid-life provide snapshots of land expropriation during later moments of agrarian reform. The narrative weaves a Mexican story into world events, as it follows characters into exile and, later in the century, on extended trips to Europe. Despite the often-stilted dialog and one-dimensional characters, especially the working class, this is an interesting read for its wealth of quotidian detail about the life of the upper class throughout a century of Mexican history. Recommended for academic libraries and large collections of Mexican literature.—Laura Barbas-Rhoden, Wofford Coll., Spartanburg, SC
Llamadas de Amsterdam.
(Calls from Amsterdam)
Villoro, Juan.
Mexico: Almadía. 2009. 80p. ISBN 978-607-411-014-2. Pap. $8.95. FICTION
Villoro (b. Mexico, 1956), a student and protégé of the great master of the short story, Guatemalan Augusto Monterroso, has received several literary awards. Here, Juan José, a divorced painter, is still intrigued by his former wife, Nuria, who is now remarried. His reminiscences on their married life serve as backdrop to this middle-age reflection on the nature of loneliness, memory, and affection. Years before, Juan José and Nuria were set to go to Amsterdam and had shipped all their possessions to Holland in anticipation of a special year. But when Nuria’s father fell ill, their trip was cancelled. It soon became apparent, in their empty Mexico City apartment, that their marriage was equally empty. Although Villoro incorporates many details of everyday life in a bustling city like Mexico—the restaurants, parks, kidnappings of ordinary citizens, and friendships between middle-aged friends—the story lacks punch. There is a clever twist, which gives the book its title, but it is insufficient to explain Juan José’s obsession with his ex and his sense of something unsettling about Nuria’s devotion to her father. Although Juan José’s behavior is borderline obsessive, Villoro seems to be more interested in examining our solitude and need to connect with others. Nevertheless, his capacity for fantasy and understanding of human frailty recalls Italo Calvino’s Difficult Loves. Recommended for libraries with strong Mexican literature collections.—Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
Herencia e identidad. Historia, principios y prácticas bautistas.
(Heritage and Identity: History, Principles, and Baptist Practices)
Gutiérrez, Ángel Luis.
U.S.: Judson Pr. 2009.183p. bibliog. ISBN 978-0-8170-1557-2. Pap. $18. RELIGION
Gutiérrez was a noted figure of the Baptist Church in Puerto Rico and Latin America. He served as a church administrator, local pastor to several Puerto Rican congregations, and professor of Baptist history at the Seminário Evangélico de Puerto Rico (Evangelical Seminary). Prior to his passing in 2006, he wrote a draft of this volume that was finished and edited for publication by his wife, Miriam Z. Gutiérrez, and son, Juan Ángel Gutiérrez. Both have added small essays to the book. Part introduction, part pastoral manual, and part textbook, the text briefly examines issues that are key to understanding the Baptist Church, focusing on the church as a free community of believers. Intermixed with these basic discussions are the author’s views on the administration of the Church. Since the audience for this volume is pastors and students, each chapter includes suggested discussion topics. The writing showcases some of the problems encountered in the writing of an experienced religious practitioner: too many ideas, limited elaboration, and a lack of unification. An elaboration on the individuality of the Church in Puerto Rico or the rest of Latin America would have been useful. Recommended for religious and seminary libraries and bookstores.—Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT
Tierra de todos.
(Everyone’s Land)
Ramos, Jorge.
U.S.: Vintage Español: Random House. 2009. 180p. ISBN 978-0-307-47519-0. pap. $13. ESSAY
STAROne of the U.S. Latino world’s most respected and influential personalities, Ramos has won eight Emmys for co-anchoring Univision’s highly rated newscast, which is seen by millions of Latinos in the United States an
d in 13 Latin American countries. In addition, he has written nine best-selling books, including a children’s book, and uses his various forums to promote literacy among Latinos. He came to the United States in 1983 on a student visa and is often referred to as the “voice of the voiceless” for his passionate stand on social issues and defense of immigrants and Latinos. In this essay, he continues to argue for the immediate reform of the U.S. immigration system. Ramos concisely and effectively articulates the urgent need for action, backing up his arguments with statistics and interviews with political leaders at the center of the issue and addressing then-candidate Obama’s promise to enact immigration reform within his first year in office. Impassioned yet factual and forcefully supporting core U.S. values of equality and opportunity, this small book will both inform and inspire the Latino community. Highly recommended for all public libraries, academic libraries, and general bookstores.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
Soy la mujer remolino.
(I Am the Whirling Woman)
Sabina, María & María Tzu.
Mexico: Almadía. 2008. 60p. ISBN 978-84-86279-55-4. $27.95. ART
Soft yet powerful chants of female empowerment and thick drips of watercolors dance on the pages of this project. Less a straightforward text than an art book, it pairs the work of two remarkable Mexican indigenous women. Sabina, known for being a bit of a Sixties spiritual cult figure, once provided both wisdom and psilocybin mushrooms to gringo youth. Her strongest work as a curandera was her poetry, or healing chants, which evoke the contrasts of nature and female strength in simple yet powerful language. It is fitting then, to have Tzu, a master artisan weaver from the Chiapas highlands and no stranger to the spiritualism that Sabina possessed, finally take Sabina’s work home and nest her words among watercolor illustrations. Tzu’s watercolors, much like Sabina’s chants, are evocative of a strong, nuanced simplicity and call to the nature of Chiapas. The book itself is a work of art, with heavy, embossed paper and thick covers and binding. The minimalist layout on most of the pages lets the text and images breathe. A few essays toward the back give some information on the two artists. The poems and explanatory text are also translated into English, although the language of the poetry is straightforward enough that even speakers of rudimentary Spanish should be able to draw meaning from them. Recommended for academic libraries, particularly those with book-arts collections.—Laura Torres, Arlington, MA
Ofensivo y escandaloso. Liderazgo para el nuevo siglo.
(Offensive and Scandalous: Leadership for the New Century)
De León, Jeffrey with Joel Van Dyke.
Grupo Nelson, 2009. 218p. ISBN 978-1-60255-153-4. pap. $13.99. RELIGION/MANAGEMENT
Each an executive director of an international ministerial organization, these authors have decades of ministerial experience, and De León has also served as host of an internationally syndicated radio show. The authors propose a postmodern paradigm of religious leadership, drawing extensively upon the scriptures and their own ministries with gangs and at-risk youth in the United States and Central America. At its core, this model advocates ministering with instead of ministering unto. The authors argue that solving problems for a community represents an outmoded pastoral model and is less effective than working alongside community members, sharing power, raising questions, and listening. They encourage ministers to recognize that the unchanging gospel must be expressed differently according to context and to evangelize courageously by grasping the truth in popular culture. While cleric-centered congregations and ministers preferring other models or not rooted in the Social Gospel theology won’t likely agree with the authors and may even be scandalized by some of their suggestions, intrepid ministers will be inspired to implement this paradigm and revitalize their communities. Recommended for theological libraries and Christian bookstores.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
Fiction
Jesús. Una historia de iluminación.
(Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment)
Chopra, Deepak.
tr. by Guillermina Ruiz. Spain/U.S.: Suma de letras: Santillana. 2009. 338p. ISBN 978-607-11-0190-7. pap. $19.99. FICTION
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Twenty-first-century seekers 
continue to pursue answers to this identity question. Chopra, the best-selling mogul of Eastern spirituality, offers a portrait of Christ that takes a novel approach (pun intended). This work of fiction concentrates on Jesus’s “lost years,” showing that his life path and development are a template for transformation as well as union with God. Evangelical Christians as well as traditional theists may have a difficult time processing Chopra’s portrayal of Christ, particularly the overtones of pantheism (God is all) and monism (all is one). This book is a creative, literary expression. Even those who disagree with Chopra’s theology will glean insights about their own faith. Given Chopra’s popularity and ubiquity, this book is recommended for all public libraries. [LJ 11/1/08]
Rumbo al hermoso norte.
(Into The Beautiful North)
Urrea, Luis Alberto.
tr. by. Enrique Hubbard Urrea. U.S.: Back Bay Books: Little, Brown. 2009. 353p. ISBN 978-0-316-05486-7. pap. $14.99. FICTION
“Perhaps it is time for a new kind of femininity,” declares Nayeli, the 19-year-old heroine of this engaging postglobalization immigration story from the author of La hija de la chuparrosa (The Hummingbird’s Daughter). Nayeli’s small village in the Sinaloa region of Mexico has been drained of its adult males, including her father, by the promise of “El Norte,” and taken over by some shadowy gangsters. Nayeli decides to journey north herself to bring back some of the men who have abandoned their families and their country, thereby saving her beloved town. It would be hard to go wrong with such a premise, and Urrea rises to the occasion with a surprising, inventive, and very funny novel populated by an array of quirky characters. Highly recommended. [LJ 2/15/09]
Nonfiction
Hermano rico, hermana rica. Dos caminos distintos hacia Dios, el dinero y la felicidad.
(Rich Brother Rich Sister: Two Different Paths to God, Money and Happiness)
Kiyosaki, Robert & Emi Kiyosaki.
tr. by Alejandra Ramos. U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2009. 400p. ISBN 978-607-11-0234-8. pap. $19.99. 
MEMOIR
This book, a kind of dual memoir, is exceedingly hard to assess. It tells the parallel and strongly contrasted stories of Robert Kiyosaki, well known, if rather controversially so, as the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, and his sister Emi Kiyosaki (the Venerable Tenzin Kacho), who enjoys an eminence of her own as a Buddhist nun. What unites them, according to Emi, is “the search for meaning, belonging, success, and understanding,” but what remains with the reader is the powerful contrast in their approaches to life the humble nun and the entrepreneurial pal of Donald Trump. [LJ 3/1/09]
Tres Tazas de té. La lucha de un hombre por promover la paz… escuela a escuela.
(Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time)
Mortenson, Greg & David Oliver Relin.
tr. by Cristina Mbarichi Lumu. U.S.: Vintage Español: Random House. 2009. 412p. ISBN 978-0-307-47488-9. pap. $15.
Some failures lead to phenomenal successes, and this American nurse’s unsuccessful attempt to climb K2, the world’s second tallest mountain, is one of them. Dangerously ill when he finished his climb in 1993, Mortenson was sheltered for seven weeks by the small Pakistani village of Korphe; in return, he promised to build the impoverished town’s first school, a project that grew into the Central Asia Institute, which has since constructed more than 50 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. Coauthor Relin recounts Mortenson’s efforts in fascinating detail. As the book moves into the post-9/11 world, Mortenson and Relin argue that the United States must fight Islamic extremism in the region through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. Captivating and suspenseful, with engrossing accounts of both hostilities and unlikely friendships, this book will win many readers’ hearts. [PW 1/9/06; starred]
Almas Gemelas.
(Soul Mates)
Webster, Richard.
tr. by Edgar Rojas & Héctor Ramírez. U.S.: Alamah: Santillana. 2009. 225p. ISBN 978-607-11-0179-2. pap. $14.99. NEW AGE
New Zealander Webster is the author of many books on psychic phenomenon and is a hypnotherapist who performs past-life regressions. The theme of a soul mate caught his attention after he observed that many of his clients appeared to have a special someone with whom they have been through many lifetimes and have a profound relationship. Webster describes what he thinks a soul mate is, explains how to recognize and attract them, and adds some stories of famous soul mates throughout the ages, such as Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett. He describes how to perform a past-life regression and how to use other techniques to discover who one was before this incarnation and who one’s soul mate is. Backed with research, this book is clearly written and engaging. One noticeable error in the copy reviewed was that the analytic index mentioned in the table of contents was missing. Nonetheless, it is recommended for general bookstores and public libraries where similar works are popular.—Marie St. Pierre, Thornton, Colorado
