February Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Books for Adults, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Also in Translation
Edited by Aída Bardales
Feb 23, 2011FICTION
Buscando a Nouf.
(Finding Nouf)
Ferraris, Zoë.
tr. by Raquel Galindo Torres. Spain: RBA, dist. by Santillana USA. 2010. 320p. ISBN 9788498678116. pap. $23.99. FICTION
Ferraris’s murder mystery, set in present-day Saudi Arabia, is a gripping page-turner. Having lived there, Ferraris renders an honest portrait of life in Saudi Arabia, including that of women within that Islamic society. When a pregnant 16-year-old turns up dead days before her marriage, investigator Nayir, a conservative Muslim Palestinian, is not satisfied with how quickly her family wishes to see the case closed. Because of his faith, he struggles with the young girl’s murder, as well as what becomes a complex relationship with the coroner who assists in his investigation. This is a rich novel in that it offers three-dimensional characters in a changing Middle East. In light of the current political landscape, Ferraris’s story is timely. In Nayir, we see the depiction of the Middle Eastern man, a man of faith who questions injustice in a land that in recent weeks has shown the world it has had enough of corruption and whose people want to move toward a place where human rights are relevant. Galindo’s translation is crisp and superb. Strongly recommended for academic and public libraries.—Vivian Gómez, Woodside, NY
En la ciudad de oro y plata.
(In the City of Gold and Silver)
Mourad, Kenizé.
tr. by Paz Pruneda Gonsálvez. Mexico: Planeta. 2010. 415p. ISBN 9786070705915. pap. $22.95. FICTION
This is a fictionalized account of Hazrat Mahal, born into poverty and sold by her parents to courtesans, who becomes queen and defender of her land. In 1856, the rich and decadent kingdom of Awadh is subject to annexation attempts by the powerful British Empire and East India Company. Hazrat Mahal is one of the favored wives with a son and potential heir. When the beloved but weak king is exiled, Hazrat finds herself in the middle of the rebellion, later recognized as India’s first war of independence. Mourad creates a vivid depiction of a crucial moment and a remarkable woman in the history of India. Her narrative is straightforward and engaging with no stylistic distractions; a solid selection for most bookstores and libraries.—Sara Martinez, Hispanic Resource Ctr., Tulsa City–Cty. Lib. Syst. OK
Suicidio.
(Suicide)
Leve, Edouard.
tr. by Julia Osuna Aguilar. Spain: 451 Editores. 2010. 102p. ISBN 9788492891078. pap. $22.95. FICTION
Frenchman Leve was a conceptual artist as well as a writer whose works included a collection of 533 projects titled Oeuvre. This novel, his final work, was delivered to his publisher six days before he took his own life. One of Leve’s main preoccupations dealt with doubles and doubling. Here, he seems to mirror this obsession and neatly closes his life, as well as his work. Although the novel focuses on a childhood friend’s suicide 20 years before, it also serves as a much broader canvas for Leve to reflect on a multitude of aspects regarding living in this world. Despite the certainty of the outcome of the narrator’s decision and the grimness of his final act, the author manages to engage the reader through his taut prose. Suicidio is short and dense, with reflections and observations on the minutiae of the ordinary, so much so that the quotidian seemingly takes on a greater power and things we take for granted acquire a new status. Leve is aware of the impact suicide has on those nearest and dearest but offers the suicide’s perspective. There is no sentimentality in the sober text, yet it is not morbidly compelling either because of the knowledge of his subsequent suicide. A splendid translation. Recommended for all libraries and discerning readers.—Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
Arrebatos carnales II. Las pasiones que consumieron a los protagonistas de la historia de México.
(Carnal Desires II: The Passions That Consumed the Protagonists of Mexican History)
Moreno, Francisco Martín.
Mexico: Planeta. 2010. 491p. ISBN 9786070705380. pap. $21.95. HISTORICAL FICTION
Moreno returns with another illustrious cast of characters from Mexico’s colorful history. The historical significance of each figure in this sweeping panorama is interspersed with prurient details of bed hopping and bodice ripping. Featured first is La Güera Rodríguez, passionate proponent of independence (her own as well as the nation’s). Following the unsurprising chapter on Diego Rivera, whose womanizing is as famed as his art, is the last Mexica princess, Isabel Motecuhzoma, valiant protector of the indigenous peoples and wife of Cuauhtémoc, who provides a disturbing account of being violated by the filthy and foul-smelling Cortés. The segment devoted to Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez is touchingly told by her widower. Concluding this collection is an account of the much-beloved reformist President Lázaro Cárdenas, who evidently had a penchant for barely legal ladies. Moreno has researched deeply and then taken broad liberties with the facts, but it could have happened the way he envisions. Fans of the first Arrebatos Carnales will be delighted by more of the same. Purists and historians who hold these persons to be sacrosanct will be duly horrified. Recommended for most bookstores and public libraries.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch., Pebble Beach, CA
El tramo final.
(The Final Stage)
Merajver-Kurlat, Marta.
U.S.: Jorge Pinto Books. 2010. 119. ISBN 9781934978474. pap. $14.95. FICTION
Set in Buenos Aires, this is the story of the Hogar Santa Brígida, a residential home for elderly people with special care needs. Starting with Vassia, an exiled Russian Jew, and Estrella, who had an affair with a French chauffeur in the Sixties, Merajver-Kurlat recounts the varied life history of several elderly inhabitants who are brought together in this last stage of their lives. Woven into these stories are glimpses of the residents’ interplay with their families, their caregivers, and Hogar Santa Brígida’s owners, whose loneliness, difficult decisions, and enforced cheerfulness seems to parallel their elderly charges’. The author of several self-help books, Merajver-Kurlat explores a difficult and increasingly problematic topic with consideration and perspicacity. From the realistically jolly nurses to the confused sense of reality, the story does not shy away from emotionally fraught questions yet provides a thoughtful study of human solitude. Another unexpected strength is the book’s sense of place. Written in colloquial Argentine Spanish, with casual references to key aspects of Argentine history, this novel is recommended for people who enjoy family dramas or reflections on modern society, as well as for large public libraries.—Alison Hicks, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder
La decepción.
(The Deception)
Yujnovsky, Oscar.
U.S.: Jorge Pinto Books. 2010. 156p. ISBN 9781934978344. pap. FICTION
Argentine Yujnovsky’s third novel focuses on three strong-willed, politically active generations of Argentine women during the 20th century. Marcela, the protagonist, is an avant-garde woman who espouses and defends and Socialist ideals. She dismisses the social rules of her time by openly cohabiting with Leo, her future husband, in the early 1900s. When Marcela realizes that her relationship with Leo has become too complacent and uninteresting, she leaves him for another man. Her daughter, Noemí, and her new husband, Goyo, share Marcela’s political ideology. However, there is a generational gap, as Noemí and her friends have developed a different discourse and do not have room for the “old” activists, who, they believe, did not accomplish what they had set out to accomplish. Noemí’s daughter, María Isabel, a law student, will continue the work of both her mother and grandmother by becoming a strong advocate for human rights. This novel touches upon various periods and aspects of Argentine history—e.g., Peronism, the Malvina Islands War, and protests by the Madres of La Plaza de Mayo—as well as the sociopolitical histories of several American and European countries are mentioned briefly, including Chile under Pinochet, Cuba under Castro, and Spain under Franco. Yujnovsky’s descriptions of the city of Buenos Aires, which include the names of streets and buildings, are superb. Argentine history and literature aficionados will appreciate this novel. Recommended for academic and public libraries.—Liliana Wendorff, Queens Univ. of Charlotte
NONFICTION
El poder curative de los alimentos. Cómo curan la cebolla, el ajo, la miel, el aceite de oliva, el limón y las algas.
(The Healing Power of Foods: How Onions, Garlic, Honey, Olive Oil, Lemon, and Seaweed Heal).
Spain: Integral: RBA, dist. by Santillana USA. 2010. 439p. bibliog. ISBN 9788492981090. pap. $22.99. HEALTH
Good nutrition and healthy foods play an important role in maintaining health. This book examines several foods with strong folk traditions of healing. Several chapters covering each food include information about the history of the food, its nutritional value, healing properties, use as a natural medicine, and as a culinary ingredient, and conditions that it may ameliorate. There are recipes for natural remedies, as well as for dishes such as a lemon frappe and honey mustard sauce. The book also has a bibliography, but the works cited are fairly old. No author or editor is listed as responsible for the book as a whole, and though the verso of the title page lists authors for the chapters about garlic and onions and editors for the others, no information is given about the education or professional qualifications of these people. The information about culinary use and food storage is fine, but the information about the use of the foods as cures for illness is not from evidence-based studies. There is no warning about the dangers of giving honey to infants. Recommended for general bookstores; public libraries serving Spanish speakers with an interest in natural foods may consider for secondary holdings.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., Oakland
La luz eterna de Juan Pablo II. Hombre de Dios, santo de nuestros días.
(The Eternal Light of John Paul II: Man of God, Saint of Our Times)
Alazraki, Valentina.
Mexico: Planeta. 2010. 282p. ISBN 9786070705526. pap. $14.95. BIOGRAPHY/RELIGION
On May 1, 2011, the late Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) will be beatified by Pope Benedict XVI, reaching the next to the last step before being proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church. The process of beatification has been accelerated significantly since his death in 2005. This book by Mexican-born journalist Alazraki is a favorable biography of the late pope organized to stress qualities and attributes that would qualify him for sainthood, what the Church sees as “heroic virtues.” The author of three other books on Pope John Paul II, Alazraki worked over 30 years in Rome as a newspaper and television correspondent. She covered the Vatican during John Paul’s entire papacy, which began in 1978. A sensitive and personal account of the Pope by an admirer who reported on him for 28 years, this book will be of value to public and religious libraries with strong Spanish-language collections.—Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT
Donde el Viento y el Espíritu hablan. Parábola de luz y libertad para despertar.
(Where the Wind and the Spirit Speak: A Parable of Light and Freedom To Awaken)
Berzosa, Raúl.
Spain: Khaf. 2010. 103p. ISBN 978-84-937615-4-7. pap. $19.95. SPIRITUALITY
In contrast to most Catholic bishops, who exercise their duty to teach by issuing brief statements or letters to parishes, Bishop Berzosa has been extremely prolific over the past two decades. His sister is the renowned abbess of one of the fastest-growing cloistered convents in the world. This book begins with an allegory about the spiritual quest: Once upon a time, everyone had what he or she needed, but then rules emerged, and with the rules came inequality, hoarding, and scarcity. Seeking a different way, one person ventured forth from this place into the desert and in the silence, found the Wind and the Son of the Wind (Jesus). The journeyer is reborn to the authentic self and returns to preach the newfound truth. One chapter of this book offers a series of short parables on various spiritual themes. The longest chapter closely resembles the customary structure and content of a bishop’s pastoral letter on faith and prayer. The book’s structure is odd and the allegory imprecise, but the language is accessible and the message is worthwhile: look beyond the ordinary and live deeply your best life. Recommended for Catholic bookstores.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib, Pebble Beach, CA
El arte de Fernando Botero.
(The Art of Fernando Botero)
Botero, Juan Carlos.
Colombia: Planeta. 2010. 235p. illus. ISBN 9789584223074. pap. $29.95 ART/ART HISTORY
Fernando Botero creates quite possibly the most instantly recognizable paintings in the world, featuring figures with swollen yet sensuous proportions. In his personal circles he is known for his relentless work ethic and somewhat turbulent family life. His youngest son died at a young age from a car accident, and he has a strained relationship with his eldest child, also named Fernando, owing to political scandals. Although it is not explicitly stated, readers should know that the book is written by one of Botero’s sons, Juan Carlos. Family politics take a backseat here as Juan Carlos attempts to write a distant and authoritative, comprehensive tome on his father’s oeuvre. In an April 2010 interview with elcolombiano.com, Juan Carlos, a novelist living in southern Florida, explains that he has attempted to give an objective analysis of his father’s artwork without seeming like a family member had written it. Unfortunately, that analysis is not sufficiently rigorous; nor does the book give the reader a satisfactory glimpse into the artist’s psyche despite the presumed unlimited access tothe artist himself. . Nonetheless, the book provides a respectable look at Botero’s career and importance to the art world at large. The book is divided into six major parts, covering distinct themes and stages of the artists’ very prolific career. Fully illustrated, referenced, and indexed. Recommended for bookstores.—Laura Torres, Somerville, MA
Dilema. La lucha de un sacerdote entre su fe y el amor.
(Dilemma: A Priest’s Struggle with Faith and Love)
Cutié, Albert.
tr. by Santiago Ochoa. U.S.: Celebra: Penguin. 2011. 354p. photogs. ISBN9780451232021. $25.95. AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Father Cutié was one of the U.S. Spanish-speaking world’s most visible, well-known, and controversial Catholic priests. After being ordained in 1995, he served in various parishes before being asked to host a daily Spanish-language TV show and to lead Radio Paz, the first 24-hour Catholic radio station in the country. His openness and calm and sensitive advice soon led people to refer to him as Father Oprah. But his world came tumbling down when photos showing him and a woman caressing and kissing on a Miami beach were published and spread over the Internet. Now married and a priest in the Episcopalian Diocese of Southeast Florida, Cutié’s Dilema is the story of the evolution of his personal, spiritual, and theoretical conflict with the Catholic Church. It is a heartfelt, straightforward, and sensitive account of the hypocrisy, dishonesty, and rigidity of the Catholic hierarchy, which Cutié slowly became aware of and led to his disenchantment with the Church he had vowed to serve for life. Cutié openly discusses his conflict with the Church’s teachings and actions on homosexuality and celibacy in the priesthood, the handling of the pedophile scandals, contraception, divorce, and the role of women in the Church. Told in a simple, personal, and engaging style, Father Cutié’s story will appeal to fans of his TV and radio shows, to critics of the Catholic Church, as well as to all Latino Catholics. Highly recommended for all public libraries, as well as general and Christian bookstores.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
Marca de sangre. Los años de la delincuencia organizada.
(Mark of Blood: The Years of Organized Crime)
de Mauleón, Héctor.
Mexico: Planeta. 2010. 181p. ISBN 9786070705588. pap. $13.95. CURRENT AFFAIRS
Twenty-five years of wretched excess are deftly chronicled by de Mauleón in this fast-moving book recounting landmark episodes of Mexico’s drug trafficking history since 1985, the year that the killing of DEA agent Kiki Camarena catapulted the narcos’ gruesome exploits from the tabloids to the front pages. De Mauleón, a Mexico City journalist and fiction writer who has covered this beat for a decade, pieces together events from news archives, interviews, affidavits, and other documents to create a neck-snapping succession of stories that traces the lineage of the current kingpins and the positively Shakespearean succession of shady alliances, betrayals, deceptions, and murders by the thousands that have shaped the narco landscape. Names and nicknames by now familiar throughout the Americas are here: the exploits of the Beltrán and the Arrellano Félix clans; the amazing Amado Carrillo (“The Lord of the Skies”); the flamboyance of the legendary “Barbie,” Edgar Valdez Villareal; and the macabre character of the “Pozolero” of Tijuana, whose peculiar role it was to dissolve the corpses of hundreds of cartel murder victims in acid. Perhaps most shocking, though, is the steady and convincing case that de Mauleón makes in repeatedly implicating officials at every level of law enforcement, government, and the military as accessories to the work of the cartels. Readers will be unlikely to celebrate the next big bust as any achievement of President Felipe Calderón’s disastrous war on drug traffickers. The book makes it clear that when one criminal faction falls to the authorities, it’s because rival gangsters engineered its demise through the authorities and enforcers on their payroll. Recommended for general collections and bookstores.—Bruce Jensen, Kutztown Univ. Lib., PA
Jóvenes en la era de las migraciones. Una experiencia de liderazgos comunitarios.
(Youths in the Era of Migrations: An Experience in Community Leaderships)
García Roca, Joaquín & Rubén Torregrosa Sarrión.
Spain: Khaf. 2010. 164p. ISBN 9788493761578. pap. $19.95. PARENTING
This is a fascinating glimpse at the exciting possibilities open to Spanish-speaking youths in a new program that brings university students in Spain together with their less privileged counterparts in Latin America. In part, this new consciousness has surged because of the exodus from countries such as Bolivia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, and others to Spain for political and socioeconomic reasons. Many of these youths have come of age in Spain but retain links with their native countries and have espoused a new way of seeking to improve the lives of others perhaps not as fortunate. The authors show how certain Spanish universities and institutions have been key players in creating a transatlantic program of community leadership with other institutions in Latin America. These programs may one day help break down the enormous barriers that still exist between the “First” and “Third” worlds. While these new avenues of exchange may echo similar programs in the United States, such as Teach America and the Peace Corps, the models being developed between Spain and several Latin American countries are unique in that they point the way not only to rich possibilities of coexistence but perhaps to a more egalitarian world. Highly recommended for all public libraries and for readers who are interested in new developments in the region.—Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA
Inglés para el lugar de trabajo.
(English for the Workplace)
Harvey, William C.
U.S.: Barron’s. 2011. 266p. ISBN 9780764145193. pap. $14.99 with CD. LANGUAGE
Built as a workbook for solo study, this occupational English book for Spanish speakers takes a nonspecific approach by striving to present some of the language a person will likely use to find, keep, and get along in a job of most any type. Harvey divides the material into six sections: basics; personal talk and interview skills; workplace vocabulary (focused primarily on clerical, technical, and heavy industrial work, with the puzzling omission of the restaurant and hospitality service industries); training and staff meetings; workplace problems, including health and safety issues (a particularly welcome section); and language of the business world. Many fill-in-the-blank, word-search, and scrambled-letter puzzles are included, as well as a bilingual glossary of about 1500 words and an appendix on preparing a CV. Harvey, who brings to bear a lot of experience as an instructor and a solid knowledge and Spanish and English in contact, peppers the text with judicious bits of practical advice such as how to conduct oneself in a job interview. English words are accompanied by their phonetic pronunciations based on Spanish; Barron’s also offers a two-CD set of audio to accompany the book. Recommended as a self-study aid for motivated learners of English.—Bruce Jensen, Kutztown Univ. Lib., PA
Twitter para todos. Su negocio en 140 caracteres.
(Twitter for All: Your Business in 140 Characters)
Jaramillo, Ana María.
Colombia: Vergara: Ediciones B, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 124p. ISBN 9789588294681. pap. $16.95 BUSINESS
Jaramillo, a journalist and radio and TV producer, presently covers the southeast U.S. and Caribbean markets for El Tiempo and is an active participant and promoter of social media. With this book, the author aims to help small-business people use Twitter to communicate with customers and enhance their brand, promote their products, and build a relationship with customers. The content is organized logically, starting with a definition of social media, a discussion about Twitter’s growth and how it functions, and a step-by-step guide to setting up a Twitter account, as well as how to build followers, write effective messages, monitor and evaluate Twitter activity, use Twitter in conjunction with other social media, and use surveys and contests to engage followers. Some topics important to business people, such as linking Twitter with other social media, developing a social media plan, and using blogs, are treated superficially. The challenges of writing on a technical subject for a nontechnical audience might have been overcome by using a small-business example or case study to illustrate the process and concepts throughout the book. The focus of the success stories in Chapter 9, for example, should have been on small businesses instead of the big corporations such as Dell, 7-Eleven, and McDonald’s. Still, this is a good starting point for the small-business person delving into Twitter and social media for the first time. Recommended for business collections and general bookstores.—Yolanda J. Cuesta, Cuesta MultiCultural Consulting, Sacramento, CA
Bienestar intenstinal. Cómo sentirse bien comiendo.
(Intestinal Wellness. How To Feel Well by Eating)
Liégeois, Véronique & Ljiljana Milosavljevic.
tr. by Loto Perrella. Spain: Obelisco. 2010. 214p. ISBN 9788497776691. pap. $18.95. HEALTH/COOKING
Most corner drugstores in the United States stock aisle upon aisle of over-the-counter treatments for gastrointestinal conditions generally not discussed in polite company—bloating, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. French dietitian Liégeois and organic chef Milosavljevic eschew pharmaceuticals and promote a healthier digestive tract through what is essentially a macrobiotic diet. Replete with tips and recipes, the book devotes one section to each ailment and includes a fourth section featuring a glossary of some of the more esoteric ingredients listed in the recipes. Those who are averse to eating seaweed, legumes, soy-based products, and a fair number of raw vegetables may not find the recommendations palatable. However, anyone who enjoys cooking with ingredients that may require visiting a health food store or a Middle Eastern or Asian grocer may benefit from this natural approach to establishing intestinal health. While most of the recipes are extremely simple, others call for ingredients involving lactic acid fermentation—a technique the authors recommend one do at home but admit may take some trial and error. Recommended for public libraries and health-oriented bookstores.—Pamela Corante, Los Angeles
El Cartel de los Sapos 2.
(The Cartel of the Frogs 2)
López López, Andrés.
U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2010. 308p. ISBN 9781616053017. pap. $19.99. NON-FICTION.
A sequel to the 2008 best seller that spawned a very popular television series, this follow-up delves deeper into the world of narco trafficking through the eyes of Carmelo Sánchez, an actual member of the security detail and a close confidant to Diego Montoya, one of the most notorious leaders of the Norte del Valle drug cartel. The author, whose own initiation into the world of narco trafficking began in adolescence, offers a play-by-play account of some of the dealings orchestrated by Montoya, including the centralization of the cartel’s cocaine operations in Mexico. “Montoya,” he writes, “didn’t trust any of his employees,” and, like most crimes bosses, was gripped by a paranoia that “everyone was stealing from him.” Montoya, we learn, would eventually grow fond of Sánchez, son of Argemiro Sánchez, alias Miro, a former employ of the crime boss. Indeed, theirs was a relationship that would become cemented over time. Even more fascinating is Sánchez’s revelation that at one point he had grown increasingly tired of constantly looking over someone else’s shoulder, of never seeing his family, of keeping up with his children only through photographs. Delivered in omnipresent narration, the author’s work never strays too far from the narrative conventions that characterize the genre, with chapter titles like “Eye for an Eye” and “Tactics of War” and dialog written for the big screen (“The narcos continue their…fight for power with blood and fire”). But his account of the inner workings of the drug cartel—especially the nexus between Colombia and Mexico—is enough to forgive the writer for any stylistic choices and clichés. His ability to float from subject to subject, or person to person (some chapters are no more than three pages), keeps the narrative from becoming bogged down. Recommended for Latin American current events collections.—Michael Sosa, Brooklyn, NY
ALSO IN TRANSLATION
Fiction
En regalo del cielo.
(The Gift)
Ahern, Cecelia.
tr. by María José Diez. Mexico: Planeta. 2010. 316p. ISBN 9786070705716. pap. $19.95. FICTION
Ahern (P.S. I Love You) continues her current theme of writing modern fairy tales with this holiday treat. When workaholic corporate magnate Lou meets homeless Gabe (short for, ahem, Gabriel), Lou wants to help out, so he gets Gabe a job in his company’s mailroom. No good deed goes unpunished though, and Lou soon finds Gabe constantly giving him unwanted advice and pushing him to see the importance of family and friends. This clever twist on the guardian angel story will appeal to Ahern’s fans and lovers of holiday fiction. [Recommended for bookstores and general collections.—Ed.] [LJ 10/1/09]
Verde. El principio y el fin. (El cículo. Libro cero.)
[Green. (The Circle Series)]
Dekker, Ted.
tr. by Ricardo & Mirta Acosta. U.S.: Grupo Nelson: Thomas Nelson. 2011. 373p. ISBN 9781602554207. $18.99. FICTION
Dekker’s prequel/sequel to his “Circle” trilogy (Black, Red, and White) is an apocalyptic, spellbinding thriller set 2000 years in the future. Earth as we know it has been destroyed. Thomas Hunter, who time-traveled to the future, discovers that his son has joined up with the dark forces. Dekker continues to write shocking stories that revolve around the war between good and evil in our hearts. His myriad fans will want this suspenseful, larger-than-life visionary novel, which will also appeal to readers who enjoy Dean Koontz and Stephen King. [Recommended for bookstores and public libraries.—Ed.] [LJ 9/1/09]
Hombres de ladrillo.
(The Brick People)
Morales, Alejandro.
U.S.: Arte Público Pr. 2010. 387p. ISBN 9781558856059. pap. $16.95. HISTORICAL FICTION
This is the story of the workers of the Simons brick factories in California at the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The vast majority of the workers are Mexican, and the owners of the factory, the Simons family, are American. The novel analyzes the relationship between owners and workers and sheds light on the concept of labor back then. Even though the workers’ salaries are barely enough to survive on, the Simons family makes sure that the basic needs of the workers are met. They build a school, a doctor’s office, and a library, and they have education programs for the inhabitants of Simons city. However, workers must buy all of their belongings at the Simons’ stores, they work long hours, and they are not allowed to buy horses. When Malaquías breaks the rule against buying horses, he and his family are fired. He has some success for a while as a farmer, but he has to run away from people seizing his land because he is Mexican and ends up back in the Simons factory. There is almost no opportunity for economic growth outside of the factory, but the workers’ conditions are better than in most factories. The narrator’s language is simple and direct, and the different stories are interesting. However, the narrative is very descriptive and so the pace. Recommended for libraries with historical fiction collections and with a focus in Latino literature.—María Elena Cruz, Boston
Nonfiction
Luz en la sombra. Descubre el poder de tu lado oscuro.
(The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self)
Chopra, Deepak, Marianne Williamson, & Debbie Ford.
tr. by Núria Martí Pérez. Spain/U.S.: Urano. 2010. 221p. ISBN 9788479537593. pap. $18.95. SELF-HELP
This coproduction of the star spiritual-writing team of Chopra, Williamson, and Ford is a component of a larger project, the documentary film of the same name, which features these authors plus several other famous faces, including Verdine White of the R&B group Earth, Wind, and Fire. The shadow is the name they give to the fears, inhibitions, and unspoken impulses that impede us and lead to self-destructive behaviors. Their essays here deal with the history of the shadow, methods for dealing with it, and the relations between the shadow and the soul. By virtue of its authors alone, this title will command a wide readership among spiritual seekers; its concerns, too, are real and timely. [Recommended for general bookstores and popular self-help/new age collections.—Ed.] [LJ 5/1/10]
El cuerpo habla. Grandes secretos de la comunicación no-verbal revelados por un ex-agente del FBI.
(What Every BODY Is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Speed-Reading People)
Navarro, Jow with Dr. Marvin Karlins.
tr. by Raquel Duato. Spain: Sirio, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 285p. ISBN 9788478087181. pap. $19.95. PSYCH
This book illustrates which nonverbal clues telegraph untrustworthiness and deception and which radiate sincerity and compassion. In this fascinating take on body language and the ability to decipher it for use in everyday life, Navarro emphasizes that while knowing the reasons for certain behaviors, such as touching one’s neck, can be useful in “reading” people, they are not foolproof barometers of deception. A former FBI agent who commonly used these techniques to help crack cases, the author cautions about jumping to conclusions and encourages using clusters of nonverbal patterns to help discover whether a person is lying or just under stress. One chapter is devoted to the brain and its limbic system, which controls those involuntary quirks of behavior. Black-and-white photos illustrate different points throughout. This book is a worthy research tool, and a good addition to larger collections. [SLJ 10/09]
CLASSIC RETURNS
Nonfiction
Antes que anochezca.
(Before Night Falls)
Arenas, Reinaldo.
Spain: Tusquets, dist. by Spanish Pubs. 2010. 343p. ISBN 9788483835715. pap. $13.95 MEMOIR
This celebrated Cuban writer, a victim of AIDS, committed suicide in New York in 1990. His autobiographical memoir is a fascinating and frightening tale of growing up extremely poor in rural Cuba, of varied personal and political relationships, of rebelliousness, homosexuality, suppression, and persecution. In the picaresque tradition, the narrative is earthy and at times raw; the frequent sexual escapades are presumably true accounts. The description of life in Havana’s El Morro prison makes the skin crawl. As an author who was not only anti-regime but also gay, Arenas was compelled to smuggle his work abroad for publication. More than a personal story, this memoir is an insightful analysis of the idiosyncrasies of an authoritarian regime. [Recommended for bookstores and libraries.—Ed.] [LJ 1993]
El pez en el agua.
(A Fish in the Water)
Vargas Llosa, Mario.
Spain/U.S.: Punto de Lectura: Santillana. 2010. 593p. ISBN 9788466320047. pap. $14.99. MEMOIR
Originally published in 1993,Vargas Llosa’s political memoir is resplendent with yellow sand; gray city fences; the flushed, packed faces of radicals; beautiful women, indigenous peoples; and, of course, books—many books. Interchanging chapters lead us through two resurgences in Vargas Llosa’s free inquiry: the ebullient voyage toward becoming a writer during his twenties and the return to his calling after a taxing (unsuccessful) presidential campaign during his sixties. Vargas Llosa portrays a 1953 Peru saddled with an oppressing dictatorship, as the background for his coming of age politically. He attended secret rendezvous of Communist circles and organized illicit publications criticizing the dictatorship. Later, the politically mature writer is preternaturally preoccupied with a country he sees slipping further into poverty and ignorance and decides to fight for the privatization of the economy. Far from the intellectual, creative politics he loved to think about in his youth, the politics he encountered in 1990 was filled with “intrigues, artifice, conspiracies, pacts, paranoia, treasons, many calculations, no insignificant amount of cynicism, and all kinds of jugglery.” In the chapters detailing his presidential candidacy, the narrative bends toward discourse, with rare moments of examination—self or otherwise. Vargas Llosa’s prose is more astute in the passages where he is an underdog—from the luminous recollections of his youth, to the gritty, torrential experiences he recounts as a journalist. Readers of Vargas Llosa curious about his inspiration and startling life-story take note: this book will augment any Latin American studies or literature collection. Highly recommended.—Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Palo Alto, CA
NEW TO THE MARKET
Nonfiction
Perros en el arte.
(The Dog in Art)
Zuffi, Stefano.
tr. By Patricia Ortis.
Spain: 451 Editores. 2009. 336p. illus. ISBN 9788496822900. $45.95 ART
As in life, dogs are loyal companions in artworks. This text traces the history of dogs in Western painting. Ears perked and ready, the dogs are eager to co-star in many of the portraits featured in this text. Or, conversely, they are sleeping under the feet of an impatient child, as in Velázquez’s Las Meninas. Over centuries, with few exceptions, dogs receive a fully positive treatment from the artists who depict them. An Egyptian dog is beautifully mummified; dogs lie peacefully with rabbits in medieval tapestry, take naps with great Tiziano nudes, sit politely in the laps of royalty, accompany men on rousing hunts, and tolerate the teasing of small children. The modern and postmodern dog is used in video work and, in the case of artist Jeff Koons, is represented as a several stories–large hedge puppy. Zuffi accompanies this highly illustrated book with further contextual background and symbolism of the canines featured. With an index by the artist; recommended for public libraries and as a fun art appreciation book for elementary and middle school libraries.—Laura Torres, Somerville, MA
