BajaNomad - The Hummingbird's Daughter

The Hummingbird's Daughter

Iflyfish - 3-31-2007 at 04:23 AM

Just finished this fine novel by Luis Alberto Urre. Thought my Nomad buddies might enjoy a good read.

Read a good book lately?

Iflyfish

windgrrl - 3-31-2007 at 07:34 AM

This is a wonderful book.

I'd also like to recommend "Heaven, Earth, Tequila" which my husband & I gave to each other this Christmas. It was recommended here on another topic last year.

Oso - 3-31-2007 at 08:44 AM

Urrea, actually. I just finished "The Devil's Highway" and also highly recommend it. It's a true story that happened near where I live.

Funny how one thing leads to another... Because of a reference in Urrea's acknowledgements, I discovered Lila Downs, a fantastic singer from Oaxaca by way of Wisconsin (really) who sings in three (or more) languages. She has tremendous range. Her rendition of "La Sandunga" sends chills up my spine.

bajajazz - 3-31-2007 at 09:19 AM

Recently read a novel involving undocumented workers camping near an upmarket gated community of southern California "liberals" (whose liberalism gets put to the test) called "The Tortilla Curtain," by T.C. Boyle. It's a funny/sad read and it doesn't provide any answers but it sure asks the right questions. :spingrin:

Paula - 3-31-2007 at 09:42 AM

We Nomads have excellent taste! I'm in the middle of The Hummingbird's Daughter right now-- loving the story and the humor.
I first heard Lila Downs soon after not going to a concert as I didn't know who she was. Now I have most of her CD's, and have missed two more concerts due to circumstances beyond my control. Oso, her mother is Oaxacan, and her father American.
Tortilla Curtain is one of my alltime favorite books-- powerful down to the last sentence.
I'm putting Heaven, Earth and Tequila on my to read list.

Iflyfish - 4-1-2007 at 05:45 PM

Thanks,

Always looking for a good book!

Iflyfishwhennotreading

Crusoe - 4-1-2007 at 05:57 PM

Fish.......Have you read The Sea Runners by Ivan Doig ?

Iflyfish - 4-1-2007 at 11:14 PM

Crusoe

Thanks for the tip. Have not had the pleasure.....yet.

Iflyfish

Rain of Gold

capitolkat - 4-2-2007 at 11:12 AM

I recently finished this book about the immigartion of Mexicans into CA and the West after the Mex revolution through the 1920's-- based upon a true story--with photos of the family patriarchs. Really a good historical and action type read.

Rain Of Gold

vandenberg - 4-2-2007 at 11:24 AM

How about " War and Peace " :?:

Gives you literary stamina. :lol:

DianaT - 4-2-2007 at 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capitolkat
I recently finished this book about the immigartion of Mexicans into CA and the West after the Mex revolution through the 1920's-- based upon a true story--with photos of the family patriarchs. Really a good historical and action type read.

Rain Of Gold

Enjoyed this book several years ago. Had the pleasure of meeting the author, Victor Villaseñor, several years ago at an adult literacy conference.

What is really amazing is that he did not learn to read or write until he was an adult. His dyslexia was not dealt with as a child----not much known about it then.

He is also the prime example of different learning styles. He talked about how in order to process information and learn to read, he often had to pace back and forth. The child who is tapping his/her pencil on the desk is often not doing it to just annoy the teacher, it is how that child processes information.

Thanks---had not thought about that book for a long time---want to read more of his books.

Coyotes, by Ted Conover is a one I just enjoyed for the second time. It was written in 1987.

Diane

Paula - 4-2-2007 at 12:21 PM

I also thought Rain of Gold was wonderful.

Another favorite was The Years With Luara Diaz by Carlos Fuentes.

In Crossing Over by Ruben Martinez, this journalist lives and travels with a family from Michoacan as the yentr and leave the US for work. Interestingly, Luis Alberto Urrea is quoted on the dust jacket of my copy as saying "one of the few truly great border books ever written".

Rain of gold has been my favorite for many years,

Keri - 4-2-2007 at 06:31 PM

since it first came out. Do you know this is part of a series. Next is Wild steps of Heaven, then Thirteen senses and the last Burro Genius, He has a new one that was suppose to come out last year but is said to be coming out maybe this summer. If you enjoyed Rain of Gold you'll love the rest,k :yes:

[Edited on 4-3-2007 by Keri]

Stickers - 4-2-2007 at 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oso
Funny how one thing leads to another... Because of a reference in Urrea's acknowledgements, I discovered Lila Downs, a fantastic singer from Oaxaca by way of Wisconsin (really) who sings in three (or more) languages. She has tremendous range. Her rendition of "La Sandunga" sends chills up my spine.

Thanks for the tip Oso, I just downloaded some of her music from itunes. Absolutely beautiful.

:wow:

Iflyfish - 4-3-2007 at 08:36 AM

Lila Downs website:

http://www.liladowns.com/index_en.html

Haunting, verbrato, range, soul!

Thanks, she deserves another topic.

Iflyfish

tripledigitken - 4-3-2007 at 09:44 AM

One of my favorite books of Baja.

King of the Moon-A Novel of Baja California

by Gene Kira

It will take care of your Baja Fix, for awhile. It's a great read.

Ken

Iflyfish - 4-3-2007 at 03:56 PM

While in Baja I read, on advice from a wise Nomad, in discussion on the thread on Cultural Differences, There Is A Word For It In Mexico. A really great read on Mexican Culture. This book put forty years of Mexico tavel in context for me.

Isabelle Allende does it for me too.

Iflyfish