Rain of Gold

Rating:
Summary: Brought my soul closer to my roots.
Review: Being a second generation Latino, this book awakened thoughts and feelings that I've never had before. It gave me an appreciation not only of my family's "roots," but of any family that travels the obstacles to get into this country. I couldn't believe that I wasn't reading a Fiction book. I dreaded coming close to the last 50 pages. I wanted the book to keep on going.

Rating:
Summary: Get involved with the Mexican culture
Review: Victor Villasenor in the book Rain of Gold writes about the Mexican-American Heritage. I can really relate to this book because I am Mexican-American myself. The story involves two families which are Lupe's family and Juan Salvador's family. I can almost feel all the love he feels for his family because in the Mexican culture we are all close to each other.

Rating:
Summary: It is a great book full of love and family values.
Review: When I bought this book, I really wasn't expecting nothing out of the ordinary. But as I started to read the book it really showed that it was very unique. Victor Villasenor is the writer of "Rain of Gold". What the book talks about is his background. He descends from a mexican heritage and goes from there talking about his family's struggle to immigrate California during the mexican revolution (Pancho Villa). Throughout the whole story he focus in the importance of what his family means to him and for their generations. Also in how "love" plays a very important role in every generation. As well as respect and obidience for his ancestors.

Rating:
Summary: much of what we heard from our ancestors
Review: felt like it was sitting back in the 40's listening to our grandparents (great-grand) telling us about the revolution.Seemed that the only one we thought was real was the Nazi's,and that was because of the news. These has given me the thought of reality as it was very much as I listened to these icredible encounters that this family of ours and yours had to go thru. It just shows that the use of the pen by the right hand and the perfect person can bring what we needed to read and understand.

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Summary: Reader From Houston
Review: As I began to read this book, I Wasn't sure exactly what I was reading. My grandmother and aunts had all been reading this book, and so I was curious. Reading this book opened my eyes and made me realize where my grand parents were coming from. This book captered every essence of a close hispanic family. I found that I could relate to some of the things that were written. This novel made me open my eyes and want to learn more about my families past. I belive that this novel should be required reading for Highschool students. It might open the eyes of other young adults every where of every culture so they can realize there is more to the Mexican culture, and their family.

Rating:
Summary: Let't us appreciate being born, raised in the USA
Review: I read this book with so much love and hate..It brought back so many memories of my childhood..it opened wounds and also at the same time gave me very pleasant memories of my own family life. It was so inspirational that I could hardly put it down. See I too was brought up in a very pour, proverty environment. But then this is what makes us appreciate life even more. I give the Author tremendous admiration to have gone to such extent to be able to produce all the history of his family, culture, heritage and memories..he must have really enjoyed doing all the research he did to write this book. I'm sure their isn't a person or soul that hasn't read this book and have been touched by it. I commend this Author to have written with such detail and information with dignity. I too wish I would have been able to know, learn about my heritage. The little that my father shared with me was as heart warming and memorable as this book. It is books like this that bring it right to the heart. It is books like this that give us pride. As I read this book, I shared the story with my mother which brought memories and tears to her eyes, it also opened wounds and memories of her childhood. She could actually relate some of the things that the authors family did to survive to her past.To the Author best wishes and again thank you for such an outstanding novel.

Rating:
Summary: Made me look at my grandfather in a whole different way.
Review: When I read this book, alot of my grandfathers Victoriano old stories came to my mind and I thought to my self that when we are a kid you really dont care about what your grandparents have to say about the old days. I am so proud of my grandfather and his family, because of eveything they went through we are here today. I want to thank Victor Villasenor for writting this book about our family now my kids will have a story about their great grandfather that they will never forget. My grandfather Victoriano is 91 years old and like Victor said about my grandfather he is a great man his memory is incredible I remember him telling us stories and telling us the time of the day and if it was sunny or raining the name of the person's he was with and every little detail. This is one thing that makes my grandfather a great man. I love you grandpa.

Rating:
Summary: A well written account of true family love and survival.
Review: This book rates right up there with Buck's "The Good Earth" only better as it is dealing with our wonderful melting pot, The United States. Two family saga's as they struggle to obtain the American Dream.

Rating:
Summary: This should be required reading in all high schools
Review: What an incredible saga of the human spirit...a breathtaking, intense, beautiful story. I wish I had been required to read this book in high school. Victor, write more!!

Rating:
Summary: Gripping!
Review: Victor Villasenor has written a passionate portrayal of his familiy's struggles in Mexico early in the twentieth century. He chronicles their decision to leave their beloved home to come to the United States for the promise of opportunity. Although the book is rooted in in the heritage of the Mexican people, it's a narrative that applies to many immigrant groups who left their homeland of hardship only to encounter more trials when they arrived in this country. Villasenor has provided us a moving saga of courage in the face of suffering, loyalty in response to betrayal, rage at the ugliness of prejudice, hope that follows the persistence of faith, and rekindling of belief in the power of love. This is a painful, wonderful book. It leaves indelible images of the worst and the best that we human beings do to one another. Bravo!