Alburquerque

Rating:
Summary: 'r' is for 'real'
Review: According to Rudolph Anaya, Albuquerque lost its first 'r' back in 1880, when the railroad reached Alburquerque and a stationmaster, unable to pronounce the Spanish word, dropped the letter. The title of this novel restores the 'r' and by implication the "real" Albuquerque, seen through the eyes of the main character, Abran Gonzalez. The novel's plot is convoluted, involving an Oliver Twist-like tale of familial loss and restoration, a web of intrigue that stretches from City Hall to the barrio, and scenic tours of the city. It's highly sentimental, and at times rather overwhelmingly "poetic." I did find it very readable, though, and an interesting if overwrought introduction to the city. Anaya's eye on the city is, it seems to me, at least partly guided by the desire to "advertize" New Mexico, particularly in his evocation of its artist colonies, its wide open landscapes, and its self-conscious blend of mythologies and cultural identities. It's an interesting mix.

Rating:
Summary: 'r' is for 'real'
Review: According to Rudolph Anaya, Albuquerque lost its first `r' back in 1880, when the railroad reached Alburquerque and a stationmaster, unable to pronounce the Spanish word, dropped the letter. The title of this novel restores the `r' and by implication the "real" Albuquerque, seen through the eyes of the main character, Abran Gonzalez. The novel's plot is convoluted, involving an Oliver Twist-like tale of familial loss and restoration, a web of intrigue that stretches from City Hall to the barrio, and scenic tours of the city. It's highly sentimental, and at times rather overwhelmingly "poetic." I did find it very readable, though, and an interesting if overwrought introduction to the city. Anaya's eye on the city is, it seems to me, at least partly guided by the desire to "advertize" New Mexico, particularly in his evocation of its artist colonies, its wide open landscapes, and its self-conscious blend of mythologies and cultural identities. It's an interesting mix.

Rating:
Summary: a new gem
Review: An interesting story full of enough tidbits of history to make you want to do independent research on Mexico and read more of Anaya's writings. The characters are colorful and have twists and turns that keep you wondering until the end. I learned some interesting bits about how politics might have been run in the times and how people's pasts never really rest.

Rating:
Summary: Culture
Review: Fantastic! Wonderful! I loved it! Bring on more Sr. Anaya!

Rating:
Summary: Culture
Review: Fantastic! Wonderful! I loved it! Bring on more Sr. Anaya!

Rating:
Summary: Could not put it down...
Review: I first read "Bless Me, Ultima" for school and I loved it so I then read "Alburquerque." I enjoyed both books very much. The dreams and healing magic tied into the Catholic religion was very interesting. The characters were unforgetable and the settings in the books I could see in my mind. I could not put it down and I read both in one day.

Rating:
Summary: Could not put it down...
Review: I first read "Bless Me, Ultima" for school and I loved it so I then read "Alburquerque." I enjoyed both books very much. The dreams and healing magic tied into the Catholic religion was very interesting. The characters were unforgetable and the settings in the books I could see in my mind. I could not put it down and I read both in one day.

Rating:
Summary: A story set in Albuquerque NM.
Review: Like Bless Me Ultima, this book is slow in catching the reader's interest. But unlike Bless Me Ultima it doesn't deliver. I had to put the book down in disgust sorry that I didn't give the money I spent on it to someone who needed bus change. Rudolpho needed an editor in this thinly held plot of paper characters. It was riddled with one cliche after another! For someone being held up as the grandfather of Chicano Literature one can't help but wonder why he even bothered?

Rating:
Summary: Ciudad de jabon
Review: This book is a scenario for a great movie or telenovela. As a novel, it is pretty thin. The characters are cardboard, the plot is contrived and silly, the dialogue is pure soap. However, it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next, the (many) poetic bits resonated for me, and the magical realism climax was sort of gripping. This belongs on the screen.

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: This book is definetley very well writen, and i would recommend it to anyone. It gives an insight to the mexican american world and the struggles one faces in the barrio. I usually never finish a book but this really caught my eye.