ESPERANZA'S BOX OF SAINTS: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: I can hardly wait for the movie!!!
Review: As I read this book, I found myself deliberately taking my time to savor the essence of Esperanza. Maria Amparo Escandon creates some entertaining characters and rich dialogue to complement the sensual, eccentric Esperanza. Not since John Nichols' Milagro Beanfield War and The Magic Journey have I enjoyed such a literary adventure that celebrates the Latino/Latina culture.

Esperanza's Box of Saints transports you to a realm where a fine line seperates passion and lunacy. There are times when you will think lunacy has prevailed over Esperanza. But just like real life, these two entities exist as dance partners in some whimsical, eternal fandango.

Read this book so you can accompany Esperanza on her quest guided by San Judas Tadeo and other saintly colleagues. Delight in her faith, convictions, and superstitions; mourn for her tragic loss and struggles. And in the end, cheer for Esperanza's deliverance at the hands of a mystical angel.

Rating:
Summary: the book
Review: Esperansa Box of Saints is the best realistic book.Because of all she went throw to find her daughter and thinking she was alive and she did every thing just to find her.Their was so many things that she belive in she was so religios.I really enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Poignant and spicy
Review: Esperanza has reasons, albeit a bit farfetched, to believe that her only daughter, declared dead, has actually been sold into child prostitution by an unscrupulous doctor. So mommy doesn't hesitate to go out looking for her baby even if it involves passing herself off as a prostitute, which is sort of difficult since she's the least knowledgeable woman on earth in this kind of, uh, career, and those who are can spot her right away. Her innocence and beauty often put her in uncomfortable and frequently hilarious situations with all sorts of men, ranging from a serious, uptight American judge to a Chicano wrestler that just knows she's the woman for him. Esperanza is an endearing character, especially because she's not in the least aware of the effect she has on men, blinded as she is by her lack of worldliness and her drive to find her missing daughter. It does seem kind of absurd that she has this much power over men without even thinking about it, and even more absurd is the fact that she manages to come away from her experiences without losing her naivete, but then, this is magic realism. It is a funny, lighthearted little story, sweet and sad, just right for a vacation read.

Rating:
Summary: Very good magic realism with a strong part migrant fiction.
Review: Having just finished reading the book I am left with a feeling of well being. The book is enjoyable in that it takes a very refreshing look at the need in people's lives to believe in something which will guide their affairs. It also takes place in a small town where everyone is aware of everybody's business, yet it is a situation that works for both the main character and the reader. I truly enjoyed reading it and look forward to the release of the film. It has all the flavoring of magic realism, with the reality of migrant fiction.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Ride
Review: I read Esperanza's Box of Saints in one day, on a flight from Paris to Los Angeles. It was an interesting ride along with Esperanza's trials and tribulations to find her daughter. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a chance to read it!

Rating:
Summary: A magical, original and wonderfully funny novel!
Review: Maria Amparo Escandon's original, magical and hilarious telling of Esperanza's journey and her deep devotion to her Saints held me spellbound. Always wanting to know what would happen next, I read the book in one sitting - the first time. My second reading revealed more and more of how far faith will take us, how human hearts reveal and expand to receive the wonder (and love) there for us to see and experience when we are ready and willing. I can't wait to see the film and happily look forward to reading Ms. Escandon's second novel.

P.S. I have recently stopped cleaning my oven, in the hope that-------------- (Read the book,to fill in the spaces.)

Rating:
Summary: Clever and light
Review: Maria Escandon continues the literary tradition of magical realism in this journey about a woman determined to find her lost daughter, who she thinks has been kidnapped and sold into prostitution rather than died in the hospital. Definitely not a serious read, this book is charming, light hearted, and only slightly predictable. A good, fun, quick read.

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Summary: What a trip! With San Judas Tadeo to assist...
Review: Our funny little tale begins when a young recently widowed mother loses her 12 year old daughter during a routine operation. Esperanza lives with Soledad (both of whom have lost their husbands in the same bus accident) and Esperanza's daughter, Blanca - of course the most beautiful, sweet girl in the village. After Blanca dies, Esperanza swears to her local priest that San Judas Tadeo has appeared to her on her greasy oven window to let her know that Blanca is not really dead! Esperanza, much to the chagrin of both her priest and her friend Soledad, take off to `track' down Blanca - whom she believes has been kidnapped (by the doctors who can't be trusted) and forced to be a prostitute.  Her journey takes her north through Mexico, to Tijuana, and even up into Los Angeles where she finds something completely unexpected. The story is a very fun read and absolutely and completely unbelievable. Esperanza is helped by people who are not the helping kind, and she is cared for and also very lucky in her escapades. She meets the strangest characters including pimps, prostitutes, madams, and a very handsome professional wrestler.  Probably the funniest parts of the book are the missives that Esperanza sends back to Father Salvador (her local priest) who seems beside himself with her wanderings and in constant fear that something horrible will befall her. Again, this is not literature by any stretch - but if you enjoy the Latin spirits in your writing and you want a light-hearted book for a change - this one is a good one to choose.

Rating:
Summary: A Colorful, Magical Tale of Love with a Mexican Soul
Review: We chose this book for our book group and everyone just loved it. From the very first chapter it grabbed our imaginations, but more importantly, Esperanza grabbed our hearts. She was such a charming character, full of innocence and yet wise beyond her years. The author painted such vivid pictures with words and you could almost feel the heat of the locations, hear the lilt of Spanish being spoken. I personally hated to finish the book because I had grown to love the unfolding of Esperanza's journey - both literally and figuratively. What delightful surprises and twists of fate! Maria Amparo Escandon is such an original and compassionate writer who captured the true spirit of her character, Esperanza. I found myself laughing, even while feeling sad. It was probably the most enjoyable book I've read in years. Our book group discussion was so animated and we had trouble ending the conversation about the story, the characters and how close we felt to Esperanza. We are praying (to Esperanza's saints) that Senora Escandon will treat us to another book very soon!