Mystical and Maladjusted
Written: Apr 19 '08 (Updated Apr 19 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Engaging stories, artful language.
Cons: Some explicit scenes that can be painful.
The Bottom Line: I would only recommend this for the mature reader, and then with enthusiasm for well crafted characters and language.
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| abhaille's Full Review: Omar S. Castaneda - Remembering to Say 'Mouth' or ... |
This book left me feeling a lot of emotion. Each story filled me with angst and sadness. There are brief moments of humor that contrast starkly to the dark nature of the stories.
"Remembering to Say 'Mouth' or 'Face'" by Omar S. Castaneda is a collection of short stories that explore the feelings of characters as they are torn in the effort to reconcile their Guatemalan culture of origin against the backdrop of their new home in the United States.
The book is presented in three sections that move backward in time. The first part "On The Way Out" is painfully sad at times. One character reacts to disappointments in his life by resorting to drug use. Some of the descriptions are quite graphic and disturbing. There is a glimmer of hope as "Pancho's" mother uses art to try and exorcise his demons. The dialog in this story is humorous at times as the author makes fun of the mother's accent.
The second part "Crossing the Border" begins to dip into the mystical past of the culture. It explores the reaction of the characters to American society and demonstrates that they are not exactly comfortable with the new ways that depart drastically from the old ways. The most humor is found in the story "Crossing the Border" which tells the story of Raul Cascara--a local character known for pulling elaborate pranks on the neighborhood. When he is found dead by the river, the local residents think he is doing a really good job of fooling them. They are amused and filled with admiration at the quality of his trickery. It takes quite a while for them to realize that he is actually dead. Thus begins a pilgrimage to take him north into America to seek his final repose. The pilgrims encounter alternately kindness and appalling cruelty as their journey leads them to a tragic ending.
The final section "Remembering" features six stories that are not exactly related, but provide a continuing narration of the ancient Maya creation myth. The author draws from the stories of the Popol Vuh to create characters with names like Blowgunner and Cayman and 7 Parrot. Against the background of the beginning of the world, the characters demonstrate human frailties of greed and jealousy and passion.
The language of this book is occasionally brilliant and beautiful.
"And so, under the crab nebula--close enough then to fondle, Ceiba often gazed skyward. On the slope of the adolescent hill, she would cradle the night in her fingers and crane her neck to ensure she was not seen, softly place her palm on the gentle slope of her breast and try to hum that sensual drone which always awakened her and always brought her to these very moments. The hummingbird of her dreams had been coming more frequently to her sleep, but it always came enveloped in clouds or limping as if wounded."
Surreal at times, the stories are engaging and keep the reader going on...on into the history of the heart of Mr. Casteneda.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
abhaille
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Location: Republic of Texas
Reviews written: 223
Trusted by: 101 members
About Me:
I've learned that the hardest to love are likely those that need love the most.
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