Flowers & Eternal Feminine
ENCHANTED HACIENDA by J.C. Cervantes is a hybrid in a number of ways--part romance novel, part Bildungsroman (about young person becoming adult finding their true place in the world / personal life purpose). Added to the mix is a form of fantasy, re-working Latin American magical realism of the last century. (Also wonder if author read Zenna Henderson stories about "The People" set mostly in remote areas of American Southwest, in part inspired by what local indigenous population called themselves.)
Author had previously written novels aimed at young readers, including titles in series forming part of famous Rick Riordan adventures about present day young teens or kids who find out they are modern links to ancient mythological characters.
Not sure if this is form of "cultural appropriation", a category of behavior which can be seen as very vague & controversial. Differing perceptions, both positive & negative, are presented in Wikipedia article on the term.
"Borrowing" from other cultures may be meant respectfully, in order to learn about others & expand world view of readers--but when this unintentionally may ignore important facets of unfamiliar beliefs, can be problematic. After all, centuries of changes in culture & language have passed since ancient mythologies were first told. Just look at versions of Roman goddess Flora cited on Wikipedia or conflicting interpretations of relatively recent historical personage known as "La Malinche".
Above statement may sound too "academic jargon-y", so will try to give more concrete example, illustrating my somewhat meandering analytic approach. (Frequently polysyllabic word choices are intended to assist any readers for whom English is not their native tongue by opting for language with similarities to Spanish.)
In EH, matriarchal family of protagonist has been shaped by actions of ancient Mexican figure Mayahuel, a symbol of fertility. Reason why this deity of agave or maguey plant is considered feminine is not mentioned.
Online Thoughtco article on Mayaguel makes explicit this gendering was due to how agave / maguey is prepared to make beverages "pulque" or tequila. When cutting off plant's many long leaves (resulting in "pina", so-called due to resemblance to pineapple or pinecone, seen in 1998 telenovela version of LA MENTIRA--more on that below), milky fluid is excreted, likened to nourishment given by mothers to their off-spring.
EH attempts to re-purpose this myth to express contemporary goals of some women. Traditional stories of popular Latinx cultural storytelling, telenovelas (see notes at end) typically finish with protagonists marrying, having children, tho increasingly also combining with careers--perhaps defined by male-dominated work world--such as 1993 CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER & 2021 PARIENTES A LA FUERZA, both currently streaming on demand).
Instead of giving birth to actual baby, EH protagonist dreams of creativity on intellectual level as a published writer of books. (Creative writers--both male & female--sometimes do call a finished project their "child" or "baby".) Perhaps for EH protagonist, Mayahuel could be re-named "Woman of 400 pages" for a different kind of creative process. ("Criatura" is Spanish word used for child, especially infant, from verb "criar" to reproduce, bring up, nurse.)
BTW. phrase "Intellectual level" reminds me of Judy Garland musical movie IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME, inspiration for film YOU'VE GOT MAIL, with several earlier versions of story about pen-pals turning "mind" connection into marriage.
Tying into theme touched on later, Garland sings 1905 "I Don't Care", signature tune of Eva Tanguay, whom Wikipedia says "symbolized the emancipated woman". Tanguay's cross-dressing in early 1900's had different effect than Sarah Bernhartt's in male roles like HAMLET, cited in article in English on late 1800's "New Woman's Movement in Brazil".
At first I found it difficult to interpret meaning of floral metaphor in EH. Female members of fictional writer's family have for generations tended vast enchanted flower garden and used flowers to make magic. Spanish version of explaining human reproduction to children, "the birds and the bees", is called "las abejitas y las flores" (the little bees & the flowers). Flowers are defined in botany as "reproductive structures", but in EH seem to be picked before this process can take place.
Considering fact EH includes "open door" scenes, an evasion of such "facts of life" seemed coy. (Author in Subjectifymedia interview says she was very uncomfortable when writing, thinking how her mother & aunt would read these.) Or maybe reference is so subtle as to be hard to spot, i.e. ripping sound in one scene as coded message signaling "protection". https://subjectifymedia.com/j-c-cervantes-interview-enchanted-hacienda/
In contrast are both verbal & visual allusions--including anthurium flowers--to human fertility which is major metaphor & plot element of classic telenovelas 1993 CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER and 1998 version of LA MENTIRA described in other posts on this blog.
Latter revolves around owner of vast agave plantation used to make tequila said to be protected by goddess Mayahuel, re-imagining of original 1950's version set in Brazilian Amazon jungle, site of literal gold mine, referenced in 1998 version, where wealth-bringing tequila is described as a "gold mine", brand label refering to last name of founder Platas, Spanish for silver.
While reading EH, thought about questions "What does it mean to be a woman?" and perhaps just as complex, "What does it mean to be Latinx?" Is it mostly defined by eye of beholder, personal experience--or combination?
EH may imply rather than make clear statement on changing perceptions of gender roles in contemporary societies (especially 'First world" industrialized urban lives). Fact that Cuba now has among lowest birthrates in Western Hemosphere may be due to lack of economic security rather than more usual reason for small families--having confidence all children will survive & thrive.
Recently on my mind is "cancel culture war" against famous writer who presents her perspective of what it means to be female based on personal experience of pregnancy & giving birth, with silent comment in her recent screenplay that may elude those who may never even had monthly period, previously considered proof of being woman.
Victorian hot-house blossoms helped create "Language of flowers", symbolism that largely seems arbitrarily assigned, rather than based on intrinsic qualities of plants. Herbal "doctrine of signatures" has also been medically debunked. Title of book EVERLASTING FLOWER: a history of Korea by Keith Pratt refers to type of hibiscus that became symbol of Korean spirit; plant can be cut down drastically, but will grow and flourish again. Contrast with meaning for hibiscus cited in "List of plants with symbolism" article on Wikipedia, "rare & delicate beauty".
Related example is song CAFE CAFE on 2nd soundrack album of Colombian CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER including phrases "Corazon como me lates....todo este cuerpo mio tiembla...acelere la piel" (how my heart pounds, all my body trembles, skin rushes") in reference to physical attraction between human lovers. Coffee/caffine is in fact a stimulant. https://www.letras.com/margarita-rosa-de-francisco/discografia/cafe-con-aroma-de-mujer-volumen-2-1994/
In LA MENTIRA, tequila made from blue agave is demonstration of Latin saying "In vino veritas" when protagists get drunk in two different scenes. Flipside "in aqua sanitas" is when LM's alcoholic doctor self-medicates to drown his hidden personal truth; after coming clean, confessing his "shameful" secret, he quits drinking.
Eventual ephiphany for EH: Realized I "can't see the forest for the trees". Overall meaning of analogy was obscured by mass presentation of individually symbolic items. Flowers in EH are material used to make magic, like selecting & combining from vast garden of words & ideas used to create magic of stories & books. Possibly Persian saying often quoted on tote bags for book lovers: "A book is a garden you can carry in your pocket".
Spanish word "hoja" can mean both leaf & page, perhaps used more than English does example "a book flyLEAF".
Song in Spanish "La Ley del Monte" is about lovers who carve their names on leaf of agave/maguey plant, vowing eternal love. Tho woman later denies & tries to destroy this written proof, plant magically reproduces the message.
EH is interesting effort to break new ground. Will look for future installments of Estrada family story.
Planning to try her titles for younger readers as well. Premise of ALWAYS ISN'T FOREVER reminds me of 2005 telenovela EL CUERPO DE DESEO, remake of 1992 EN CUERPO AJENO, in turn inspired by 1978 Warren Beaty film HEAVEN CAN WAIT based on 1941 HERE COMES MR JORDAN, 2001 remake DOWN TO EARTH with Chris Rock. Related 1980 XANADU may have something to do with Platform 9 3/4. (Stream of consciousness literary links follow.)
Tho writer of 1990 Patrick Swayse film GHOST says his inspiration was HAMLET, film's reuniting of lovers is more like HEAVEN CAN WAIT style ending than a complicit Lady Macbeth type leading lady or unaware Gertrude of some of other versions cited.
Reminder to modern audience--Shakespeare's female characters were first played by beardless boys. May continue that topic in review for one of Georgette Heyer's romance novels with cross-dressing characters, like THESE OLD SHADES, probably influenced by 1918 novel SYLVIA SCARLETT, turned into 1935 film with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant.
1993 CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER may even also have influenced 2007 South Korean TV drama COFFEE PRINCE (along with Shakespearean tropes, an extreme version seen in AS YOU LIKE IT where female protagonist Rosalind, as Wikipedia says, was originally portrayed by a male actor "playing a woman who is pretending to be a man acting the part of a woman".)
Reminded by above: 2014 non-fiction book THE UNDERGROUND GIRLS OF KABUL. Couldn't think where to publically park these notes if never get around to writing longer post commentary elsewhere.
For related cultural information on popular Latin romance: In 2010 book titled TELENOVELAS, a collection of scholarly essays that is part of "The Ilan Stavans Library of Latino Civilization", writer Ibsen Martinez on page 62 confirms my own speculation that the genre developed from tradition of novels by the like of Victor Hugo, Balzac and Charles Dickens being read aloud in installments to entertain male workers doing tedious repetitive work in Cuban cigar factories before the age of radio.
Polylingual Professor Stavens' lectures on Miguel Cervantes' DON QUIXOTE are availble from LAPL. His own Jewish-Mexican father was telenovela actor.
Telenovelas are often confused with very different USA made soap operas by people who have done little research. Non-fiction book A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ROMANCE NOVEL by Pamela Regis (e-book preview lists eight essential narrative elements of genre) was written to show that "most popular, but least respected" genre of romance novels has long suffered from similar misunderstandings. On demand access to telenovela classics (on Vix, Spectrum, etc) may help rectify.
See also GoodReads review of book ENCHANTED HACIENDA (to find, "search review text" for word "Hollywood".
On related topic is 2016 novel THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh and possibly 2016 novel by Stephanie Knipper suggested by e-library when searching for TLOF. Those who say women are weaker than men likely never gave birth without anesthesia, my response when reading opening of Isabel Allende's 2022 novel VIOLETA in which title character ("coincidently" also name of protagonist of Harlow's novel) tells the story of her 100 years long life.
One of my heroines is British actress whose views on life were recently featured in report "Helen Mirren celebrates getting older". https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8pz10f video quotes from her interview in November 27, 2023 issue #1816 of British HELLO! magazine.
Real heroine in my life is 83 year old "retired" visiting nurse who is still very spry & active, out and about helping others. I hope knowing of her will challenge & expand meaning of concepts "hero" and growing older.
Excerpt related to book signing toward end of EH as "intellictual level" offspring from upcomng planned bloppost: LA MENTIRA AS ENCHANTED HACIENDA:
Deliberate exaggeration of genre tropes CORAZON APASIONADO on Roku has community celebration finale, where along with family betrothals, former ranch-hand/city chauffeur Hero announces he finally completed degree in agriculture to assist female owner in running Hacienda La Generala (pet name Teo gives Sara "who must be obeyed" in LM), named after women soldiers of Mexican Revolution. Both grandmother & grand-daughter she raised in her own image as "Duena" are similar to commanding "Dona" made famous by actress of Golden Age of Mexican film, Maria Felix.
