Pensando En Parientes

I've been trying to find fiction in English about Hispanic characters that reflect my experiences and has some of what attracts me to classic telenovelas (some faves based on books currently streaming on demand include  1998  LA MENTIRA ,  1993  CORAZON SALVAJE   & especially  1993  CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER   on Vix--see previous November 2023 blog posts. Following remarks previously appeared on LAPL catalog as Borrower reviews titled   HISPANIC CULTURAL HERITAGE & ENCHANTED HACIENDA / ENCANTO. )  So far I'm mostly disappointed that writers in English with Latinx names just don't get what I experience & feel (i.e. L.A. WEATHER and YOU HAD ME AT HOLA--tho  BARBARIAN NURSERIES  was interesting).  I decided to compile list/recipe/menu selections of what I'm looking for and enjoy.  So far, J.C. Cervantes novel seems it might tick some of following boxes on my wishlist.    Negative review of ...

Don't read further if you prefer to know absolutely nothing about a film or book before you watch or read it.  I myself prefer other things over the plot, such as how pieces fit together, and what was creator's inspiration. Fixation on only the actions in plot can lead people to ignore other important elements, what famous readers' advisory librarian NANCY PEARL (she's got her own action figure!) calls "the four book doorways"  she explains in March 16, 2012 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY   https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/nancy-pearl/article/51109-check-it-out-with-nancy-pearl-finding-that-next-good-book.html  --character, setting, and language I love in my favorite writers' work (a few are refered to below, linked to this movie). Like many writers, Shakespeare himself is well-known for finding ideas for his own plays in history and other stories, and creatively transforming them, like powerful  sorcerer  Prospero in his final play...

  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 ...

Classic story   CORAZON SALVAJE   based on book trilogy by influential Cuban writer (see also telenovela   LA MENTIRA --brief summary at end of post) has been repeatedly remade in movie and telenovela versions.  Writers of fiction often find inspiration by asking "what if" questions.  CS might be result of wondering how to turn  GONE WITH THE WIND  into a true romance--which Margaret Mitchell's novel is not--although sometimes misread as one.  This error of interpretation is rebutted in book  A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ROMANCE NOVEL  by Pamela Regis, a scholarly study of genre that is "the most popular, yet least respected".   First of essential "eight narrative elements" explained by Regis is  "a definition of society, always corrupt, that the romance novel will reform".    In CS, romantic hero is freedom fighter, not supporter of society built on slavery.  Essay  "Utopias televisadas"  by American ...