Customer Reviews

Fiesta Femenina: Celebrating Women in Mexican Folktales

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I picked up a copy of Fiesta Femenina because the beautiful cover art looked like some Mexican murals I saw in California. I am blown away, not just by the subject matter -- tales of women's strength in Mexian folklore -- but also by the writing style.

There is one story that really stood out for me called "Rosha and the Sun." It is a wonderful, classic Mayan tale about a determined but tender young woman whose mystical life describes an aspect of the natural world. Gerson creates a truly intoxicating effect with those small but important details: "Rosha's hair was especially thick and lustrous, hanging down like a cornstalk to her feet... It was a hot, sticky day and all the breezes were trapped behind the mountain's wall of trees.... Rosha slipped off by herself to dip her burning feet in the bubbling stream..."

"Rosha and the Sun," and the other 7 native tales are real page-turners, but I must admit that I was taken aback at first by the untranslated words and phrases sprinkled througout the text, but then I discovered that this book has a glossary. A nice touch, I thought.

I have been searching bookstores for years for a book of Latino folklore in English and I have had very bad luck up until this point, so finding a group of such authentic tales that are all about women is very exciting to me. I can only hope that Fiesta Feminina is a harbinger of a whole genre of literature to be created or translated for English speakers.

A real find.

It is a beautiful re-telling of Mexican folktales. I loved the colorful illustrations and the emphasis on women. I was impressed by the careful way the stories were authenticated. I think that children will really benefit from reading this book, both in terms of pleasure and in feeling more familiar with Mexican culture.
My favorite stories were Rosha and the Sun, and the Virgin of Guadelupe but all eight stories were wonderful.
The most impressive aspect of this book is the writing. It is perfectly attuned to the age 8 and older group it is aimed at, with flowing prose that beautifully captures its Mexican theme. The writer clearly knows Mexico very well.
I highly recommend this book.

A GREAT CROSS CULTURAL,MULI-ETHNIC,NON SEXUAL STEREOTYPING TALE.
THE BOOK KEPT BOTH MY KIS AND I CAPTIVATED FROM START TO FINISH. THANK YOU MS. GERSON;ALSO,GREAT ILLUSTRATIONS!

I highly recommend this wonderful book. Mary-Joan Gerson has the rare ability to re-tell indigenous folktales in a manner that is both respectful and authentic. Moreover, she captures the passion, intensity and mysticism unique to Mexican tales, having travelled there extensively. Kids, adults interested in Latin American and/or folktales, and/or anyone with a sense of wonder will enjoy this immensely. The illustrations are beautiful too.

It is a beautiful re-telling of Mexican folktales. I loved the colorful illustrations and the emphasis on women. I was impressed by the careful way the stories were authenticated. I think that children will really benefit from reading this book, both in terms of pleasure and in feeling more familiar with Mexican culture.
My favorite stories were Rosha and the Sun, and the Virgin of Guadelupe but all eight stories were wonderful.
The most impressive aspect of this book is the writing. It is perfectly attuned to the age 8 and older group it is aimed at, with flowing prose that beautifully captures its Mexican themes. The writer clearly knows Mexico very well.
I highly recommend this book.