A Glass of Water [Paperback]

Jimmy Santiago. Baca (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: GROVE PRESS. (2009)
• ASIN: B002M7P55O
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I'm still thirsty, October 11, 2009

By 

The Voice (Albuqerque, New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Glass of Water (Hardcover)

I love Jimmy Santiago Baca's poetry so, when I was walking around the book store today and, "A Glass of Water" caught my attention, I sat down for a quick sip. It didn't take long for me to decide to buy the book. This is his first novel (according to the jacket) and it is incredible. It was so engaging that I read it entirely in one sitting - a 4 hour drink to be exact.

I won't give any spoilers so, my synopsis is deliberately brief. The story is about two brothers whose divergent paths re-converge at the story's end. This 215 page work attests to Baca's powerful story-telling abilities.

His prose is even more enjoyable as it echoes Baca's passion and accomplishment as a skilled poet. There are moments in the story where the writing is lyrical and rich in details - something only a poet can do.

The story line tangentially details the plight of undocumented Mexicans and, if I have any regrets, they would be that the underlying story - the bigotry that so many Americans harbor against Mexicans was not delved into more deeply. For my part, the story is great but I was left wanting to know more. There are parts of the story that could have been expanded and elaborated upon quite a bit more without making the book unnecessarily long (eg. the brothers' childhood relationship, ancillary characters such as the man with nickle-tipped boots, the land owner, Carmen and her work, the concentration camps).

The story deals with tension, strife, romance, angst, violence, revenge intrigue, regret, rage and forces of compromise. While the protagonists' character development were sufficient to carry the story, their development was more reflective of the title; drinks that only left me thirsty. I wanted to know more.

I am not sure what the title has to do with the story and, at least for this reader, a drink was not enough.

This book could easily work out to be part of a series because, there remains so much more to tell.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'd like to see a movie out of this, January 4, 2010

By 

Carel Miske "Ashz" (Nevada) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Glass of Water (Hardcover)

I am unfamiliar with Baca's writing, but this book caught my attention. I put it back and then went back for it. A very interesting read, it is both sympathetic and brutally lacking sympathy (sometimes at the same time) for the plight of the immigrant farm laborers. I read the book in one sitting. I was unable to put it down as I needed to know where this brilliantly crafted story was taking me. It was fascinating and somewhat surreal despite being set in a very real and harsh environment. I only regretted that the book was not longer and more fleshed out. I didn't want to leave these characters at the point when I left them. That is the only reason it did not get 5 stars: the end seemed abrupt and the story incomplete.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I never thought Baca would ever top "A Place To Stand", but history will record "A Glass of Water " a classic., November 12, 2009

By 

Will (DC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Glass of Water (Hardcover)

"A Glass of Water" could be a true story providing the reader a glance of the historic struggle of Mexican immigrants. It is a brilliantly told story combining the words a great poet and story teller, a story which only Baca could write. Without question, this is a master piece you must read.