In Search of Bernabe [Paperback]

Graciela Limon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1993

Against incredible odds, Luz Delcano is determined to find her son Bernabé, from whom she gets separated in the chaos that follows the assasination of the Archbishop Romero. Her odyssey takes her through Mexico and into Southern California, then back to El Salvador. All the pieces of this postmodernist novel come together in breathtaking final scenes in which brother is pitted against brother.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this well-constructed first novel about El Salvador during the civil strife of the 1980s, Limon tells a tragic family saga. Raped by her grandfather at 13, Luz Delcano bears a son, Lucio, who is taken from her and raised by other members of the grandfather's influential family. Lucio becomes a colonel in army intelligence and heads the death squads. Meanwhile, Luz has had another illegitimate son, Bernabe, who plans to be a priest. But Bernabe is separated from his mother during a funeral procession for the assassinated Archbishop Romero, and fleeing from government soldiers into the mountains, he joins the guerillas there. His mother begins a search for him that takes her from El Salvador to Mexico City to San Diego and back to El Salvador. There she eventually finds Bernabe, after the death squads, on orders from Lucio--who hates the brother he has never met--have done their worst. Luz's search for her son and her deteriorating mental state as a result of war are compelling and chilling. But while we know what motivates her, the motivations of the other characters aren't as clear. Still, Limon effectively blends fact and imagination while asking, What is truth and what is fiction in El Salvador?
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"In this well-constructed first novel about El Salvador during the civil strife of the 1980s, Limón tells a tragic family saga." -- Publishers Weekly

"Ms. Limón prose is self-assured and engrossing. In Search of Bernabé deserves a large audience." -- The New York Times Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Arte Publico Press; First Edition edition (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558850732
• ISBN-13: 978-1558850736
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #734,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book written from what happened in El Salvador., September 20, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: In Search of Bernabe (Paperback)

A very real life book on a women's search for her lost son during a time of tough times in El Salvador. A very good example of just one family's tough times during the war in El Salvador. This book is full of many relevent issues; US intervention in South America, migration to the United States, social classes in South America, and most important the struggle of the people to get there country back

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ---- personally and politically insightful!, February 9, 2000

By 

toni (maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Search of Bernabe (Paperback)

in this award-winning novel, graciela limon digs beyond borders and boundaries - and delves deep into the human psyche in an attempt to unearth and unravel the twisted roots that lie tangled beneath a decaying tree of life - in a bold exploration of human behavior.

with memorable, immortal, superbly-crafted, 3-dimensional characters that struggle to survive in an historically accurate setting depictive of civil-war-torn 1980s central america -- and with paragraph after paragraph peppered with tales of graphic abuse and abandonment endured by generation after generation -- the author poses possible and plausible explanations for the cold-hearted, calculating "peddling of death" that takes place, ironically, in the "city of the savior."

numerous biblical/religious references, as well as psychological speculations serve as catalysts for critical thought spurred as the readers witness the horrors of death and destruction through the eyes of a grieving mother/land who mourns the loss of beloved son/s barely out of their cradles. and, as luz delcano goes off "in search of (her son) bernabe," who disappears during a moment of militaristic madness, murder and mayhem -- we join her on a journey, in search of comprehension for such incomprehensible behavior.

the manner in which limon introduces international intervention is commendable -- she deals with the delicate subject of the u.s.'s (in)direct involvement deftly and directly in an enlightening way via her creation of a priest tormented by the preachings of a guilty conscience (in the voice of a dead friend and arms-negotiating accomplice)that lead/s and follow/s him to his grave.

the expert use of irony adds to the richness of the text, as foils are juggled and juxtaposed -- such as in the delcano brothers' case -- one, an army colonel, a devil in an "angel's" dis/guise, who orders the execution of his own brother -- a seminarian-reluctantly-turned-guerrilla, who is "hounded by the thought that (his) victims were his brothers," and by the awareness that "he...had become...as monstrous as the enemy."

when all is said and done, limon does a fantastic job of describing the utter futility and senselessness of such tragedy -- as she describes the executioner's dismay as he finds himself unable to savor the flavor of his vengeance -- perhaps proving the point that revenge is much more bitter than sweet; as would be the fruit on a tree that has its roots (mal)nourished by the blood-spilling of (in)human nature.

limon, with her remarkable ability to fabulously blend fiction not far removed from fact, has given us a compelling, realistic look at the dark side of human (un)kind; a wonderful, brutal view of a world gone wrong -- and one very much in need of a savior!

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars So many spelling, punctuation and mechanical errors!!!, April 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: In Search of Bernabe (Paperback)

There were more spelling, punctuation and mechanical errors in this book than I have EVER seen in any other book. I even contacted the publisher re this.

As a teacher I felt I could not recommend this editing-flawed book as it is the antithesis of the kind of careful editing I espouse.

One very humorous aside is that part of the dedication is to her editor for careful attention to detail, or something close to that.

The story is interesting, but not compelling. One section, about a home invasion, is never really explained at all. It simply happens. Why does it occur? Simply to advance the story?

Limon's book entitled Ana Calderone is better written and far better edited.