Customer Reviews

Senora Rodriguez and Other Worlds (Latin America in Translation)

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Especially provocative and inspiring to women, Sra Rodriguez confronts every poignant issue, but it is the humor and playfulness of her style that makes it effective. Martha Cerda goes beyond "magical realism." This is the best of the post-Boom, contemporary Latin American fiction.

This book falls primarily into the "magical realism" school but with a bit of humorous "post-moderism" near the end. The book consists of a series of short pieces - some character sketches, some short stories, etc. - revolving around Senora Rodriguez and her family.

Senora Rodriguez carries her life in her purse; digs into the purse contents is a unifying theme in the book. This humorous theme is then played with as when the Senora accidently switches her purse with that of an aunt living in Paris.

Although the book is written with a light touch, there are several pieces that carry strong messages. The issue of dolls setting a standard of beutiful women being blond and blue eyed when the environment is dark haired and brown eyed is explored in two or three pieces. The issue of extramartial sex is delightfully explored in the relationship of a secretary to the boss's wife and children. Ecology / exploitation is explored in a humorous sketch of communal net fishing.

The negative aspects of religion are explored in the mother-in-law's belief that her married son should remain a virgin - the wife's deceits are delightful. Sketches of the stranger voluntarily going to death and the betrayed traitor's suicide are retellings of Christ's way of the cross and Judas Iscariot's betrayal.

In short, the sketches cover a full life breadth of Mexican life forming an unusual novel which is well worth your time to read.

What a lovely, lovely book, full of imagination and the realities of life. Or was is just a dream? Why did it take eight years to get an English translation? There are so many excellent contemporary Latin American writers. Why do we neglect them and print trash instead?? Are we becoming illiterate?