Tortuga: A Novel [Paperback]

Rudolfo Anaya (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1988

"Anaya's first book, Bless Me, Ultima, was a ground-breaking novel of the life and folklore of Chicanos in southeastern New Mexico. Tortuga, his third novel, far supercedes all ethnic and geographical boundaries. His children are all mankind. . . . it opens our eyes to the depths and heights of feeling within us . . . the accomplishment of a major novel."--Frank Waters

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Anaya shares his memories of the incident which inspired Tortuga in the new Afterword of this 25th anniversary edition of his literary classic. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 203 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press; 6th Printing, 1998 edition (March 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826310745
• ISBN-13: 978-0826310743
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,858,179 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rudolfo Anaya is professor emeritus of English at the University of New Mexico. He was one of the first winners of the Premio Quinto Sol National Chicano literary award. Winner of the PEN Center USA West Award for Fiction for his novel Alburquerque, he is best-loved for his classic bestseller Bless Me, Ultima. His other works include Zia Summer, Rio Grande Fall, Jalamanta, Tortuga, Heart of Aztlan , and The Anaya Reader. He has also written numerous short stories, essays, and children's books, including The Farolitos of Christmas and Maya's Children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When you need help really living, May 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tortuga: A Novel (Paperback)

Tortuga (The Turtle) is a 16 year old boy who has broken his back. He is paralized, and taken far south to a crippled childrens hospital. I really can't tell you about this book. The hopelessnes and the joy in the hospital, and the patients who never get well, the horror, during the time of polio, the chidren in the wards, grips you in ways that you have never comprended before. The book is full of symbolism, dispair, and joy. There is no way to give you a short discription of this book.

I will tell you I desperatly wanted the book to end, to find out what happend, and my soul never wanted it to end, because I don't think I will ever find another book like this.

Depending on who you are, you will love and cherish this book, or cuss me.

When I finished this book, I held it close, and cried. Then I wrote in it what it meant to me and gave it to the person who means the most to me. It was my most cherished possesion.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not for everyone., June 20, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Tortuga: A Novel (Paperback)

I loved this novel. I had to rate it slightly lower because the only other person I ever discussed it with found it emotionally very difficult to read. At an age much younger than the characters in this novel I spent some time in a crippled childrens home. When I first read Tortuga, I was stunned at finding a story that accurately conveyed the feel of living inside an institutuon for the physically handicapped. W. Sommerset Maughm was the only other author I had ever seen touch on the rougher side of being physically handicaped. I began to think Mr. Anaya must have spent some time in such a place, or done some extrordinary research. The later seemed unlikely, because I have never heard of anyone talking much about such an experience. This is a novel you must read if you want to get to know anything about the subject of institutionalizing children

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Journey of the Spirit, January 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Tortuga: A Novel (Paperback)

I read this book a few years ago, and though I didn't remember all the details of the story, the spirit of this book has remained with me.

Reading this book for the second time proved to be just as inspirational as the first. The physical and therefore emotional obstacles these "children" face make me count my blessings. Although each character suffers from some form of physical deformity, you don't cringe at the thought of them, but wish you could be blessed with their strength.

Rudolfo Anaya, through his gift for writing poetic literature, weaves a story intertwined with the strength of the human spirit. It isn't a story for the reader's that need all the answers, or that need everything spelled out for them. It is a mixture of dreams, hopes, fears and eventually triumph. It is a story that will make an impression on you though you may never remember the details.