2 comments about Heroes, Lovers, and Others: The Story of Latinos in Hollywood.

1. It was that gorgeous sepia cover of Rita Hayworth that first drew me to this book. I'm not a movie buff, but that classic pose captivated me, and when I saw the numerous dramatic stills of famous screen icons from across the entire history of film, I immediately purchased four copies-for my mother, my two aunts and my niece.
   Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Carmen Cansino, I quickly learned, and she had begun her career as a a Latin dancer and actor. Her's is only one of a flood of stories of Latinos stars throughout Hollywood's first century. The book is an easy and quick read, but I ended up learning a lot about how the history of Hollywood and America are intertwined. I felt that the historical context deepened and enriched the stories and provided them with a greater meaning.
   One of my favorite stories is about an Austrian actor named Jacob Krantz, whose acting career was going nowhere until he changed his name to Ricardo Cortez and immediately became a big star. His brother Stanley followed him to Hollywood, also changed his name to Cortez, and won several awards as a cinematographer. And did you know that Anthony Quinn came to the US illegally, and picked crops, preached on street corners and boxed before becoming a major star?
   The author writes with an accessible style and great insight. The pictures are wonderful. I'm neither Latino nor a big movie-goer, but I still loved "Heroes, Lovers and Others" because it is such a lively collage of wonderful stories about America and the rich variety of people who populate it.



2. Rodriguez gets us thinking about the place of Latinos in US feature film from the very beginning to the present and in a sense, it's a book with a happy ending, because after decades of near-invisibility, Latinos and Latinas are becoming highly visible and indeed stars with huge followings. I mean, like it or not, Jennifer Lopez has millions of fans, as does Christina Aguillera. Intriguing are her portraits of Hollywood's Latin stars of days gone by, from the dashing Gilbert Roland to the gay superstar Ramon Novarro, and the answers to trivia questions like Olga San Juan. But she has some facts wrong, and it makes me wonder if even I, a non-Latino, can pick up some mistakes she has made, who knows maybe there are even more I don't know about! In her article on raquel Welch, first of all she deplores the fact that Jo Raquel Tejada was forced to change her name to Welch. She says that "Welch was another name in her family." Every fan of Raquel's in fact knows that "Welch" is the name of Raquel's first husband, and she didn't "steal" it or anything from some other member of her own family. Rodriguez also claims that Raquel made her screen debut in the call-girl melodrama A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME, when most historians credit her in appearing in the Elvis programmer ROUSTABOUT way before AHINAH. But, all in all you can't go wrong with Rodriguez (except when she goes wrong), and I love her description of Anthony Quinn as having the greatest gift of a screen actor, the ability to make audiences think they have known the character he is playing in any particular picture, that they have known him for a long time. It's a quirky observation, but a valid one, and a valuable one to boot.

5 comments about Latino Wisdom: Celebrity Stories of Hope, Inspiration, and Success to Recharge Your Mind, Body, and Soul.

1. Latino Wisdom offers more than wisdom from high profile celebrities and newsmakers. It celebrates the human spirit through stories about resilience and reflection, passion and conviction, purpose and creativity. As a writer & journalist, I appreciate Cathy Areu's journalistic style in capturing the essence of successful and driven Latinos. Latino Wisdom is a treasury of inspirational stories that I'll be able to read over and over again.



2. You do not have to be Latino to be inspired by Latino Wisdom. In her introduction, Cathy Areu states the most important, fundamental theme of her book--Believe In Yourself. It's a theme that can apply to anyone, whether you're born with a silver spoon in your mouth or not. This theme crops up time and again in Areu's interviews with a variety of self-made successful people, everyone from actresses and singers to politicians, football players, and business men and women. Areu, herself, is a shining example of this principle. Her story, told in her inimitable, breezy style, is every bit as inspirational as those of the people she highlights. As she says, she wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but, applying the believe-in-yourself principles that are the theme of her book, today she's a successful author, magazine publisher--and much more.
   Areu's writing is warm and conversational. In her interviews she conveys a sense of ease with her subjects so that their personalities-and hers-come across the page very naturally. Latino Wisdom isn't only inspirational; it's interesting and fun to read!



3. In a thoughtful series of interviews with famous Latinos and her own views on their varied accomplishments, Ms. Areu does a wonderful job of showing how true it is that success is in large part due to hard work and believing in yourself. From well-known celebrities to politicians to Ms. Areu herself, you are inspired by stories of how all of these people pursued their dreams and found success. A worthwhile read that will challenge you to reach for your own dreams!



4. I love books that make me want to be a better person -- books that offer inspiration by giving examples of what success looks like. LATINO WISDOM is one of those books. Ms. Areu has interviewed people that most of us think of as special, and showed that they are really like us. Successful people aren't that different, though the author identifies specific qualities that the interviewees share. These are qualities that most of us possess to some degree. So, by reading the tips and wisdom of others, those of us who are still seeking success now have many voices telling us that we can do it. This is a book I know I will read again and again any time I want to be inspired, or on days when I think I want to give up.



5. Latino Wisdom gave me great info and insight into the lives of successful people and how they became successful. Each chapter has inspirational nuggets, in the successful people's words, that I can use. And Cathy Areu's chapter introductions perfectly set the tone. I think this book is a great read for everyone looking to feel recharged.

No comments about Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz.

1 comments about The Hispanic American Almanac: A Reference Work on Hispanics in the United States (Hispanic American Almanac).

1. Just the chapter titles should be enough to get Hispanics interested in purchasing this well-detailed book. These topics are covered pretty well. (I've added details in the brackets.)
   
   Chronology...xix [history of Iberia/Mesoamerica to present]
   1. A Historical Overview [a summarized history of Iberia/the Caribbean/Central America/Mexican-America to their present]
   2. Spanish Explorers and Colonizers [colonies in Mexico, Caribbean Islands, and U.S.]
   3. Significant Documents [such as the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]
   4. Historic Landmarks [colonies in U.S.]
   5. Relations with Spain and Spanish America [their relations with the U.S.]
   6. Hispanics and Race [racial ideas/perceptions among colonial Spaniards, modern day Hispanics and non-Hispanic white Americans]
   7. Population Growth and Distribution [demographics/census bureau of Hispanic population, both Native & "Immigrant"]
   8. Language [slang, English usage among Hispanics, ethnocultural perceptions, etc]
   9. The Family [institutions of Mexican/Caribbean families]
   10. Women [Hispanic women in society/history]
   11. Religion [the synthesis of Native American polytheism and Spanish Catholicism]
   12. Military [Hispanic warriors in U.S. History, including the War of Independence, the Civil War, and World Wars]
   13. Law and Politics [a lot there...]
   14. Business [such as cattle and livestock industry]
   15. Labor and Employment
   16. Education [history from 1540-present]
   17. Scholarship
   18. Science [YES! Prominent Hispanic scientists.]
   19. Literature [from Colonial period to present]
   20. Art [1599-present]
   21. Theater
   22. Film
   23. Music [history; explains how Latin American music has roots in Germanic/Slavic folk but broke off from that style by inventing its own unique sound]
   24. Media
   25. Sports
   26. Organizations
   27. Prominent Hispanics
   Glossary

No comments about They Called Me "King Tiger": My Struggle for the Land and Our Rights (Hispanic Civil Rights).

2 comments about Jaime Escalante: Sensational Teacher (Hispanic Biographies) (Hispanic Biographies).

1. I had heard that Stand and Deliver was a good movie and so I borrowed it from my public library. I wanted to know the truth about Jaime Escalante, the truth behind the movie. I happened to see this book one day and just started reading it. It took me less than an hour to read, but the well-written book taught me much about Escalante, the sensational and resourceful teacher. This is not only the Stand and Deliver story-- the story about how he made 18 high school students pass the A.P. Calculus exam, but the things that led to it and the aftermath.

   This book is a short read, but it is inspiring and especially good if you want to know the story behind Stand and Deliver, the movie about Jaime Escalante as a teacher.




2. This lively and engaging biography makes good use of quotations and information gained through personal interviews with Escalante. Reading this book makes me feel that I have spent time in Escalante's company. I would not want teachers to mimic his style, but I would like them all to share his determination to succeed.

No comments about Pedro Martinez (Latinos in the Limelight).

No comments about Latino Baseball's Finest Fielders/Los Mas Destacados Guantes Del Beisbol Latino.

3 comments about Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa.

1. Books like these constitute treasures to share with your child. This book is no exception. It's prose and art make it a celebration to share every story time. My child loves to have it read to him almost as much as I love to read it; and we value the chance to celebrate Ms. Cruz's rich life every time.



2. From the moment of first reading this book, I was drawn in by the flowery language that described the life of a real person who influenced so many with her God-given talent. It, also, opens the door for discussion on why there are not more books for little girls of color to relate to. The illustrations and the language are absolutely "awesome" together.



3. I am (...), so I couldn't read this by myself, but my mom read it to me. It was very good. I liked the pictures and the story of how she became the Queen of Salsa.

No comments about The Making of a Mexican American Mayor: Raymond L. Telles of El Paso.