5 comments about Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation.

1. Beautiful and eloquent words crafted by Juan Santos in a wonderful memoir: "...he Anglicising of Texas..." is a polite term when murder and theft would be a better description. Killing of innocent Mexicans merely for being on a White's land and the indenturement (or limited slavery) of those seeking a better life, I was shocked, but not surprised, by the evil of the white Texans.
   
   The beautiful Mexican people should and will inherit the Patria.



2. Mr. Santos' lyrical and thoughtful storytelling provides welcome insight into the history and culture of south Texas. The book provided a window into parts of San Antonio about which I have been both ignorant and curious. This is a smart selection as the first read for the 1 Book 1 San Antonio program.



3. This book has been selected for the 2006 "One Book - One San Antonio" event, during which every reader in San Antonio will be encouraged to read and discuss this novel.



4. Santos' writing style is as enthralling as it is articulate, a language so alive that it immediately befriends the reader. At times this autobiography is more of a prose poem than a narrative: "On those chilly nights he slept in the open country, having heard stories of Texas ranchers shooting Mexicans they found on their property. To him, it all looked like high Coahuila desert land. There weren't many fences then, so you could walk long flat stretches of the parched land with only bird shadows for shade...it looked like home, only, he pointed out, there were more stones on the Texas side" (50).
   
   Such lines are not surprising since Santos is also a poet, and we see this style reiterated throughout as he delves deeply into the family histories of his father and mother. Some of us may think we know old Southwestern cities like San Antonio, but Santos' takes us into a hinterland of Texas, and Coahuila, Mexico, that we have never seen, one where the strength of memory endures amid a pervading and eloquent tone of pastoral loneliness. At times Santos is hauntingly prescient, as when he speaks of viewing New York City's Twin Towers as dolmens -- upright tombs from prehistoric times.



5. So often the essence of Hispanic culture, especially when addressing Mexico, Central and South America, is referred to as "Magical Realism". Whether referring to the literature of Marquez, Allende, Arenas, the paintings of Kahlo, Rivera, Bravo, Marquez, Borges, or the music of Ginestera, et al - the unifying element usually refers to this genre. Few authors have been successful in describing the origins or even the meaning of the term...that is, until John Phillip Santos elegantly warm memoir PLACES LEFT UNFINISHED AT THE TIME OF CREATION. Santos revisits his history through the immediacy of immigrant (yet unaltered) Old Ladies, creating from their tales a lush, incendiary canvas of passion, faith, commitment, hardship, and resilience. He adroitly mixes the two languages (Spanish and English) with finesse, at times translating for the non-Spanish reader, and at times allowing the beauty of his Spanish phrases to sing for themselves. This book is a paean to the sanctity of the souls of the immigrants who have endured the agony of expatriation, who have entered El Norte to find, if not their fortunes, then their integrity as human beings. This beautifully written book should be on the shelves of the libraries of schools throughout the USA...but it should also be in the library of everyone who wonders about the beauty of the Hispanic heritage - which for lack of a better name we call Magical Realism.

No comments about Pancho Villa (Hispanics of Achievement).

No comments about Gloria Estefan: International Pop Star (Reaching for the Stars).

No comments about Hispanic American Biographies.

5 comments about Gloria Estefan: A Real-Life Reader Biography.

1. If you like music you will love this biography about Gloria Estefan. This is an amazing story about a girl who moves from Cuba to Miami, Florida. She grows up to be a singer in Emilio Estefan's band. Then a little while later she graduates college and as you may have guessed, gets married to Emilio. They had two kids. There is a huge tragedy. She helped people who lost their homes in Hurricane Andrew. She also helped prevent kids from doing drugs.
   This is a great story for kids, especially if they want to be singers. I liked when the author talked to you directly and made you feel happy about her recovering from the tragedy.
   
   
   
   Fay Marshal the rapper



2. This book is very exciting. It tells everything about Gloria, from when she was a baby, all the way to when she had a baby.
   
   When Gloria was a baby, she had to move from Cuba, to Miami, Florida. When she was growing up, her dad got very ill. She had to go to school, learn English, and take on extra chores at home because her had to take care of her dad. During her life, she joined two bands. One was temporary and one was a career.
   
   While she was doing that, she got married to Emilio Estefan. She had two kids. Before the 2nd one there were 2 tragedies, but they got through them, and fixed them. Before the tragedies she got many singles out with her band, she had a good interesting life before the tragedies, but she had a good life after it too.
   
   In my opinion the author did an extraordinary job on this book. I also like that her word choice is awesome, because it is not boring.
   
   By Alabama



3. This biography is great for kids, especially who want to be famous some day. It's also an awesome book for anyone who likes to read exciting books about the lives of other people.
   It's about a Cuban girl named Gloria Estafan and her family at first. They are forced to leave Cuba. When she gets to Florida, she likes it better than Cuba.
   While in Florida her father gets a horrible disease. When she is in High school she gets great grades. At home she gets away from it all by playing music. She joins a band and the band manager is Emilio.
   Later she falls in love with Emilio, they get married, and have a child. Her band becomes famous after a while. Then a tragedy happens that keeps her of her feet for a while. But she still has her family.
   I think this book is fantastic because of the amazing pictures and fabulas word choice.
   By:Bob



4. This story is great, and exciting the first time I read it. The story is worth reading. This story tells about Gloria's life. In the middle of the story Gloria's life turns in to a tragedy. This story is good. I think you should read it because it tells what Gloria's life is like.



5. The author of Gloria Estefan did an awesome job explaining the life of Gloria. She started the book at Gloria being born then she had to move to Miami Florida. There she met Emilio and joined his popular band.
   Emilio and Gloria got married after they made some records and then made a lot more records together. Gloria her son and Emilio got to meet the president. On the way to one of Gloria's concerts a tragedy struck. Gloria still song after the tragedy and had another child. Emilio and Gloria had one big perfect happy family.
   I thought this book was very help full because before I read this book I didn't know anything about Gloria and now I know a lot. If you want to be a star or even just want a good book to read I would suggests this book.

No comments about Pablo Casals (Hispanics of Achievement).

No comments about Americo Paredes (Latinos in American History).

No comments about Judy Baca (Biografias Hispanoamericanas / Hispanic-American Biographies (Spanish)).

No comments about Entre dos Am¿ricas.

No comments about Luisa Moreno (Personajes Estadounidenses/American Lives).