THE LATINA BOOK CLUB

  CROSS OVER WATER: A NOVEL By Richard Yañez University of Nevada Press “Success or failure do not matter for it is the journey that is important.”                                                Raul Luis “Ruly” Cruz Raul Luis “Ruly” Cruz is a new, unique voice in literature. It was a pleasure to read his journey from childhood to manhood, and how he learned to navigate between two worlds, two cultures. Set in El Paso, Texas, this novel crosses borders in more ways than one. As Ruly goes back and forth between Mexico and the U.S. to visit relatives, he learns about his roots, his traditions, his culture. And back in the U.S., with his trusty Map Book at his side, Ruly learns to identify his place in American Society, the Chicano community and the world at large. I laughed, I cried, I cheered as Ruly learned about girls, school, friendship, girls, romance, loyalty, girls, discrimination, girls, etc. (You can see that girls are a recurring theme.) This book is a fun and q

FROM THIS WICKED PATCH OF DUST by Sergio Troncoso The University of Arizona Press (2011)       Sergio Troncoso has written a wonderful, heart-warming, universal tale of a family. This story can be about any American family and their struggle to work, pay bills, raise children, save them from the streets, get them through college, and live long enough to see their grandchildren. What’s fascinating about FROM THIS WICKED PATCH OF DUST is that we have not one hero, but a whole family’s worth – Pilar, the mother, who wants to get away from her past and start anew in America; Cuahtémoc, the father, who will do anything for his wife and children even embrace a new country; Julieta, the only daughter, an activist-turned-rebel; Pancho, the caretaker and handyman; Marco, the soldier and teacher; and Ismael, the baby and writer. Often Pilar looks at her children and thinks: “this family seemed like leaves in the wind, from the same tree, yet floating to their own private destinies.”

The Latina Book Club congratulates ALL the winners.  We look forward to seeing you at the movies! From Latino Literacy Now's press release:  The second edition of the Latino Books Into Movies Awards were held on April 21st at the University of Southern California as part of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. The awards were presented from the HOY Stage during the very active weekend of book related activities. The judges for these awards are film industry professionals: Producers, Directors, Screenwriters, and Film Financiers. The judges were Ruben Arvizu, Kevin Bender, Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Benjamin Esparza, Paul Espinosa, Evelina Fernandez, Jackie Gil, Marcos Gonzalez, Danny Haro, Bel Hernandez, Ruth Livier, Alma Martinez, Dave Mendez, Lymari Nadal, Luis Orozco, Gabriel Reyes, Baldemar Rodriguez, Carlina Rodriguez, Margarita de la Vega-Hurtado, and Richard Yñiguez. Kirk Whisler and Annie Perez oversaw the awards process. The Latino Books into Movie Award

  “There were plenty of reasons for me to fall in love with Selena. She was a talented, sensual dancer and singer, and a compelling entertainer….I was attracted to that woman I saw onstage. But I fell in love with the real Selena, the woman who laughed hysterically while riding speedboats, was determined to beat every guy in the band at video games, and wore jeans and sneakers and a baseball hat on the bus. “Selena had a huge talent and sang like an angel. But she also worked tirelessly; doing every promotional opportunity that came her way. She made fans and reporters feel like they’d been friends forever. She had a rare gift with people, because she was always true to herself and with everyone she met. She trusted everyone and thought the best of most.”                                                        ---Chris Perez If you are a Selena fan, this is a must-read book for you.  It’s been more than ten years since Selena Quintanilla Perez’s unforgivable death. Now her