From Margie’s Desk

Margie Sanchez
Abilene Public Library
November 2007

Many things have been lost in the Mexican culture and one of them is the cure of common ailments using a "curandero". Curanderos could be male or female and were called upon to cure ailments using rituals, herbs, and prayers. There were many reasons why Hispanics chose to go see a cuarandero instead of a medical doctor. Medical doctors were often outsiders while curanderos were usually well-known members of the community. Patients did not have to deal with a language barrier and could usually charge or barter for their treatment. One very important reason was the medical doctor did not accept "susto," "empacho," "mal de ojo," and "la mollera caida" as legitimate illnesses. The curandero knew these ailments that were peculiar to Hispanics.

The curandero was not called only when patients needed someone cured from "fright," "obstruction in the intestine," "evil eye", or "fallen fontanel." Most curanderos were also good at massaging sore muscles, and treating ailments such as stomach aches, colds, and female problems of all types.

Education, higher economic status and the conversion to Protestantism has resulted in many Hispanics setting aside this practice. Many consider these treatments by the curanderos/as as superstition. However, I am unsure as to how much was superstition and how many of the cures were real but unexplainable.

If you remember seeing or hearing about some of these maladies but cannot remember what was done to bring about a cure, the Abilene Public Library can help you out. The library’s collection includes some books on Curanderismo that will jog your memory and explain some of these beliefs and practices found in the Hispanic community.

The book "Curanderos, They Heal the Sick with Prayers and Herbs" by Alberto Treviño-Hernández is a very easy book to read and to understand. Mr. Hernández gives the name of the ailment and what was done and the prayers that accompanied each cure. He also has a list of herbs and their use.

"Curandero, A Life in Mexican Folk Healing" by Eliseo "Cheo" Torres, tells some of Cheo’s life and the life of his mother who was a curandera of sorts. He also tells of some famous curanderos. The story of how he was called to be a "curandero" is very interesting. The book has a listing of some illnesses and their cures.

"Healing with Herbs and Rituals a Mexican tradition" is also by Eliseo "Cheo" Torres. In this book he gives a history of the outstanding curanderos and describes some of their practices. Torres also describes some of the plants used to heal such as the aloe vera, garlic, and chamomile. There is an extensive list of names of plants in Spanish, their use and the English name.

The study of culture is interesting and there are many other sources to be found at the Abilene Public Library. In addition to books, there are, music audios, books on CD DVD’s, magazines, and many other formats that can help you appreciate and understand the history and culture of the world. The library also has an on-line book club that sends you excerpts of books by e-mail, downloadable books and music and e-books that can be viewed online. Most items check out for three weeks and can be renewed three times. I invite you to come to the Abilene Public Library and see all that is available.


September 5

From Margie’s Desk

Margie Sanchez,
Public Service Librarian
Abilene Public Library
(325) 676-6027

September 2007

Here I am again writing to you about authors and books. The author I will focus on at this time is René Saldaña, Jr. It is exciting to talk about this author because unlike other authors I have talked about you can actually come to the library and meet this author. Mr. Saldaña will be at the Abilene Public Library on September 26 at 12 noon courtesy of the Friends of the Abilene Public Library. I hope you will come and meet him and enjoy his presentation.

Rene was born in McAllen in south Texas and was raised in nearby Peñitas, Texas. He graduated from Bob Jones University (B.A.), Clemson University (M.A.), and Georgia State University (Ph.D.) with degrees in English and creative writing. He has taught middle, high school and now teaches at the university level.

All his stories are geared to children or young adults and come from many of his own experiences he had growing up Latino, on the US/Mexican Border. The stories told to him by his grandparents and parents are the basis for some of the stories in his books. His first book, "The Jumping Tree" is about Rey, a Mexican American living with his close-knit family in a Texas town near the Mexican border, describes his transition from boy to young man. Along the way we are introduced to his friends and how they all cope with different problems that come their way. Mr. Saldaña’s characters are presented with sensitivity and wisdom. He uses Spanish words throughout the stories, such as ‘Amá and ‘Apá for Mom and Dad. I enjoyed the story of "El Susto". Back then mothers had a cure for when something happened that gave you a good fright. The stories will bring back many memories of similar events in your childhood.

"Finding our Way"is for young people 7th to 12th grade. Each story has a distinct voice that shares secret thoughts that draw the reader into daily dramas of love, danger, loyalty and pride.

His latest book is "The whole sky full of stars" delivers another moving coming-of-age novel about the perils of friendship and the burdens of parental expectations. Barry Esquivel is a high-school senior dealing with the responsibility he feels as the new man of the family in the wake of his father's death. Barry's best friend, Alby, has problems of his own: in trying to live up to his father's credo that "we're winners not losers," he has amassed gambling debts to an unsavory type who wants his money now.

There is nothing that will make a book come alive than to hear the author talk about his motivation for writing, his style, why he writes about that particular subject matter and much more. So come out and connect with this wonderful author. The stories are fun to read.

Starting Tuesday evenings we are working with ACU students to bring you and your children, bilingual storytimes. Come out at 6:30 and be a part of a wonderful learning experience. There will be fingerplays, games, puppets, songs and lots and lots of fun!

If you have any questions call 325 676-6027 or 6025.


 August 2

From Margie’s Desk

Margie Sanchez,
Public Service Librarian
Abilene Public Library
(325) 676-6027

August 2007

Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was born May 21, 1895 in Jiquilpan, Michoacán into a lower-middle class family. He was 16 when his father died and he supported his mother and 7 younger siblings by working as a tax collector, a printer’s devil, and a jail keeper. He had to leave school at age 11 but he continued to study on his own and read widely, especially history.

His desire was to become a teacher but was drawn into politics and the military during the Mexican Revolution after Victoriano Huerta overthrew President Francisco Madero. Cárdenas backed Plutarco Elías Calles and after Calles became president, Cárdenas became governor of Michoacán in 1928. As governor, Cárdenas became known for his progressive programs of building roads and schools, promoting education, land reform and social security.

After Calles, left office he continued to run the country with administrations that were his puppets. In 1934 Calles allowed Cárdenas to run as presidential candidate thinking he could manipulate him. Cárdenas became president that year and the first thing he did as president was to cut his presidential salary in half. In 1936 Cárdenas had Calles and his corrupt associates arrested or deported. This decision was applauded by the Mexican public.

William Cameron Townsend, founder of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, has written the book, "Lazaro Cardenas, Mexican democrat", largely from first hand knowledge. The many well known accomplishments of Cárdenas as well as little known facts are spun together in a story that will make Latinos proud. Cardenas was responsible for establishing peaceful and regular presidential succession, nationalized the petroleum industry, divided the land, launched education on a large scale, sought to unite workers, peasants, the middle class and the military into a political organism capable of maintaining the principles of the Mexican Revolution and strengthened Mexican prestige overseas and contributed to Panamerican solidarity.

In telling the story of Cárdenas, Townsend describes the country and it’s people as only someone who has lived among them can. Townsend and his wife arrived in Mexico around 1934 at the invitation of Moisés Sáenz, distinguished Mexican educator. Sáenz found out about Townsend’s Psycho-Phonemic Method of teaching reading to Indian tribes in Guatemala and wanted Townsend to work with the Aztec Indians using the same method. Cardenas and Townsend met in an obscure Aztec Indian village and established a friendship that lasted 34 years. It is from this intimate point of view that the book is written.

This is a great read and will give insight into Mexican political history.

July 5

From Margie’s Desk

Margie Sanchez,
Public Service Librarian
Abilene Public Library
(325) 676-6027

July 2007

Let’s Eat with that Hispanic Flavor

Even if we all don’t like to cook most of us like to eat. At the Abilene Public Library you will find books that pertain to cooking with the Hispanic flavor. I say Hispanic because I will include mostly Cuban, Puerto Rican, South and Central American. Most Hispanics in the States are familiar with Tex-Mex foods or foods from Mexico. We have many books that deal with that topic also. My attention went to two books by young chefs who live in this country. One is Douglas Rodriguez, a first generation Cuban. His book "Nuevo Latino" introduces a kaleidoscope of bold new flavors from Peru, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and places throughout Latin America. The recipes are more difficult and some of the ingredients may be hard to find. If you like a challenge than you should try this out. It also has several recipes for drinks.

Aaron Sanchez, brought up in El Paso and New York, has put together a book titled "La Comida del Barrio". The book includes Dominican, Colombian, Venezuelan and of course Puerto Rican and Cuban Recipes. The recipes are more down to earth, but whereas Rodriguez’s book has beautiful pictures of the food, this one has pictures of different restaurants or "puestos" and people cooking. "Bilingual Cooking", written in English and Spanish, serves as an introduction to the tastes of the South. It includes dishes from the boisterous Caribbean and the more temperate Argentina. There are no pictures of the food but it has many copies of ancient drawings of the indigenous peoples of those areas. If you want designs for borders or those early drawings of the Maya and Inca cultures, there are many in this book. The recipes are very simple and will help you learn a few words in Spanish. Finally the book "Rancho de Chimayo Cookbook" by Cheryl Alters Jamison also has down to earth recipes. I mention this title because the recipes have a combination of the flavor of Spain and American Indians. I learned a recipe from a friend from Chimayo, who made a wonderful dish by combining zucchini, corn and cheese. It is a very tasty dish and I found it in this book. Now that zucchinis are so plentiful you may want to try it, it is on page 101 in this book. My friend would add cooked chicken or hamburger and make it a main dish. We also have ebooks that are available from home, but you must register at the library to get an account before you can access them. The books are Cooking the Cuban Way, and Cooking the Brazilian Way. They are very colorful and have lots of information and wonderful recipes. So explore and enjoy the many flavors of the Hispanic cultures.

June 2

From Margie’s Desk

Margie Sanchez,
Public Service Librarian
Abilene Public Library
(325) 676-6027

June 2007

I was always very small until I entered my twenties, which was a while ago. My parents would take me to the doctor often because they thought there was something wrong with me because I would not gain weight. I started my mornings with Liquid vitamins of different sorts until I was in my late teens. My parents along with many Hispanics thought that fat meant healthy. I guess that is why the book, "Gordito doesn’t mean healthy" caught my eye. The healthy fat baby idea was born at a time and place when food wasn’t plentiful and those with more weight had a greater chance of survival should food become scarce. This and many other cultural beliefs are discussed. Guidance in good nutrition for children along with ideas and recipes make this selection a good choice.

Speaking of food, I love "caldo", especially "de pollo". "Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul" is a wonderful collection of stories that deal with traditions, language and of course food.

"The Chalupa Rules" by Mario Bósquez is a funny, engaging and entertaining book that provides a great deal of wisdom and guidance for anyone in search of the American Dream". Bosquez shares tools to rise above overwhelming poverty with a mixture of Spanish wisdoms, homespun guidance, and personal advice to help others survive and thrive in a society where the cards seem stacked against them.

All the above titles require the reader to know some Spanish words or have a dictionary handy in order to understand what the authors are trying to say.

Abilene has Hispanics of different countries and I find it interesting to compare notes on the similarities and differences in the Hispanic cultures. I hope you will come to the library and check out what is available. Remember we have computers with internet, and word processing, a large collection of CD, Books on CD and now Downloadable books for your MP3 player.

I would like to remind you that our Summer Reading Club runs from June 4th to July 28. New born babies to young adults up to 12th grade are encouraged to participate. There are age appropriate story times, special programs by Young Audiences, Saturday Matinees, and Family Story times, all to encourage the love of books and reading. Hope you will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and provide your children with a summer adventure in reading.

Come and visit the Abilene Public Library or if you have questions you can call the number listed below.

May 9

From Margie’s Desk

Margie Sanchez
 Abilene Public Library
202 Cedar
Abilene, TX
Pho: (325)676-6027

May 2007

Dagoberto Gilb describes himself as "the least likely writer". He did not have an easy life and it is from these experiences that he writes. His mother was an illegal immigrant from Mexico City who settled in Los Angeles. His father was a World War II ex-Marine sergeant of German ancestry. His father left them and he was raised by his mother. He saw his father now and than, until he was 13 years old. In the book "Gritos" He has a chapter called, Mi Mommy, it is about his mother and his relationship with her. He had problems selling his stories in the beginning. He worked as a carpenter, which gave him an opportunity to write. All of his books are collections of short stories, except for "The Last Known Residence of Mickey Acuña". This book tells the story of a young man who ends up in El Paso and moves into the YMCA. He is waiting for a check and while he waits we are introduced to the other residents. The New York Times Book Review critic Robert Cohen praised the novel and the author’s "deft, ironic style that is all his own. He has conceived a bleak fable of a low-rent outlaw on the lam from someone who may only be himself—a man struggling, as we all do, to make transition yield transformation."

Some people may find his writing difficult to accept because his style is straightforward and sometimes raw, as he portrays the lives of common, poor people, who are sometimes angry at their hopelessness and the circumstances of their lives.

Other books by this author are "The Magic of Blood" a collection of ten stories. The stories include a cocky teenager holding town service jobs, a laborer looking for a place to live but all are obsessed with women, an obsession that cuts through the mundane lives of ordinary heroes and bring the stories to life. The characters are the working-class Mexican Americans of the barrio. "Winners on the Pass Line" and "Woodcuts of Women" were also written by him and are collections of short stories and all the characters are Mexican American. The Abilene Public Library does not own all the books written by Gilb, but remember that if we do not have it we may be able to get it for you through Interlibrary Loan. Ask at any of the service desks if you are having problems locating any of the materials you are looking for.

Library cards are free to residents of Taylor County. If you live outside the county you must pay 10.00 a year. There is no limit on the number of books you can check out. With one card you could check out material for the whole family. We also have down loadable books and a service called Tutor.com, where students can get live on line homework help 7 days a week from 3-10pm. You can get information by going to our website www.abilenetx.com/apl

Remember the Friends of the Library will have their book sale June 8-10. Donations can be brought to the Main Library. All proceeds from the sale go to help the library.


Feb. 28

From Margie’s Desk

 Margie Sanchez
Abilene Public Library
202 Cedar
Abilene, TX
Pho: (325)676-6027

March 2007

In March we celebrate women, crafts, pigs, frozen food, kidneys, nutrition, on-hold month (yes, for all the times they drove us crazy by putting us on hold and forgetting about us) social work, umbrellas and many more but I will focus on March to College Month. Yes, there is a month for that and it is, of course March! You may have children that need information or you may be considering going back to school and wondering where the money is going to come from.

Well, there is all kinds of money floating out there, you just need information on where and how to catch it and I may have some ideas for you. It is not easy because it requires making calls, writing letters, taking tests and the most fun of all…filling out forms. We have many books that can be checked out on scholarships, grants and free money but I would like to mention some specific titles. The reason I mention these titles is because they pertain to minorities and Hispanics, that is us on both counts. Most of the books are Reference, meaning you have to use them here in the library. You can make copies of pages that interest you or bring paper and pencil to copy addresses and other pertinent information.

Beckham's guide to scholarships for black and minority students : over 1000 private money sources for Black and minority students by Barry Beckham.

Does a college education seem like an impossible, expensive dream? It doesn't have to. This indispensable guide to scholarships for black and minority students will help turn your dream of going to college into reality. It also includes helpful hints and internet sites, other books, and state agencies.

Financial aid for Hispanic Americans, 2003-2005 : a list of: scholarships, fellowships, loans, grants, awards, and internships open primarily or exclusively to Hispanic Americans by Gail A. Schlachter.

This comprehensive directory describes more than 1,400 grants, scholarships, fellowships, loans, awards, prizes, and interships representing billions of dollars available to Hispanic Americans. The book includes several very helpful indexes such as by Residency, Tenability, Subject and Calendar

Financial aid for Hispanic Americans, 1999-2001 [electronic resource]

You need to sign up at the library for ebooks, but once you are registered you can access this material from home.

The Hispanic scholarship directory  National Association of Hispanic Publications.

This book has over 1,000 ways to finance your education. Edward James Olmos, star of Stand and Deliver, is responsible for the introduction to this book. One great thing about this directory is that it is in English and Spanish. Not just a directory, it is also a motivational book to encourage you to see the importance of a college education.

Multicultural Student’s Guide to Colleges by Robert Mitchell. What makes this book unique is that it gives ethnic percentages of tenured and non-tenured faculty, percentages of ethnicity male and female students, scholarships exclusively for students of color and ethnic studies programs and courses.

Feb. 2

From Margie’s Desk

Abilene Public Library
202 Cedar
Abilene, TX
Pho: (325)676-6027

February 2007

Nina Vida was born in 1933 to Lester Alan and Edith Levin. She was raised in California and in 1952 married Marvin Vida (an attorney and judge). It was and is her husband’s encouragement that has kept her writing. She began writing in midlife and continues now at age 74. She has made a career of portraying characters in cultural dissonance. Her latest book, "The Texicans" is about the tribulations and triumphs of people whose part in the birth of Texas has largely been forgotten. In "The Texicans" which covers a 12 year span of history beginning in 1843 we meet several characters representative of the cultural diversity that formed the Texas we know today. Aurelia Ruiz discovers she has the power to heal and to curse. Is she a witch, a bruja? Joseph Kimmel, son of a Polish Jew, who comes to San Antonio to claim his dead brothers body. Once in Texas he meets Luck, a runaway slave who robs him and Henry Castro who rescues him. Castro who is trying to found, Castroville, urges Joseph to marry a young Alsatian girl, to save her from a Comanche chief who has demanded her. When Joseph meets Aurelia he becomes obsessed with her. Read the interesting story of how Joseph becomes a rancher and the part that the Comanches, Tonkaways, Mexican vaqueros, immigrant farmers and runaway slaves play in getting Joseph to that point. A very interesting read.

Other books by Nina Vida are Between Sisters, The End of Marriage, Goodbye, Saigon, Maximillian’s Garden and Return from Darkness.

Remember that the Abilene Public Library will continue to have someone here to help you with your Income Tax, you need to bring all pertinent information. We also have Tax Forms and Tax preparing books. If you have any questions please call 325 676-6025.

Jan. 5

From Margie’s Desk
Margie Sanchez
Abilene Public Library
202 Cedar
Abilene, TX
Pho: (325)676-6027

January 2007

Isabel Allende, born in Chile but now living in the US, is the first female Latin American novelist to become well known to American readers. Her extensive use of magical realism in her writing makes her characters distinctive. Most of her books include remembrances from her life in Chile and from people she knew growing up in that country.

Many of her stories are adult romance but she has a series of three books for teens that are fantasy. She has also written a story that is autobiographical. It is her life story told to her daughter as she lays dying in a coma. The title of the book is Paula. It is the most revealing and personal book she has written. She intended to give it to her daughter when she recovered, but that never happened. Another book that is personal and tells much about her beloved Chile is "My invented Country". In this book she realizes how much the United States has become her country and Chile a part of her past. She gives many interesting facts about Chile, its’culture, and her family.

I hope you will check out this very interesting author. We have the majority of her books in English and in Spanish. Her latest novel is "Ines, of my soul", the 15th book she has published in just over two decades and is in many ways her most ambitious. It is historical fiction, set in Spain, Peru (where she was born) and Chile (where she grew up). The story is set in the 16th century, the time of the Spanish conquest of Central and South America, one of the bloodiest periods in human history. The story is told by Ines Suarez, a 70 year old lady who is looking back and remembering.

I hope that among your new years resolutions becoming a frequent visitor of the Abilene Public Library will be one of them. If you have problems deciding what to read you may want to come and be a part of the Cover to Cover Book Club. They meet once a month to discuss books selected by group consensus from bestseller and literary award lists. This month the group will meet Thursday, January 18. For information you may call Darla Cassela at 676-6040

Dec. 4

From Margie’s Desk

Public Service Librarian
Abilene Public Library

December 2006

Christmas is here and it is time for party animals, like Chato and his friends from the books of Gary Soto. I met this very cool cat in the book Chato’s kitchen. It is a picture book about a cat that gets new neighbors…5 ratoncitos. Chato cat that is muy simpatico decides to invite the family of ratoncitos over for dinner, in exactly the sense you might fear. While the cat’s cook and dream of their "main dish", they are startled when the new neighbors arrive with their friend, Choriso, who turns out to be a truly low-riding dachshund! There are three Chato storybooks, which you will love to share with children of any age and Mr. Soto has also written several books for young adults that are not only entertaining but can teach some surprising lessons. Gary Soto has also written several books of poetry for young adults as well as for adults.

Gary Soto was born April 12, 1952 in Fresno, California, where he was raised and went to public school. His father was killed in an accident when he was five years old.

He has been married to Carolyn for thirty years and they have a daughter who is a veterinarian.

His writing has a Chicano flavor, which I find so inviting. He interjects Spanish words here and there and I like that too.

In 1975 he won an Academy of American Poets prize. Elements of the San Joaquin one of his first works of poetry contain grim pictures of Mexican American life in California’s Central Valley. Among many other awards he has received the American Book Award in 1985. He has taught at University of California, Berkeley and Riverside.

The Abilene Public Library has several of his books and also criticisms of his writings. I hope you will come and check him out.

Remember that in December you can pay for overdue fines with nonperishable food items that we in turn give to the Food Bank. Come and get rid of that fine and help out the Food Bank of Abilene. If you have questions you can call the Circulation Desk at the Abilene Public Library 677-2474.


October 31
 

From Margie’s Desk

Abilene Public Library

November 2006

Burro Genius by Victor Villaseñor starts out by defining the words burro and genius. The burro is bred with a horse to get a mule, a larger stronger beast. Genius is defined as the spirit of a person or one having great mental capacity or an inventive ability. In this memoir he explores his transformation from an angry young man into the bestselling author we know today.

I have not read Burro Genius except for the first few pages where he tells of his first conference where he was one of five writers. The others were all published authors and he had just had his first book published and it had come out in paperback. The featured speaker could not make it and he volunteered to speak. It was a CATE conference (California Association of Teachers of English) and Victor had suffered unspeakable things being Mexican, unable to speak English, being dyslexic and in the California Schools in the late 1940’s. All of a sudden he finds himself in front of a large room full of teachers and all the memories of his school experience come flooding back and he is full of uncontrollable rage. What happens is funny and sad but that is what opened the doors for him as a writer and a speaker. Reading through these few pages made me cry. It is a very emotional story. I can’t believe it has only checked out once.

Victor Villaseñor was born in the barrio of Carlsbad, California in 1940 and raised on a ranch four miles north in Oceanside. Since his parents were born in Mexico, Villaseñor spoke only Spanish until beginning school. I know many of us can identify with that. After years of facing language and cultural barriers, heavy discrimination and a reading problem, later diagnosed as dyslexia, Victor dropped out of high school his junior year and moved to Mexico. There he discovered a wealth of Mexican art, literature, and music that helped him recapture and understand the dignity and richness of his heritage.

Victor returned to the U.S. at the age of 20. He began to feel the old frustration and rage return as he witnessed again the disregard toward poor and uneducated people and especially toward the Mexicans. Then a chance encounter with James Joyce’s Portrait Of An Artist As A Young Man, changed Victor’s life. It awakened a desire to confront through literature the problems associated with his cultural heritage that continued to plague him.

After producing nine novels, 65 short stories, and receiving 265 rejections Villaseñor sold his first novel, Macho!, which the Los Angeles Times compared to the best of Steinbeck. Abilene Public Library does not have a copy but HSU does and you can use your APL card to borrow the book. This was the beginning of his writing career which led to the publication of the bestseller, Rain of Gold, which the library has in English and Spanish. Published in seven languages and used by thousands of teachers and school systems across the nation as required reading. Rain Of Gold is the first of a quartet of books that tells the story of Victor’s family, taking the reader from war-torn Mexico during the Revolution to the present day. Rain of Gold is a wonderful story, the type that you can’t put down until you finish it and than you wish it would just go on and on.

We have copies of some of his other works, so I hope you will come and check out this author.

Remember the library also has programs that are informative and entertaining so check us out at www.abilenetx.com/apl to view our catalog, to place holds, to renew items and for a list of programs.

A new item on our website is tutor.com where you get homework help for grades 3-12 and up to the 1st year of college. Students are able to get live homework help in science, math and social sciences.

October 1

From Margie’s Desk

Abilene Public Library

October 2006

In 1900 there were no Hispanics playing in the major leagues. Today, an average major league roster includes at least 25 percent Hispanic or Latin-born players. The men who cleared the way for A-Rod, Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez are largely forgotten. Nick C. Wilson baseball columnist for La Voz Hispana de Colorado has written a book entitled "Early Latino Ballplayers in the United States". Here is a compilation of stories about how the early Latino players suffered discrimination, poor accommodations, low pay, and homesickness to play a game they loved. The book tells about little known players and sometimes there is very little information available. The book covers the era of baseball from 1901 to 1949. It is a quick and easy read and with many names and the how and when of early baseball.

On the same topic we have a new book on Roberto Clemente. The book written by David Maraniss is a continuation to Nick C. Wilson’s book because it focuses on Clemente’s achievements. Maraniss shows how Clemente a ball player of determination, grace and dignity paved the way and set the highest standard for the many Latino players who followed in later generations and who now dominate the game. Maraniss describes the uniqueness of Clemente, the man on and off the field. The circumstances of the untimely death of this extraordinary player are adequately reviewed. Lou Gehrig and Roberto Clemente are the only players to have the five-year waiting period waived so they could be enshrined in the Hall of Fame immediately after their deaths. For baseball fans and those interested in the progress of Hispanics in different areas of society, these are new worthwhile reads.

October is a busy month since it is National Book Month, Breast Cancer Awareness and AIDS Awareness Month. If you come to the library this month you will find many of the books about breast cancer in the book display in the basement.

For AIDS Awareness there will be presentations on HIV/AIDS: Then and Now which cover the history of the past 25 years, statistics, current research, possible cures, origins, treatments, facts and myths presented by Dr. Elvin Adams and Dr. John Gullett. These programs will be presented on October 12 and 24 at 7pm in the library auditorium. We will also have BJ Mayben, Julie Merriman, and Steve Doty talk about Living with HIV/AIDS today. They will cover mental health, parenting skills and dealing with sexually active kids all in relation to AIDS. This program will be presented October 14 at 2pm and October 26 at 7pm in the library auditorium. If you will look at the calendar of events you will notice that we have many other programs scheduled not just at the Main Library, but also at the South Branch.
 

Margie Sanchez,
Public Service Librarian
Abilene Public Library

September 7

From Margie’s Desk

September 2006

The dust is still flying around with all the controversy on the immigration issue. To some all latinos are recent immigrants but the truth is that latinos are composed of new comers and than there are those that have a long history in this country. The book A Legacy Greater than Words: Stories of U.S. Latinos & Latinas of the World War II Generation by Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, Juliana Torres, Melissa Dipiero-D’sa and Lindsay Fitzpatrick is very interesting. I had never stopped to consider the difference that being in the armed forces would make, but this book has helped me see, the great change that took place in the lives of the participants and their descendents. Many of these young men came home decorated soldiers and leaders who had to endure prejudice and opposition in order to achieve success. A person does not achieve success without passing some very special values to their children. The book is divided up in paragraphs and pictures of men in the infantry, those in the pacific theater and those in the air force. The women are in a separate section. It is a very interesting book and one that should be shared with young people.

Come to the library and enjoy the following free programs for the month of September.

I would like to remind you that the Entire Month of September is "Library Card Signup Month"at both locations. It’s the Smartest Card you can own, and you can get it @ your Abilene Public Library. Get your new library card in September, and you’ll be eligible for a prize drawing. Libraries serve more than 2/3 of the population with less than 4 percent of all tax dollars. Nowhere else are books, magazines, the Web, audio and videotapes, CDs, DVDs, and more, available to all people, free, regardless of economic status. And librarians are always available to help with good choices for you and your family. So come by either library location and get your free library card during September, and enter our drawing to celebrate Library Card Signup month.

Don’t forget that Saturday, September 30, 2006 we are having a "Quinceañera Fashion Fair" at the Main Library Auditorium from 1 to 4 p.m. The fashion show is from 1:30 to 2pm. The Quinceanera is one of the most important days in a Hispanic girl’s life, so your Abilene Public Library wants to celebrate by showing off beautiful dresses and highlighting businesses that can help create the traditional, never-to-be-forgotten occasion. If you’d like share your dress by modeling it, or share your memories of Quinceañera, call Margie Sanchez at 676-6027. Free.

From Margie’s Desk

August 2006

We have all heard of La Malinche. I only knew the name was associated with something negative. In history depending on who you read she is pictured as a traitor to her people. In truth she was an Indian who had helped Cortez as a translator and a strategist. She helped to unite many of the Indian tribes to fight with Cortez against the Aztecs, thereby defeating them. The Aztecs were cruel and kept the other Indian tribes in fear.

The earliest writings about her by Cortez and Gomez picture her as a woman who was not only beautiful but very intelligent and spoke more than one language. For these reasons it is believed that she was of royal descent. She was sold to Cortez along with 18 other women. Cortez divided the women among his captains and Melinalli Tenepal, Malinche’s Indian name, was given to one of his captains. After Cortez finds out that she knows more than one language and that she can serve as a guide, he has her baptized, her name changed to Doña Marina and she becomes his mistress. She bares him a son, Martin, who is taken away from her and raised in Spain.

Laura Esquivel’s latest book is called "Malinche" and it is the fictionalized story of this extraordinary woman. Laura studied Malinche for four years before writing this fiction story. In case you don’t remember Laura Esquivel is the author of "Like Water for Chocolate" which came out as a movie and a novel at the same time. It was Laura’s first novel and a very resounding success.

The story of Malinche is beautifully told by Laura Esquivel. She gives details of the conquest and gives thought and words to the cold facts of history. It is a beautiful story.

The library has other books by Laura Esquivel in English and in Spanish. One such book is "Swift as Desire" which is a tribute to her father who was a telegraph operator. In this enchanting, bittersweet story, she shows us that keeping secrets will always lead to unhappiness, and that communication is the key to love.

Other books in the library by Ms Esquivel are Law of Love and Between two Fires.

I would like to make an appeal for help. For September through October (Hispanic Heritage Month) I am doing a display of quinceanera items and would like to include photo’s of past quinceaneras, if you are interested in lending your picture so we can display it inside our locked glass display case, let me know. Margie Sanchez 676-6027. If you have had a quinceanera and would like to model your dress please let me know. Thank you. The style show will be Saturday September 30 from 1-4.

From Margie's Desk

July 2006

IMMIGRANTS by Pat Mora.

Wrap their babies in the American flag, feed them mashed hot dogs and apple pie, name them Bill and Daisy, buy them blonde dolls that blink blue eyes or a football and tiny cleats before the baby can even walk, speak to them in thick English, hallo, babee, hallo, whisper in Spanish or Polish when the babies sleep, whisper in a dark parent bed, that dark parent fear, "Will they like our boy, our girl, our fine American boy our fine American girl?"

I love Ms Mora’s writings. I love the way she captures the invisible with words that rhyme and shout, what one feels.

She is known for her children’s books such as the Delicious hullabaloo/Pachanga Deliciosa, you can almost feel yourself at a great noisy party! Or the story of the Bakery Lady, which takes you back to the various "panaderias" that you may have visited and bring back sweet memories! She is an exceptional writer of children’s books and also of adult poetry.

Pat Mora was born on January 19, 1942, in El Paso, Texas, but grew up speaking mostly Spanish at home, with the influence of her four grandparents who had come to Texas from Mexico in the early part of the century.' Mora received her B.A. in 1963 from Texas Western College and her M.A. from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1967. Mora held teaching positions at the secondary and college levels. She was also the host of a radio show called "Voices: The Mexican-American in Perspective."' After her divorce in 1981, Mora left teaching and went on to write children's books and poetry, working diligently to maintain the pride and respect she felt should be invested into the preservation of Mexican-American literature.

This fall, she will receive an Honorary Doctorate in Letters from Buffalo State College (SUNY).  Among her other awards are the 2006 National Hispanic Cultural Center Literary Award, The University of Texas at El Paso’s Distinguished Alumna for 2004, and a Civitella Ranieri Fellowship to write in Umbria, Italy.  Pat was also a Visiting Carruthers Chair at the University of New Mexico, a recipient and judge of the Poetry Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and a recipient and advisor of the Kellogg National Leadership Fellowships.  An administrator and museum director at her alma mater, the University of Texas-El Paso, she has taught English at all levels.

A literacy advocate excited about sharing bookjoy, Pat founded the family literacy initiative, El día de los niños/ El día de los libros, Children’s Day/ Book Day, now housed at the American Library Association. The year-long commitment to daily linking all children to books, languages and cultures is celebrated on April 30th.

The New York Times characterizes Pat Mora as "proudly bilingual while the Washington Post describes her acclaimed Memoir "House of Houses" as "a textual feast…a regenerative act…and an eloquent bearer of the old truth that it is through the senses that we apprehend love"

Many of the children’s books are in English and Spanish, so they can be shared in both languages. Summer is a good time to spend reading to your children and sharing with them the culture of our people. Pat Mora’s writing inspires one to be proud of who one is no matter what the culture. We have several copies of most of her books, so come and check out Ms Mora at the Abilene Public Library for the fun of it!!!
 

Margie Sanchez,

Public Service Librarian

Abilene Public Library

From Margie’s Desk

June 2006

I have two books from two different authors to talk to you about.

The first one is Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario. Winner of several national awards, Sonia has spent more than twenty years as a projects reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She has received many awards for her writing, among them the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. Her father is Syrian and her mother is Polish and Sonia was born in Argentina. Her parents emigrated to the United States when she was in her early teens. I believe this is a very timely book because it tries to explain what makes people put their lives in so much danger to come into this country. The biggest motivation is hunger. The book is based on a true story of a young Honduran boy who comes to the United States in search of his mother. His mother, abandoned by her husband and left to raise four young children is forced to make her way North in order to help provide food for her family. Enrique travels 1,600 miles on bus, train, hitchhiking and on foot, his life in danger constantly, robbed and hungry, he is determined to reach his mother and he does. The author travels to Enrique’s hometown and traces his steps in order to experience first hand what children like Enrique and many younger children go through in order to reach this country. It is a tragic, but true story. Ms Nazario makes many comments on the issues involved in immigration from Latin American countries.

The other book is Child of Many Rivers; Journeys to & from the Rio Grande by Lucy Fischer-West. This book tells Lucy’s life, beginning with her parents, one reared in Germany, the other in Mexico. She tells in rich detail how they met, fell in love and married. Lucy was born in the Hudson River Valley but raised in an El Paso barrio. She has many fond memories of her early life and talks about the customs and rituals that were part of it. She goes on to tell of her travels to other parts of the world and how they have enriched her life. The author still lives in El Paso and teaches high school English.

I would like to remind you that our Summer Reading Club runs from June 5th to July 29. New born babies to young adults up to 12th grade are encouraged to participate. There are age appropriate storytimes, special programs by Young Audiences, Saturday Matinees, and Family Storytimes, all to encourage the love of books and reading. Hope you will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and provide your children with a summer adventure in reading.

Margie Sanchez,

Public Service Librarian

Abilene Public Library

May 3

From Margie's Desk

Margie Sanchez, Public Service Librarian
Abilene Public Library

May 2006

In the early 80’s I was living in Arizona. On one of my trips to the public library I came across Rudolfo Anaya’s book "Bless me, Ultima". I was so taken with this book I was almost stopping people on the street to tell them what a wonderful book this was and it was written by a Chicano. Un "manito" from New Mexico! If you have not read it you must read it. The book took Mr. Anaya seven years to write and is an autobiographical novel that explores the spiritual and personal journey of Antonio Marez y Luna, who is almost seven when the novel begins. Based on the New Mexican Hispanic culture of life in the llano and a small town. It is also about Antonio’s grandmother, a curandera named Ultima. Antonio becomes very attached to his grandmother and learns many valuable lessons from her. The mixture of folklore, religion, evil spirits, and superstition work to create a novel that is informative and entertaining. I have read other works by Rudolfo Anaya but having read Bless me, Ultima first has ruined it for me. I have not enjoyed any of his works as much as I did this one. Reading Bless me, Ultima made me feel like I was there with this little boy named Antonio talking to me and explaining to me personally all the things that were part of his life, his viewpoint on many things and the coming of age period in his life.

Mr. Anaya won the Premio Quinto Sol literary award in 1970, and has since won many awards for his writing. He has been credited as a leader in the Latino literary community for his ground-breaking style and his success in writing stories that capture the essence of the Chicano experience.

Mr. Anaya has written for children such as Farolitos of Christmas and Farolitos for Abuelo. Collections of short stories such as My Land Sings stories for young people. Serafinas stories and The Man who Could Fly are both collections of short stories for adults. The library also has copies of several of his mystery novels; Alburquerque, Rio Grande Fall, and Shaman Winter. Mr. Anaya’s journal of his trip to China, the title being A Chicano in China was very well done. I enjoyed most of the book. He has such a unique way of describing the scenes but especially the way people feel. Come check out the books we have, you will enjoy this author.

Hasta luego!

April 5

From Margie's Desk
Margie Sanchez
Abilene Public Library

April 2005

I came across some books that I hope you will find interesting enough to come and check them out. The books deal with music, specifically "musica mejicana". We cannot talk about musica mejicana without talking about the contribution of the "tejanos". Los "tejanos" are the ones who have been the most musically productive of all the Mexican regional groups. The first type of music is the "musica tejana" which includes the popular accordion based "conjunto" and the multi-styled brass and reed ensamble "orquesta tejana". Tejano, which is a hipper, synthesizer-driven offshoot of the conjunto that borrows elements from the orquesta tejana was also developed by the "musicos tejanos". The tejanos also helped develop the "corrido" which is a Mexican narrative ballad.

The Abilene Public Library has three very interesting titles that give the history of the music and the musicians who helped develop and popularize it.

It is interesting to read how the sound of the accordion and the "bajo sexto" came about from the Germans and other European immigrants into the creation of a different sound. The tejanos and the Mexican norteños even introduced one unique type of music: the "huapango", a bouncy regional genre.

The Texas-Mexican Conjunto: History of a working-class music by Manuel H. Peña, an associate professor of La Raza studies at California State University in Fresno, presents a scholarly point of view and is very well documented.

In 1998, this same author, Manuel H. Pena, wrote an updated version entitled, Musica Tejana. The book is easier to read and has been updated with the new names on the music scene.

Tejano Proud: Tex-Mex music in the twentieth century by Guadalupe San Miguel, Jr. has a different perspective. Credits given to the author say that he danced and listened his way across Texas to write this book, so you could say it is more of a "hands on style".

He is also an associate professor of history at the University of Houston. Besides letting us know about the diversity and complexity of this music he also covers the role women have begun to play in an industry long dominated by men.

They will be interesting reads if you like music and if you like history.

Your Abilene Public Library has a lot of information in different formats. If you have not been to the library in some time, come for a visit and participate in one of the many programs available. If you have questions you can call me at 676-6027

 

From Margie's Desk
Margie Sanchez
Abilene Public Library

March 2006

Edgardo Vega Yunque, is considered the best contemporary writer of Puerto Rican origin. He is the author of three critically acclaimed novels - which center on New York City and its Puerto-Rican and Irish neighborhoods. The Causualty Report, short stories, the Comeback and Mendoza’s Dreams are a collection of short stories that deal with the struggles and sorrow of Puerto Ricans in New York. His novels all deal with identity and belonging. The strongest feature of Vega Yunque's' writing is his direct storytelling style.

In his novel No Matter How Much You Promise to Cook or Pay the Rent you Blew it Cauze Bill Bailey Ain’t Never Coming Home Again (found at Abilene Public Library) tells the story of Vidamia as she sets out to complete the picture of her Irish/Rican history. Her journey begins with leaving her affluent suburban home and going to live with her father, Billy Farrell. Vega Yunque covers the fields of jazz-music, racial politics, Irish and Puerto-Rican Community histories, to name but a few. In his second critically acclaimed work The Lamentable Journey Of Omaha Bigelow into the Impenetrable Loisaida Jungle (at the South Branch Library) 'Vega Yunque employs a savage satire directed against the idea of identity and belonging in the USA.

The story is about a down on his luck "gringo whiteboy" whose luck changes when he meets Maruquita Salsipuedes, a 15-year-old Puerto Rican homegirl with witchlike powers. Finally in Blood Fugues, (New book section at APL) 'Vega Yunque's' most succinct and unified work, he again returns to the theme of the rich mix of lives and communities that is New York City, and delivers a touching book on the complexities of the Irish and Puerto-Rican characters. In this novel the author examines the consequences of cross-cultural relations. ‘Vega Yunque’s greatest achievement in his writing is perhaps the unity of theme, style and narrative. This unique author has developed a genre all to himself. 'Vega Yunque' is doing something new with the novel, and most of the acclaim is well-earned. Certainly, Puerto-Rico has a new champion of the written word.

The library does not own all the titles written by this author but if we do not have the title you want we can borrow the book through our Inter-Library Loan system. I hope you enjoy getting to know this author and his particular style of writing.

If you are not a regular library user I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to come and use the resources we provide, including materials and computers. Hasta luego!

From Margie’s Desk.
February 2006

In writing this article for the Hispanic Abilene Website I hope to tell you about Hispanic writers and their books available at the Abilene Public Library. If you do not have a card I hope you will come to the library and apply for a card, it is free and it is not a very detailed form. We have a large collection of books in Spanish, videos, DVD’s and CD’s with Mexican music. We have the Ingles Sin Barreras in both VHS and DVD. We also have several Spanish/English Dictionaries available for check out.

In this article I would like to introduce you to Luis Alberto Urrea. Luis Alberto Urrea is the son of a Mexican father, from Tijuana and an Anglo mother from Staten Island. His family moved to San Diego when he was three. In his book "Nobody’s Son" he writes about his childhood, a mix of opposites, a clash of cultures and languages. Urrea endured violence and fear in the barrio, but the true battlefield was inside his own home, where his parents waged daily war over their son’s ethnicity. Este hecho le da un punto de vista excepcional que se refleja en sus escritos. He has written extensively about border life. Books such as Across the Wire: Life and Hard Times on the Mexican Border will help you understand why people risk their own lives in order to come to the United States. By the Lake of Sleeping Children: The Secret Life of the Mexican Border and his most recent work "The Devil’s Highway". This book tells about twenty-six men who attempted to come into the United States through the southern Arizona desert. Only twelve came out alive.

Mr. Urrea has also written some works of fiction and poetry. His latest work of fiction is "The Hummingbird’s Daughter". The novel is a fictionalized story of Teresita de la Cabora. She is considered the Joan or Arc of Mexico. Urrea has traced his family back to this extraordinary woman who lived in Sinaloa in the late 1800’s. It was Teresita, a curandera, who did extraordinary healings and led an uprising against Porfirio Diaz, one of Mexico’s presidents.

Luis Alberto Urrea is the recipient of an American Book Award, a Western States Book Award, and a Colorado Book Award. He has been inducted into the Latino Literary Hall of Fame. Urrea is an outstanding writer. If you have not read his books I hope you will put them on your reading list.

There is another book written about Teresita Urrea by William Curry Holden and illustrated by Jose Cisneros. It is a biography well written and documented.

Until next month…happy reading.