EL CAMINO, A BOOK REVIEW (Life in a Spanish village in the 1940s)

[See Spanish below]

El Camino (Barcelona, Austral/Destino, 2009).  Delibes received several awards in his native land and, based on this novel, considered his best work, these honors, I think, are totally fitting. I discovered him to be an excellent writer and an authority of his fellow Spaniards (he died in 2010).

This 285-page book, edited by Marisa Sotelo, is divided into three parts. The first offers an introduction written by Sotelo concerning the author’s work, she an expert in Spanish literature. The novel itself occupies the second section, and the third takes the form of a curious “Reading Guide” alluding to Delibes’ work, conceived and written by Fernando de Miguel.

El Camino is about the life of three boys living in a northern Spanish village in the 1940s (I discovered a passage that refers to the Spanish Civil War of the late 1930s). It unfolded so serenely that I began to judge it as a string of trivial though colorful portraits. Soon, I noticed, however, the way in which the lives of the young characters mirrored more profound reflections about small town life. I found that Delibes handled his written work with impressive mastery revealing both detailed knowledge and amusing portraits of the villagers, like the blacksmith, the priest, the cheesemaker, the godless man, the train station manager, and others.

Delibes did this by following the lives of the three little friends, Daniel, the Owl, Roque the Stooge, and Germán, the Scab, looking especially at their mischief and tomfoolery. This device allows the author to unveil the relations between the adults of the town. For this reason I place  El Camino inside the literary genre that owns the Hardy Boys in the world of English literature, but showing greater literary complexity. His style is simple but solid. It was a delicious read.

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Delibes ha sido galardonado con varios premios españoles y, basado en esta novela considerada como su mejor trabajo, pienso que dichos reconocimientos están en lo correcto. Leyendo su libro descubrí que Delibes fue un excelente escritor y conocedor de su país (murió en 2010).

Este libro, de 285 páginas, editado por Marisa Sotelo, contiene tres partes. La primera ofrece una introducción que Sotelo escribe concerniente a la obra del autor. La novela ocupa la segunda sección, y la tercera toma la forma de un curioso “Guía de Lectura” alusivo al trabajo de Delibes, concebido y escrito por Fernando de Miguel.

El Camino trata de la vida de tres chicos, naturales de a una aldea española en los años cuarenta del siglo veinte (descubrí un fragmento que hace alusión a la guerra civil). Esta se desenvuelve tan plácidamente que me pareció, al principio, como un hilo de retratos pueblerinos triviales. Pero pronto me di cuenta de la forma en que dichas efemérides encerraban reflexiones profundas. Es más, hallé que Delibes manejó su trabajo escrito con una maestría impresionante revelando un detallado conocimiento de la vida de los vecinos, tales como el herrero, el señor cura, el quesero, el sin dios, las “guindillas” y las “lepóridas,” y otros.

Pero mas que nada, Delibe protagoniza a los tres amiguitos, Daniel, el Mochuelo, Roque el Moñigo, Germán el Tiñoso, y sigue sus picardías y pillerías, las que corren el velo a las relaciones entre los adultos del pueblo. El Camino pertenece al género de cuentos protagonizados en el mundo de literatura inglés por los Hardy Boys, pero ostentando mayor profundidad literaria. Su estilo es sencillo pero firme. Fue una grata lectura.  [October 2019]

 

THERE’S A GOOD REASON WHY NOBODY STUDIES HISTORY…

…IT JUST TEACHES YOU TOO MUCH!

This truism is attributed to Noam Chomsky, one of the most celebrated and controversial American intellectuals ever (the quote appears on his FaceBook page, as you can see!). He has been a rabble-rousing thinker and speaker for many years. People with a lot of power (including billionaires, of course) stay away from him, if they know anything about him.

He speaks for the rest of us who live by what we think  and teach–the kind of person dictators hate; I think it’s fair to say that Donald Trump abhors thinkers of any kind.

If this were Germany in the 1940s, Russia in the 1950s, Cuba in the 1960s, or Chile in the 1970s, Chomsky (an intellectual Jew, of course!) would have been thrown out of the U.S. (he’s too famous for anything worse). But guys like me would be on the list to disappear. I say this because this has happened before in the countries cited and many others.

So, beware! Don’t learn too much!

P.S. I thank Dr. Jesus Perez of Cascadia College for directing me to this quote by Chomsky.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS BY ANAMARIA GIL

 

Día DE LOS MUERTOS

October 31– November 2

By Anamaria Gil (and with a lovely contribution by Leslie Birnbaum)

My family and I have been to Mexico several times to visit cities and small towns which celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).  To some North Americans, El Día de los Muertos sounds macabre.  On the contrary, Día de los Muertos celebrates the circle of life, family, ancestry and tradition.  It is a fusion of Christian and pre-hispanic traditions, which commemorates the transitory return to earth of deceased relatives and loved ones.  During this special time, souls are said to return to earth to enjoy the pleasures that they once had in life.  Day of the Dead celebrations provide an opportunity for remembrance and solemnity, and also, for a bit of irreverence and fun.

The Day of the Dead has gained recognition and popularity in the U.S. over the last few years.   Recall the 2017 Disney animated movie “Coco”, where a little boy is transported to the Land of the Dead.  In this Land of the Dead, the deceased are only permitted to visit the Land of the Living if they are still remembered.  This movie was widely celebrated in the U.S. and Mexico.  It was Disney’s first movie with an all Latino principle cast, and won two Academy awards.

Also, don’t forget the opening scene of the 2015 James Bond film, “Spectre”, where Daniel Craig strolls through a Día de los Muertos parade in Mexico City wearing a skeleton costume, complete with skull mask and top hat.  (Ironically, Mexico City did not have a Día de los Muertos parade until after that movie was filmed.)

This year, even Mattel got into the fray and launched a Day of the Dead Barbie (for $75).

  History & Observance

El Día de Los Muertos originated in Mexico, before the Spanish conquest, possibly as much as 3,000 years ago.  The original Aztec festival was held in July.  It was believed to have been presided over by the Aztec goddess Mictecacihuatl, or Lady of the Dead.  Following the Spanish conquest of Mexico during the 16th century, there was a strong effort to convert the indigenous population to Catholicism.  Ultimately, however, the indigenous population was disinclined to give up old customs, and a compromise of sorts was reached where old customs were blended with the new religion.  All Saints’ Day and All Hallows Eve (Halloween) roughly coincided with the preexisting Día de Los Muertos, resulting in the present day event which draws from both traditions.

Día de Los Muertos is observed at home and also in the public square.  Families create altars in their homes to honor their loved ones.  These alters can be quite elaborate with marigolds, food, alcohol, bread, candles, incense and sugar skulls in an effort to help guide and welcome the souls of the deceased for their brief visit home.   Families also visit and decorate grave sites of loved ones.  In some places, the entire town will be at the cemetery at midnight decorating grave sites, visiting, and telling stories.  These events can feel like street fairs with vendors selling food, drink and decorations, mariachis playing, and plenty of beer and tequila.  Strange as it sounds, it is very special.

One of the traditions for Día de los Muertos is to make “tapetes”, the Spanish word for “rug”.  Tapetes are large, colorful pieces of art made on the ground.  They are made of colored sand, sawdust, or other organic material.

The Spanish brought this tradition to the Americas during conquest and colonialization. Tapetes can depict religious imagery, or playful images of death and skeletons.

Skulls are a popular symbol that make their appearance at Day of the Dead celebrations.  Sugar skulls are a tradition and are made with granulated and powdered sugar, meringue powder, food coloring and water.  They are often decorated with icing, sequins, feathers, beads, glitter and colored tin foil.  Want to take a bite?  Some are edible, but many are decorative. Sugar skulls are not typically for eating and are viewed as folk art.

Sugar skull making dates back to the 1630s.  Want to create one?  They take time.  Sugar skull makers start four to six months in advance to accumulate enough sugar for the season.  The process involves boiling a granulated white sugar mixture, getting the mixture to the right temperature to get a translucent (bone-like) color, pouring/pressing it into a mold, and decorating it.  A sugar skull can last for five years.  Fantástico!

Día de los Muertos is not celebrated everywhere in Mexico.  It is best known in the southern part of Mexico, and in areas with larger indigenous populations.  Some of the best places to attend this ancient and wondrous festival is in Oaxaca, Patzcuaro, Guadalajara and Chiapas.