Alex Espinoza

The history of cruising from England in the 1600’s to the current practice is a fascinating discourse on ways in which gay men meet and have sex in public bathrooms, bookstores, and parks. Alex Espinoza explains how this behavior has evolved from the pre 1969 closets era to stonewall gay pride and through the AIDS epidemic. His perspective as a “brown” person gives him a unique vision. He writes that “Latino queers are able to not only challenge the foundational dogmas of religion, family and nationhood inscribed onto the body since birth, but also to dismantle cultural appropriations and racial assumptions by calling attention to their existence.” I know pretty heavy stuff. But his writing clearly documents cruising in all forms along with the differences of the coming out process between white gays and queer people of color.… (más)

Still Water Saints by Alex Espinoza

★★ ½

Synopsis on Amazon: Still Water Saints chronicles a momentous year in the life of Agua Mansa, a largely Latino town beyond the fringes of Los Angeles and home to the Botánica Oshún, where people come seeking charms, herbs, and candles. Above all, they seek the guidance of Perla Portillo, the shop’s owner. Perla has served the community for years, arming her clients with the tools to overcome all manner of crises, large and small. There is Juan, a man coming to terms with the death of his father; Nancy, a recently married schoolteacher; Shawn, an addict looking for peace in his chaotic life; and Rosa, a teenager trying to lose weight and find herself. But when a customer with a troubled and mysterious past arrives, Perla struggles to help and must confront both her unfulfilled hopes and doubts about her place in a rapidly changing world.

Let me just start by saying that this book had quite a bit of potential but that’s about it. The characters are rarely engaging (except for Perla) and are fairly flat. You do see the subtle connections between everyone in these little snippets of their lives…but it’s pretty subtle, you really have to search for the connections through it all. In a world where I find that many books would be better if they just shortened them a bit, this one would have been better if it was longer, allowing the character to grow much more than we see at all. I may have even rated this book a bit higher if it weren’t for several obvious grammar and spelling issues. I’m sorry, but if you are going to write a book (and is also an editor himself) and have it professionally published (in this case through Random House), there should NEVER be a mistake as obvious as “their” where a “there” should appear (In this case “Has their been any change…”). Made me shudder and was enough for me to actually give a lower rating for the book, especially since it wasn’t the only major mistake. A good attempt at a first time author but it could have been so much more.

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Espinoza’s debut is an imaginative look at one year in the lives of the residents of Agua Mansa, California. Perla Portillo, the proprietress of the Botanica Oshun, is at the center of the story, because it is to her that the other characters come for advice, assistance, charms, herbs, cures and candles. The remedies she dispenses are given with love, understanding and hope. Perla, however, is just human and her efforts will not cure every ailment or trouble.

There is something about this book which reminds me of The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. The common problems of the residents who seek help are rather universal. They might have been confiding in a priest or a hairdresser, but in both these books they arrive at a storefront where unconventional “cures for what ails you” are dispensed by a somewhat mysterious owner. The chief difference is that MoS has a much more fantastical back story, and clear magical elements, while Perla is a very human woman who has taken on this work as a way to fulfill her need to be useful and a way to find a family.

Because the focus of the novel is Perla, all the other characters play supporting roles, and some are quite minor. As may be expected in this kind of ensemble piece, the reader is left without any clear answers as to what happens to these various characters. If you are a reader who needs a clear-cut ending to the story, this will not be the book for you. I enjoyed it, and would read another book by Espinoza.
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At the very beginning of this book there was a lot of village superstition from the young Diego’s great Aunt, and I expected the book to go with that kind of theme. Much to my surprise it did not. Instead the book delves into the personal life of the main character, Diego. How he struggles in his impoverished life in a village in Mexico during the Mexican revolution.

The book is divided up into five acts – five main parts of Diego’s life – with the first part dealing with his early life in the village. then he goes to live with his Mother’s parents – Grandparents he never knew – from the age of 12 and they make him lie about who his father is, as they are ashamed to let their well to do friends know that their daughter married a peasant.

It is during his time with his grandparents that he discovers he has a talent for singing, dancing and acting. A friend of his Grandmother schools him in the art of singing and dancing and she becomes a confidant of his.

His life seems to be set in stone, especially when he leaves school and starts working in his Grandfather’s law firm. He is paired up with the daughter of one of his Grandfather’s business associates and they become engaged. But Diego has had feelings for his male friend for quite some time and he is not entirely sure he wants to get married. On the morning of the wedding he leaves the security of his well to do life in Mexico and heads for America.

Once he arrives in america he sets about trying to establish himself as a movie star in the new talking movies. He struggles for a long while until one day he cheats his way into a role and from then on he begins to establish himself with the powers that be in the studio he has signed up to.

The story moves along at really steady and progressive stage. It is beautifully written and interesting characters leave you wanting to know what is going to happen next. My only disappointment in the story is at the very end, I thought things were going to turn out differently for Diego and was pretty disappointed they didn’t.

Overall I give this book 5 stars *****

Recommended.… (más)