Yolanda Nava

It's All in the Frijoles, Yolanda Nava

★ ★

True to life cuentos (stories) of respect, hard work, job well done, family many by famous people.....

After awhile they all read the same to me.....

There were poems, stories, dichos (sayings) of the Latino culture. There was some history of the of the ancient Native Cultures as well.

One thing stood out, the first poem I read, was not translated correctly... The translation was of what the poem was intended to convey, but not what its words actually translated to.… (más)

Subtitle: 100 Famous Latinos Share Real-Life Stories, Time-Tested Dichos, Favorite Folktales, and Inspiring Words of Wisdom

Nava has compiled the wisdom of our ancestors through the stories, legends, folktales and sayings they imparted. She divides the book into chapters, each dealing with a basic value: Responsibility, Respect, Hard Work, Prudence, Chastity, etc.

Many of the dichos were familiar to me, having heard them from my parents and grandparents. And many of the real-life stories the writers related were also familiar, and I could have written them about my own ancestors.

Reading the book in one sitting, however, just emphasized how repetitious it is. This was a book-club selection, and so I felt compelled to read it through. Still, it took me over two months to finish it. These short vignettes (many barely a page long), are perfect for a daily meditation, so it’s a nice book to have around the house for that purpose. But I wouldn’t recommend it for a straight read-through.… (más)