OSCAR HIJUELOS, HOW TO WRITE, HOW TO RIDE, LATINO AMERICANS, AND MORE!

Hay mi gente, the Latinopia familia is grieved to hear of the loss of yet another luminary Latino author, Oscar Hijuelos.  The son of Cuban immigrnats, Hijuelos grew up in New York and is best known for his novel, “The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love,” which was made into a motion picture. Hijuelos passed at the age of 62 but his writings will last for a lifetime and more. In memory, Latinopia is reposting Dr. Thelma Reyna’s review of the Hijuelos novel,  “Beautiful María of my Soul.”

On a more positive note, we have so much for you this week! We start off with two thoughtful videos. The celebrated Chicano author Rudolfo Anaya expounds on the craft of writing. This is Anaya at his unguarded best, telling us about how he goes about writing. With more than a dozen novels to his name including the landmark Bless me, Ultima, you’ll really want to hear what Anaya has to say about writing and the advice he gives to emerging authors. Not to be missed!

And multi-talented poet, author and filmmaker Ricardo Lira Acuna returns with his monthly video blog. This week he takes us on a bus ride journey through Los Angeles. He reminds us that sometimes it IS about the end of the journey as much as the ride itself. Check out his video “Ride.”

This week we also have a guest book review this week by Dennis Bixler Marquez of the University of Texas at El Paso. Dennis reviews the companion book to the major PBS documentary series, LATINO AMERICANS. The book, written by veteran NPR journalist Ray Suarez, covers a lot of territory– you won’t want to miss Dennis’s review of the book.

Sal Baldanegro returns with his monthly blog, Political Salsa y Más. This month he takes on the Democratic party and its slighting of the Mexican Americans community. But he couches his critical comments in a historic framework, going back to the 1970s when Mexican Americans confronted the Democratic party head-on with their own political party, La Raza Unida. What’s old become s new again!

Angela Ortiz returns with her weekly Photo of the Week. This week it’s all about “Morning Clouds.” Sergio Hernández returns with his weekly cartoon–this week it looks like the Republicans need some serious medical assistance for their current constipation and Serg is there to provide some help!

Lots of fun this week,

Enjoy!

Tia Tenopia