Online book discussion: If only she’d let me talk to her, or tracks 4 and 5

So how’s it going for you? How far have you read?

September’s Wine Country Books Reader, The Law of Love by Laura Esquivel

Pages 100 through 136 provide the context for the funny, ugly scenes approaching in pages 137-165. Tracks 4 Babbino Caro and 5 Nessun Dorma provide a sort of ironic, but not really, counterpoint to the illustrations and revelations. I won’t spoil it, but I will give my thoughts.

I think ‘Ironic, but not really” sort of covers it, for me.

I mean, the crazy new agey stuff Esquivel has Anacreonte and Mammon saying about life and their respective charges, well. It should be at best silly and at worst annoying baloney. But I find myself reading passages like

“When one forgets one is a part of the whole, that one bears the Divine Essence within; when one ignores the fact one is connected with the Cosmos– like it or not– one ends up foolishly lying in bed dwelling on nonsense.”

or

“One act,  however minimal, unleashes a chain reaction in the world around us… One person’s inaction paralyzes the world.”

or

“The kind of alignment I’m talking about consists of getting oneself in syntony with the loving energy circulating throughout the Cosmos. This is achieved by relaxing and letting life flow among all the cells of the body.  Then Love, the cosmic DNA, will remember its genetic message, is origins, the mission assigned it…  her entire being will breathe cosmic energy,  and will remember it is not alone– much less, without Love.”

and feeling myself agreeing and being comforted.

Whoa!

So in this cynical era, this work is sort of funny to me, but I have to be honest. I think this work has potential to be uncovered thousands of years from now and mistaken for an exalted philosophical and  moral text, perhaps much like we see the writings of the ancients we have uncovered.  And that perception would not be a bad thing, at all. Butterfly effect, Conservation of Energy, String and Chaos theories, whatever… I don’t want to give a light, ironic yet also soulful literary fun run short shrift just because it isn’t so highbrow.

What do you think?

Next time : Beginning at Track 6, page 167.

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Vogliatemi Bene by Puccini, and The Law of Love

September’s Wine Country Books Reader, The Law of Love by Laura Esquivel

     The members of the Wine Country Books online book discussion group have been dying to begin the conversation about this book! Have you gotten your copy yet? If not, I still have one free copy to send the first person who comments here or emails me at winecountrybooksnapa at gmail dot com. 

     So what do you think? 

     Readers! Let’s get the comments rolling! 

     *     *     *

“Listen, Senorita. You have any idea how meretricious I’ve been? 

“I beg your pardon?”

“I’ve levitated my soul enough to merit scatological treatment.” 

– page 55

     I don’t read enough Latin American literature. Whenever I do, it is unbelievable- enjoyable, earthy, usually darkly funny but not always, and beautifully written.  My most recent read was Dona Flor and her Two Husbands by Jorge Amado. What a treat.

     It all started when my mom gave me a copy of Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits when I was a teen, sealing my love for and fascination with Latin America for good.  Some years later she gave me The Law of Love.  I don’t know where that copy went, and I am so glad it cropped up again. It has everything, right? Music, illustration by Miguelanxo Prado, and, a silly yet really soulful premise-  we are thrown into situations again and again, reincarnation after reincarnation, until we finally atone for whatever evil we did in previous lives, and only when we atone fully can we step free of our spiritual messes and find true love. The illustrations and especially the music really bring me right into the story, like the alarming realness of the news of the assassination on the Televirtual set. 

     When I read Cuquita’s conversation with the bureaucrat at the Astral Ascension desk in the Consumer Protection Agency, I just cracked up. 

“Well, okay, I admit I was pretty nasty, but not enough to deserve this! I’ve spent enough time paying off karmas from posterior lives not to be stuck with a man guilty of default and battery. Just look at this eye! If you don’t grant me a divorce soon, I swear I’ll kill him.”

“Do what you like, but you’ll still have to pay. Next, please.”

p.55 

     I mean… what married lady has NOT felt this way at least for a time?

     If she says she hasn’t she is LYING! And if she really hasn’t- well. Hum.

     It is my favorite kind of humor- the humor that strikes right at the heart of a human situation, with compassion as well as cutting honesty.  It seems like everything I read or every movie I watch from the Spanish Speaking World is so rich with this painful hilarity (or hilarious pain?). With the exception of Pan’s Labyrinth. That was not hilarious or witty, not one bit. It was amazing, but funny it never was, not for one moment. But in general, the humor in Latin American literature and film cuts deeply and truly. 

     I am sure Cuquita’s and Azucena’s sentiments fit just fine with other situations that have us wondering WHY ME? AND HOW DO I GET OUT OF THIS? Miserable jobs, parenting horrible children, putting up with some asshole coworker or family member day after day, or life’s many other more painful passages- and the common theme is that I don’t deserve it! How can I get out of it! Why am I  having to put up with this? WHY ME? What agency can assist me out of this mess?

     At the start of the book I was absolutely on board regarding the physical and spiritual violence done when colonial powers set themselves to bring  indigenous civilizations and people to heel. But the story line made me uncomfortable, and it didn’t seem particularly well written… but I do wonder if the language and tone would sound much more literary in the original Spanish, and I do see the necessity of these brief passages and the first set of dark illustrations to the story.

     And  fast-forwarded to Azucena’s story, I am back on comfortable ground. Done well, this book could make an adorable, yet deeply thoughtful and soulful movie. And the whole book and cd are worth it just to read the words of Liliana Felipe’s song Mala, Track 2. Seriously. 

     I’ve read ahead a bit, through the thoughts of the Demon Mammon. I get a huge kick out of how he claims credit for human evolution, by making us suffer. His idea that violence is required to produce a masterpiece reminds me of the very insightful, cutting humor I value so highly. 

    I look forward to reading more, and to hearing what you think, dear reader! Get in touch and I will send you a copy free!!!

The Very First Wine Country Books Reader!

Dear friends,

I am so pleased to share our first Online Reading Group and Book Discussion Selection!

In September we will be reading and discussing Laura Esquivel’s The Law of Love.

September’s Wine Country Books Reader, The Law of Love by Laura Esquivel

Here’s what you need to check BEFORE YOU BUY.  MAKE SURE the book has the accompanying cd. It is crucial to experience the Whole Package, which includes the music of Puccini and Liliana Felipe. Prompts to start each successive track on the cd are scattered through the book.

It is readily available for cheap at your favorite online book vendor… or I have several copies here I can lend or sell. I have a paperback copy in my hand at the moment that I would gladly mail you for 10.00 including USPS Media Mail shipping. Just email me, winecountrybooksnapa@gmail.com. We can do paypal or you can mail me a check. I trust you.

Like Water For Chocolate, her big breakout, was all magical realism… this book leans to science fiction. Sort of.

Will you like the book? I don’t know. Often people don’t like something because it Wasn’t What I Expected. So I will just warn you straight out, prompts to listen to particular tracks on a cd are not the strangest part of this book. It is science fiction, it is New Age, it has illustrations by one of the premier Spanish graphic novel artists, it is humorous and matter of fact and overwrought.

It is the subject of a study guide available through iTunes (we are an android family, so no joy there for me) and an assembly of critical essays I wish I could put my hands on called Laura Esquivel’s Mexican Fictions. Mexican Fictions is available on Google Books too, though, so not so bad.

One of the things I have missed most since I moved to Wine Country from Dixie was my wonderful book club. Our membership was comprised of women of many ages, marital and child statuses, opinions, religions, political leanings, ethnicities and interests. Most of us were somewhat Not Like the Others, as they say on Sesame Street.

But the books drew us together. Or should I say, the hospitality, the discussion, the SNACKS and usually THE WINE drew us together. We nominated books and used a poll to select, we took turns hosting at each other’s houses, and we got to pick the book for the month that was our birthday. It was a real joy to put together each meeting, choosing food and beverages with love and welcome for our Book Club friends.

So… We can’t get together at each other’s houses, but we can have a darn good discussion from afar. You’ll just have to put some loe into selecting snacks and beverages for yourselves.

Get your copy of The Law Of Love with CD, pour a glass of warm, flavorful red wine (not too sweet!) kick on the cd player, and curl up and enjoy. I will be doing the same. Please comment here!