Rain of Gold by Victor Villaseñor

Villaseñor, Victor. Rain of Gold. 1991. New York: Delta Publishing, 1992.

Summary:

A story about how two families flee from Mexico during the Revolution and how their children come together to be Victor’s parents: Salvador and Lupe. The time span is long, about 30 years, with time jumps between Mexico’s history to the migration to California in the 1920s.

Themes:

– family

– motherhood – mother spirit

– religion

– indigenous value system

– Mexican landscape

– human spirit

– assimilation into U.S. culture

Quotes:

Too many to mention here.

Response:

Fortunately, I’ve read this book over ten times and know the characters and scenes intimately, so it feels more like a part of myself than a novel (non-fiction). What is most striking is the emphasis on female characters and their dedication to their families and God. This interacts with Villaseñor’s particular definition of the female spirit (which is still macho) and yet, still inspiring. The father’s mother, Doña Margarita, is probably the most real-life character, ironically, as we see her unwavering strength throughout the family’s turmoil, but it’s never fake or pretentious. She’s wise, drinks whiskitos, and yells at God. At times, she’s just pretty darn funny.