Goddess of the Americas Writings on the Virgin of Guadalupe

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 · 156 ratings  · 13 reviews

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May 09, 2014 Elisa rated it it was amazing

Yhdistävä tekijä kirjan kolmellekymmenelle tekstille (esseitä, tarinoita, runoja, näytelmäteksti) on Meksikon suojeluspyhimys Guadalupen neitsyt (La Virgencita, La Morenita, Coatlalopeuh, Tonantzin...), jonka monimerkityksellistä ja synkretististä olemusta niissä tarkastellaan useista eri näkökulmista. Kokoelman koonnut kirjailija Ana Castillo huomauttaa valaisevassa esipuheessaan, ettei teos edusta perinteistä katolista pyhimyskulttia ainoastaan. Sitä vastoin teksteissä usein korostuu pyhimykse Yhdistävä tekijä kirjan kolmellekymmenelle tekstille (esseitä, tarinoita, runoja, näytelmäteksti) on Meksikon suojeluspyhimys Guadalupen neitsyt (La Virgencita, La Morenita, Coatlalopeuh, Tonantzin...), jonka monimerkityksellistä ja synkretististä olemusta niissä tarkastellaan useista eri näkökulmista. Kokoelman koonnut kirjailija Ana Castillo huomauttaa valaisevassa esipuheessaan, ettei teos edusta perinteistä katolista pyhimyskulttia ainoastaan. Sitä vastoin teksteissä usein korostuu pyhimyksen vallankumouksellinen voima ja erityinen asema sorrettujen suojelijana, sekä usein kunkin kirjoittajan henkilökohtainen suhde tähän. Guadalupe/Tonantzin on ohittamaton hahmo mikäli Meksikon, USA:n chicano/latinoväestön tai laajemmin latinalaisen amerikan kulttuurihistoriasta on kiinnostunut.

Gloria Anzaldúan ja Octavio Pazin teoksista irrotetut kappaleet olin aiemmin lukenut, mutta muiden tekstien jälkeen ne asettuivat nyt uuteen kehykseen, vaikka kokoelmallakin alkaa olla jo ikää. Valtaosa teksteistä on kirjoitettu alunperinkin enimmäkseen englanniksi, vain pari käännetty espanjasta. Mielestäni hienoin teksteistä on Elena Poniatowskan "Don't go away, I'm going to bring you something" (kertomuksessa Luis Buñuel vierailee kertojan kanssa Lecumberrin vankilassa), joka päättää kirjan ja jonka luettuani on vaikea antaa kokoelmalle vähempää kuin viis tähteä.

Kirjoittajat on esitelty lyhyesti kirjan lopussa.

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Aug 14, 2011 Robertm rated it it was amazing

The Xicano experience is not unique. Caught between two different worlds and not completely a part of either. It is the story of the human condition. We exist in a constant shift of what defines our culture and community. It is interesting that Guadalupe is at the center of these stories. She was once an image of shame for me, and then became a powerful image of who I have become, from self loathing to self esteem. Our personal mythologies are unique, and for those of us in the Latin community G The Xicano experience is not unique. Caught between two different worlds and not completely a part of either. It is the story of the human condition. We exist in a constant shift of what defines our culture and community. It is interesting that Guadalupe is at the center of these stories. She was once an image of shame for me, and then became a powerful image of who I have become, from self loathing to self esteem. Our personal mythologies are unique, and for those of us in the Latin community Guadalupe is a symbol beyond religion. I suppose this would not be as powerful for those for whom this is not the case. You either get it, or you don't. For those who get it, it is a nice little refreshing place of: wow, other people have felt this way. For those of you who don't get it, well it is a peek into something beyond your own experience. ...more

Feb 24, 2021 Joe rated it really liked it

An excellent, loving, and diverse collection of essays, stories, poems and reflection on the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Jun 17, 2021 Nancy rated it really liked it

A diverse and thought provoking collection of essays. It would be fantastic to add some updated material and reissue this thought provoking collection.

Nov 06, 2012 Michael rated it liked it

I admit that I mostly skimmed this book. Many of the essays, poems, and pieces of short fiction did not catch my interest. Much of what the contributors wrote is either New Age mystical nonsense or feminist interpretations of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Not there there is a thing wrong with either of those two lenses; they are just not for me.

A few of the essays, though, were quite good. I'm not sure what it is that I find so compelling about this aspect of Marian Catholicism, but I do. Perhaps Our

I admit that I mostly skimmed this book. Many of the essays, poems, and pieces of short fiction did not catch my interest. Much of what the contributors wrote is either New Age mystical nonsense or feminist interpretations of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Not there there is a thing wrong with either of those two lenses; they are just not for me.

A few of the essays, though, were quite good. I'm not sure what it is that I find so compelling about this aspect of Marian Catholicism, but I do. Perhaps Our Lady of Guadalupe reminds me of one of my favorite Celtic saints, St. Bridget, who--like Guadalupe--started off as a pagan goddess and was changed into a Catholic power. Guadalupe retains many aspects of the Aztec gods and goddesses who the conquering Spanish Catholics adopted to help control the natives in Mexico. Like the British in Bridget's in Ireland, though, in the end, the conquerors and colonial powers in Mexico are gone while the image of the goddess remains.

When I visit California, I see Our Lady of Guadalupe everywhere. She is even in our local parish, the white-as-a-snowbank church in the leafy-green suburb where I live. As the demographics of America continue to change, I expect we will be seeing more of her, which is fine by me. There is something in this image that speaks to my soul.

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Mar 14, 2016 Mark Valentine rated it really liked it

Castillo has done us a great service by collecting the essays and poems (and one play) within these covers. I learned a great deal and have a new-found respect for the value of the place of the Virgin of Guadalupe. It read like a cultural-mythic survey--I gained a sense of the mind of the peoples. I am glad that she collected writers from a wide variety of regions in Central and North America to contribute--it gave the book a sense of perspective. And I have a new respect for the value of myth k Castillo has done us a great service by collecting the essays and poems (and one play) within these covers. I learned a great deal and have a new-found respect for the value of the place of the Virgin of Guadalupe. It read like a cultural-mythic survey--I gained a sense of the mind of the peoples. I am glad that she collected writers from a wide variety of regions in Central and North America to contribute--it gave the book a sense of perspective. And I have a new respect for the value of myth kept alive in our technological, industrial age of geo-politics.

I laughed out loud when I read Felipe Ehrenberg's account of how his Grandma Amelia separated the mob while holding a portrait of the Virgin aloft in order to get through to the airport gate in time.

I raised my eyebrows when I read of his description of the famous portrait of the Virgin as being "an elongated, seedlike, vulva-shaped figure which offers unending possibilities of transformation" (p. 172-3). Just look at the cover of the book.

But I was moved, very moved, in reading Ana Castillo's own contribution to the book, her chapter called, "Extraordinary Woman." It could be used in any context to inform and instruct about the nature of women's rights in the context of culture.

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Ana Castillo In 18Goddess of the Americas 1D chicana author Ana Castillo shares her powerful devotion to La virgin de Guadalupe. Not only does she flash back to the most spiritual moments of her childhood, she invites other Latino writers to share their vision and love for this patron saint of the Americas. This collection of essays is impassioned, beautiful, and a little strange and unorthodox. Famous authors like Sandra Cisneros, Octavio Paz and Francisco Goldman check in with perspectives tha Ana Castillo In 18Goddess of the Americas 1D chicana author Ana Castillo shares her powerful devotion to La virgin de Guadalupe. Not only does she flash back to the most spiritual moments of her childhood, she invites other Latino writers to share their vision and love for this patron saint of the Americas. This collection of essays is impassioned, beautiful, and a little strange and unorthodox. Famous authors like Sandra Cisneros, Octavio Paz and Francisco Goldman check in with perspectives that have obviously influenced their writing.
I particularly enjoyed Castillo 19s account of the death and teen-age pregnancy. Her grandmother was a curandera who kept candles lit for San Judas Tadeo and La Virgen in her room, but she also knew how to mix important spiritual concoctions to cleanse the soul and the womb. Castillo takes us to a place where young girls and old women turn to La Virgen Guadalupe for a sense of peace and inspiration in a hard edged world. ...more

Jun 16, 2011 Zoë rated it it was amazing

This really is a fantastic read! Offering a huge variety perspectives on the cultural icon of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the book features poems, memoirs, essays and more. I particularly enjoyed Sandra Cisneros's essay on Guadalupe as sex goddess, and Gloria Andalzua's piece on the indigenous origins of Guadalupe was fascinating too. This really is a fantastic read! Offering a huge variety perspectives on the cultural icon of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the book features poems, memoirs, essays and more. I particularly enjoyed Sandra Cisneros's essay on Guadalupe as sex goddess, and Gloria Andalzua's piece on the indigenous origins of Guadalupe was fascinating too. ...more

A collection of essays written by well-known writers of Hispanic and Women's Literature concerning devotion to the Virgen de Guadalupe. These essays explore various aspects of the devotion to the Virgin: history, fascination, first encounters. Very well-written, entertaining, and informative. A collection of essays written by well-known writers of Hispanic and Women's Literature concerning devotion to the Virgen de Guadalupe. These essays explore various aspects of the devotion to the Virgin: history, fascination, first encounters. Very well-written, entertaining, and informative. ...more

Jan 02, 2008 Deb rated it it was amazing

Non-fiction, collection of essays by Latino men and women about their personal reactions to the Virgin of Guadalupe and her cultural significance. Edited by Ana Castillo, a significant writer herself.

Ana Castillo (June 15, 1953-) is a celebrated and distinguished poet, novelist, short story writer, essayist, editor, playwright, translator and independent scholar. Castillo was born and raised in Chicago. She has contributed to periodicals and on-line venues (Salon and Oxygen) and national magazines, including More and the Sunday New York Times. Castillo's writings have been the subject of numer Ana Castillo (June 15, 1953-) is a celebrated and distinguished poet, novelist, short story writer, essayist, editor, playwright, translator and independent scholar. Castillo was born and raised in Chicago. She has contributed to periodicals and on-line venues (Salon and Oxygen) and national magazines, including More and the Sunday New York Times. Castillo's writings have been the subject of numerous scholarly investigations and publications. Among her award winning, best sellling titles: novels include So Far From God, The Guardians and Peel My Love like an Onion, among other poetry: I Ask the Impossible. Her novel, Sapogonia was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. She has been profiled and interviewed on National Public Radio and the History Channel and was a radio-essayist with NPR in Chicago. Ana Castillo is editor of La Tolteca, an arts and literary 'zine dedicated to the advancement of a world without borders and censorship and was on the advisory board of the new American Writers Museum, which opened its door in Chicago, 2017. In 2014 Dr. Castillo held the Lund-Gil Endowed Chair at Dominican University, River Forest, IL and served on the faculty with Bread Loaf Summer Program (Middlebury College) in 2015 and 2016. She also held the first Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Endowed Chair at DePaul University, The Martin Luther King, Jr Distinguished Visiting Scholar post at M.I.T. and was the Poet-in-Residence at Westminster College in Utah in 2012, among other teaching posts throughout her extensive career. Ana Castillo holds an M.A from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D., University of Bremen, Germany in American Studies and an honorary doctorate from Colby College. She received an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation for her first novel, The Mixquiahuala Letters. Her other awards include a Carl Sandburg Award, a Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts in fiction and poetry. She was also awarded a 1998 Sor Juana Achievement Award by the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum in Chicago. Dr. Castillo's So Far From God and Loverboys are two titles on the banned book list controversy with the TUSD in Arizona. 2013 Recipient of the American Studies Association Gloria Anzaldúa Prize to an independent scholar. via www.anacastillo.net ...more

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Goddess of the Americas Writings on the Virgin of Guadalupe

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