Bøger af Victor Villasenor

Discover the magic of Victor Villaseñor's storytelling in his latest book, Gathering StarDust, a touching story of his early childhood with his grandmother, featuring 100 vivid watercolor illustrations."Who are You? Who am I? Who are We?" the book begins as Victor invites the reader, "Come and take my hand, and let us be children once again, and this time be raised up together by my Yaqui Native American grandmother."In his book, Rain of Gold, bestselling author Villaseñor wrote about his grandmother, Doña Guadalupe. Now, in his new book, Victor imparts the Native Wisdom he learned from his grandmother as he takes you along on their childhood adventures in the Barrio of Carlsbad, California, where he and his family lived. Through enchanting storytelling and the stunning illustrations of Jack Wiens, Gathering StarDust is a tender true story, destined to become a favorite, inspiring wonder for readers of all ages and timeless imagination for generations to come.

Originally published: Houston, Tex.: Arte Publico Press, 1991.

Rain of Gold is a true-life saga of love, family and destiny that pulses with bold vitality, sweeping from the war-ravaged Mexican mountains of Pancho Villa's revolution to the days of Prohibition in California. It all began when Villaseor's maternal grandmother sat him down in their little home in the barrio of Carlsbad, California, gave him sweet bread and told him the story of their past. Of his mother Lupe, the most beautiful girl in the whole village who was only a child when Villa's men came shooting into their canyon. And of his father Juan and his family, reduced to rags and starvation as they sought refuge across the border, where they believed that endless opportunity awaited. Lupe and Juan met and fell in love in California, but they found that the doors to the Promised Land were often closed to those from south of the border. His father was forced to take the law into his own hands, in spite of his wife's objections. With love and humor, Villaseor shares this passionate love story that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit. An all-American story of struggle and success, Rain of Gold focuses on three generations of Villaseor's kin, their spiritual and cultural roots back in Mexico, their immigration to California and overcoming poverty, prejudice and economic exploitation. It is the warm-hearted and spirited account of the wily, wary and persevering forebears of Victor Villaseor.

In his critically acclaimed bestseller Rain of Gold, Victor Villase-or brought his mother''s family vividly to life. In Wild Steps Of Heaven, he turns to his father''s family, the Villase-ors. Against a vivid backdrop of love and war, magic and heroism, the author breathes life into his father''s people--and in particular, the Villase-or women*Margarita, the indomitable matriarch who was swept away by Don Juan Jesus Villase-or on the eve of the Mexican revolution*their beautiful daughters, who find strength and endurance in their mother''s faith, and searing passion amidst the turmoil of war. But it is little Juan, the youngest son, through whose eyes this tumultuous saga unfolds. Juan would learn from his brother Jose, a hero of the revolution, how to be a man; and from his beloved mother, how to live and love con gusto y amor. A story of madness and miracles, rage and redemption, In Wild Steps Of Heaven creates a riveting portrait of an extraordinary family and the country whose earth gave them roots.

De pie frente al público, Victor Villaseñor miró al grupo de maestros sentados frente a él, y su mente se llenó de recuerdos de infancia llenos de humillación y abuso por parte de sus profesores. Se sintió enfurecer. Con el corazón en la mano, comenzó a hablar de esos abusos. Y cuando terminó, para su gran sorpresa, encontró a todos los profesores de pie aplau-diéndolo enfáticamente. Muchas de las personas en el público no lograban contener sus lágrimas. Así comienzan las conmovedoras y apasionadas memorias de Victor Villaseñor. A pesar de ser muy talentoso e imaginativo desde muy niño, tuvo que vivir con una dificultad de aprendizaje (no fue sino hasta los 44 años de edad que fue diagnosticado con un caso grave de dislexia), y la frustración de ser latino en una escuela americana en la que sólo se hablaba inglés. A pesar de los profesores que lo maltrataban porque no podía hablar inglés, Villaseñor se aferró a su sueño de un día convertirse en escritor. Hoy en día, es considerado uno de los autores más importantes de nuestra era.

En un deslumbrante relato de pasión, Trece Sentidos de Victor Villaseñor continúa la estipulante epopeya familiar que empezó con el ampliamente reconocido bestseller Lluvia de Oro. Trece Sentidos abre con las bodas de oro del ya mayor Salvador y su elegante esposa, Lupe. Cuando un joven sacerdote le pide a Lupe que repita la sagrada frase ceremonial 'respetar y obedecer,' Lupe se sorprende a sí misma al contestar--¡No, no voy a decir obedecer! ¡Cómo se atreve! ¡Ah, no! ¡Usted no me va a hablar así después de cincuenta años de matrimonio y sabiendo lo que sé!--. Así, la familia Villaseñor se ve forzada a examinar el amor que Lupe y Salvador han compartido por tantos a ños: un amor universal, entrñable y sincero que eventualmente dará energía e inspiración a la pareja en su vejez.