George Washington Gomez: A Mexicotexan Novel

by Américo Paredes

Book Overview

Fiction. "An absorbing, heart-rending story told with sensitivity and wisdom.this book deserves a wide readership not only for its artistry but also for its subject matter" -Beaumont Enterprise. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558850120
• ISBN13: 9781558850125
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Arte Publico Press
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Great Novel

I loved this novel and read it within a matter of a few days. I had to read it for my Mexican American Literature class. It is amazing that this book has never been edited and still is amazing. I wonder what Americo Paredes' other novels would have been like had he written more. The ending is a total shocker, but overall an amazing novel.

a book that broke my heart

This book is about a tragic hero. it is amazing. you have to read to the last page to get the full story. you will not put it down. just amazing.

George Washington Gomez by Americo Paredes

Americo Pardes is a wonderful author. He also writes poems. George Washington Gomez is a depressing book. It's depressing because Gumersindo Gomez died, at the beginning. It shows great leadership towards, fighting for what is right it also gives you confidences for standing up for your goals. The Texans Mexicans showed that everyone struggles, and that everyone isn't easy. One struggle was crossing the Rio Grande Valley. Gualinto needed to provide for his family, since Gumersindo past away. George Washington Gomez is a racial masterpiece, towards Mexicans (Latinos).Which I believe is cruel, and mistaken killing innocents isn't the way to go. For example The killing of Gumersindo didn't have a caused at all. Texas Ranger needed to look back, and realized that people do have families, to provide for. I also believe everyone wants a safe future. I suggested you to read George W. Gomez.

A pivotal read in Texican American literature

Most readers know Americo Paredes as the great folklorist that he was. Because his book George Washington Gomez was not published in the late 1930's when Paredes wrote it, only a rough draft version was released shortly before he died.To me, this version of Texas historical fiction along the valley border presents a side to Mexican American settlement that few other books reveal. I find Paredes' story powerful and well worth reading.Gualinto, little George Washington Gomez, is the American born son of his illegal immigrant parents; his father is an outlaw of some notoriety. The birth name his parents give him symbolizes their hope that he will become the leader of his people in America. But their hopes take a big detour as this little boy grows up in fictional Jonesville as a spoiled only son in a matriarchal household. With his father dead, the only strong male role for Gualinto is his reformed outlaw uncle.Gualinto suffers the insults and taunts of growing up as a member of the poor and powerless society of South Texas. His family is subjected to the cruelities of racist Anglos, including the unattractive side of El Renche, the Texas Rangers. Even in an all Mexican American school for children, Gualinto is embarrassed and punished for his lack of academic accomplishment by the spinster Mexican American teacher . Those classroom scenes remind one of the cruelties found in Tom Brown's School Days and the writings of Charles Dickens.Surrounded by love at home, treated kindly by some of the Jonesville citizenry, insulated from the cruelities exacted on his sisters who do not adhere to their mother's demands, Gualinto grows to adolescence and a time of continued social positioning that often leads to rejection.The values that Gualinto develops reflect his survival in the South Texas that is his home. When he heroically departs the community to gain that all important college education, he also departs from the hoped for role his parents once projected. In the end, his story is one of betrayal and tragedy, but not unrealistic. From having my senior Hispanic students read Gomez, I experienced feedback that was invaluable. They were amazed that such a novel, telling the side of many of their people existed. Tragic or not, the novel rang true for them. I recommend this novel over and over to students, fellow teachers, and readers. It offers an eye-opening view of another side of the South Texas story.