House of Houses Pa

by Pat Mora

Book Overview

Combining poetic language and the traditions of magic realism to paint a vivid portrait of her family, Pat Mora's House of Houses is an unconventional memoir that reads as if every member, death... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080707201X
• ISBN13: 9780807072011
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Beacon Press (MA)
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Loved It!

Some "magical realism" stories (with dead relatives interacting with the living) seem contrived; this memoir's use of the same device does not. Though I am not Hispanic nor Spanish-speaking, I am a native of Texas and loved this book. It resonated with me in part because much of it takes place in Texas (El Paso), and also because I find family histories compelling (my own family -- and other families).I disagree with the New York Times reviewer (above and on the book jacket) who says the author's use of Spanish phrases cannot be picked up from context clues. Nonsense! The author gives the English translation right in the same paragraph!A good read that can be picked up and put down as time warrants.