My Father Was a Toltec: And Selected Poems

by Ana Castillo

Book Overview

One of the country's most powerful and entrancing novelists, Castillo began her literary career as a poet of uncompromising commitment. This collection brings back into print the best of her early work, including the entire text of her landmark 1988 collection, My Father Was a Toltec.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393313549
• ISBN13: 9780393313543
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 100 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

beautiful and sensual journey for the mind.....

I was first introduced to Ana Castillo, when I read her marvelous novel, "So Far From God" ("Tan Lejos de Dios"), which was a journey through magical realism, Chicana identity and the experience of people who have lived and cultivated the land as far back as ten generations. This was a true example of the indigenous experience in the United States. Totally beautiful and powerful...... "My Father Was a Toltec" doesn't fail to disappoint. This collection of poems looks at the Chicana/indigenous Mexican/female experience in the United States, and in Mexican culture. Ana writes in English, Spanish, Spanglish and sprinkles it with words in Toltec (the culture of her father). Castillo, an avid writer and practicioner of santeria (a mixture of the Catholic and indigenous ritualistic beliefs), truly has a connection to this duel (even triple) identity. Castillo grew up in a Mexican neighborhood, in the South side of Chicago, and finally took a trip with her mother to their native Mexico, when she was older (this is captured in her poetry). I definitely reccomend this book. Ana Castillo is an auther more readers should know about!! This is such an important example of Latina literature. Those from the culture will identify with her, and those non-Latinos and non-Spanish speakers will definitely receive an education.

For the Daughters of Toltecs Everywhere

Since the time this book of poems first came out in 1988 it has spoken to me. I am not the daughter of a Toltec but of an Ottoman Yet, I related. I discovered the book in a bookstore in Berkeley in the eighties. While I felt so far from home, I connected with the poems that spoke of a daughter's yearning for her father's power in such a modest way, in such modest ways. I found the copy I brought back with me the other day which I thought I had lost. I will pass it on to my daughter.

Poetry That Will Live On

To begin with, I will announce that this wonderful collection is coming back out in print. This came to my attention in my panic to get copies for a class I am teaching on Women of Color poets. These are the poems of an original voice. If anyone with a sense of the struggle of Mexicans in this country reads this book and remained unmoved I would wonder if they had a soul. Much more powerful, is the powerful message of a woman whose voice was previously unheard. Castillo's internal assonance, her skill as a poet to make the most difficult moves look easy on the page is among her assets as a poet out of this generation of activists. The fact that Castillo's later success with her novels "seemed so easy" is actually an indication of how she perseveres. I will continue to use this collection until retirement and then I will pass it on to my grnadchildren--to remember it wasn't easy at all.

Poetry That Will Live On

To begin with, I will announce that this wonderful collection is coming back out in print. This came to my attention in my panic to get copies for a class I am teaching on Women of Color poets. These are the poems of an original voice. If anyone with a sense of the struggle of Mexicans in this country reads this book and remained unmoved I would wonder if they had a soul. Much more powerful, is the powerful message of a woman whose voice was previously unheard. Castillo's internal assonance, her skill as a poet to make the most difficult moves look easy on the page is among her assets as a poet out of this generation of activists. The fact that Castillo's later success with her novels "seemed so easy" is actually an indication of how she perseveres. I will continue to use this collection until retirement and then I will pass it on to my grandchildren--to remember that it wasn't easy at all.

Poetry is a true Language!

I enjoyed the realism of this poetry, as a writer myself I know what good and bad times are, and when you write about them, you pour your soul into it! I can tell that is what Ana Castillo did!!!!! I loved it, hope you do too!