Book:Rain of Gold by Liora Leah

I was given this book, Rain of Gold, by a friend. I'm a slow reader, but read it in 3 days! Very much enjoyed it and recommend it--an easy read, enjoyable, and interesting!

Rain of Gold

by Victor Villasenor

NonFiction

Dell Publishing

Although labeled as "nonfiction" Rain of Gold reads like a grand and romantic saga. Based on interviews with his family members, the book is an accounting of author Villasenor's family history focusing primarily on the stories of his Mexican immigrant grandmothers, mother and father. A theme of profound earth-based and heart-felt spirituality filtered through the lens of the Catholic church's religiosity and ritual runs throughout the book. This fascinating and unique meld of indigenous spirituality with the Catholicism of the Spanish Conquest is the prevailing force that influences the daily thoughts and actions of Villasenor's family members as they leave behind the beauty of their native land--fleeing the violence of revolution-torn early 20th century Mexico--and arrive in hostile white America carrying nothing with them but their instinct for survival and their dreams of a peace-filled life. The book also explores the dualities between men and women, patriarchy and feminine wisdom, Mexican and American culture, self-hatred and self-acceptance, trust and distrust, justice and injustice, conflict/violence and peace, American exploitation/environmental degradation and indigenous nature-based wisdom, American capitalism and immigrant labor rights, indigenous and Spanish heritage, bigotry/racism and the ideal of the American "melting pot" of acceptance, and much more, all within the sweep of one passionate family history.

--Liora Leah