Journal of Antinio Monta

In this superb novel, the recently dead relatives and the not so recently dead relatives of an orphaned boy and his Aunt come back to "haunt" them in a way that changes their lives forever. This was a beautiful and moving novel, told with humor and written in clear stylish prose. I was immediately swept up in the world created by the author and became totally immersed in the characters and their drama. I consider this a masterpiece and I highly recommend it.

This well-crafted story set in New Mexico was a treat: Marquez-esque arrivals of the dearly departed; wives with complusive tortilla making disorders; and lots and lots of family and family troubles. A fine first novel.

The Journal of Antonio Montoya is a poignant, magical, and quietly humorous tale about the acceptance of loss and change. It takes place in a hispanic community in the mountains of New Mexico, where Ramona Montoya, a reclusive artist, learns to accept life even as she learns to accept loss. I'm very glad that I read the book, and am putting it on my list of favorites.

For a first novel, Rick Collignon could not have done better. The story revolves around Ramona Montoya. She rediscovers herself and her roots as a result of an accident where she finds herself the adopted mother of her nephew Jose. There is a sort of a haunting, but only of the best kind because Ramona finds assistance from her dead grandparents and others who come to remind her who she really is. It's a wonderful story meant to be read again and again. In my book, Collignon's gift of story telling is beyond compare.

This is my favorite kind of book: unselfconsciously literary, funny, profound, filled with characters I would like to meet, set in a place where I would like to live, telling a real story that is complete fantasy. --Mary Overton