The Crystal Frontier: A Novel in Nine Stories

I read this book a while back in a Spanish Literature class. I absolutely loved it, it made me think about so many imigration issues that I had not even known existed before. This book is written as a novel, and a novel with a purpose at that. If you are against immigration of the Latin Americans into the USA, then this book may be the one to get you to understand that they are real people and not just percentages and numbers leading to American job loss. Carlos Fuentes has a point in writing this book, it seems many reviewers haven't understood that, or they don't agree with him. That is fine, it is fine to disagree. But the way this book is written it does deserve a full 5 star rating. Give it a try.

Un libro muy ingenioso. Los nueve cuentos tratan diferentes aspectos de la relacion de los inmigrantes mexicanos con "el pais de las oportunidades". Recomiendo este libro por realista, entretenido y sobre todo, porque esta excelentemente bien escrito.

Fuentes does not bridge the gap between two colossal cultures, he defines that gap. As a gringo in his own country Mexico, and a foreigner in the US, he is qualified and capable to draw a honest and sensitive picture of these two countries and its characters. He uses the physical divide to draw a picture of what really matters to him - the poverty and impasse existence of myriads of people in Mexico. Luckily, there is only a hint of his (far leftist) politics, and we are allowed to enjoy his cultural insight, deep understanding of characters, compassion for suffering, and sense of humor. A powerful author, but short of the genius of friend and peer Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Carlos Fuentes tiene un conflicto de identidad muy grande. El trata de ser mexicano hasta el tuetano pero su formacion fue en diversos paises debido a que su padre era embajador. El siente que debe de demostrar que es mexicano escibiendo sobre mexicanos y sus propios conflictos de identidad. En este libro en particular el resultado es muy bueno, sin duda Fuentes puede tener una narativa muy agil y logra describir muy bien el conflicto de identidad visto desde la comoda posicion de la clase media alta.

I never understood the implications of living in Los Angeles before. Fuentes captures the perspective I needed to hear.