In this Book
- The Book of Want: A Novel
- Book
- 2011
- Published by: University of Arizona Press
summary
When Moses descended Mount Sinai carrying the Ten Commandments, he never could have foreseen how one family in Los Angeles in the early twenty-first century would struggle to live by them.
Conchita, a voluptuous, headstrong single woman of a certain age, sees nothing wrong with enjoying the company of handsome—and usually much younger—men . . . that is, until she encounters a widower with unusual gifts and begins to think about what she really wants out of life.
Julieta, Conchita’s younger sister, walks a more traditional path, but she and her husband each harbor secrets that could change their marriage and their lives forever. Their twin sons, both in college, struggle to find fulfillment. Mateo refuses to let anyone stand in the way of his happiness, while Rolando grapples with his sexuality and the family’s expectations. And from time to time, Belén, the family’s late matriarch, pays a visit to advise, scold, or cajole her hapless descendants.
A delightful family tapestry woven with the threads of all those whose lives are touched by Conchita, The Book of Want is an enchanting blend of social and magical realism that tells a charming story about what it means to be fully human.
Conchita, a voluptuous, headstrong single woman of a certain age, sees nothing wrong with enjoying the company of handsome—and usually much younger—men . . . that is, until she encounters a widower with unusual gifts and begins to think about what she really wants out of life.
Julieta, Conchita’s younger sister, walks a more traditional path, but she and her husband each harbor secrets that could change their marriage and their lives forever. Their twin sons, both in college, struggle to find fulfillment. Mateo refuses to let anyone stand in the way of his happiness, while Rolando grapples with his sexuality and the family’s expectations. And from time to time, Belén, the family’s late matriarch, pays a visit to advise, scold, or cajole her hapless descendants.
A delightful family tapestry woven with the threads of all those whose lives are touched by Conchita, The Book of Want is an enchanting blend of social and magical realism that tells a charming story about what it means to be fully human.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Prologue: The Law Giver
- pp. xiii-xiv
- 1. Other Gods
- pp. 1-12
- 2. Has He Been There for You?
- pp. 13-20
- 3. Domingo
- pp. 21-27
- 4. How to Date a Flying Mexican
- pp. 29-37
- 5. The Dreamer
- pp. 39-46
- 6. Los Dos
- pp. 47-55
- 7. El Cucuy
- pp. 57-63
- 9. Yahrzeit
- pp. 79-91
- 10. Want: A Symphony
- pp. 93-118
Additional Information
ISBN
9780816501250
Related ISBN(s)
9780816528998
MARC Record
OCLC
747413926
Pages
139
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No
Copyright
2011