So Far from God

What a delight!

This is the story of a Chicana woman raising four daughters in New Mexico. Each of her daughters is extraordinary in fantastical and miraculous ways. As much as it is clear that a higher power is at work in these women's lives, to the point that some of them are considered saints, their lives are still grounded in the practical matters of day-to-day existence. Their stories are tragic, but told with such intense humor and compassion that the book feels very joyful. The writing style feels very colloquially Chicana - it's almost impossible not to hear it in a Mexican accent. It's a compelling and immersive book.

I loved this book so much I found myself literally hugging it. I neglected so many other things just to sit down and take time reveling in it. Dreamy books like this are my favorite--I loved how timeless it felt even when it was very much of its time. I will return to this one, again and again.

WHAT IT IS ABOUT:

“So Far From God” by Ana Castillo is a peculiar magical realism novel set in a small village of Tome in New Mexico. Abandoned by her gambling husband, Sofia single-handedly raises four daughters: Esperanza, an ambitious news reporter; Fe, a jilted bride suffering from a nervous breakdown; Caridad, a promiscuous nurse who is mutilated by a mysterious creature; and saintly La Loca who dies at the age of three and after resurrection avoids human contact. This unusual Chicano family’s saga has a little bit of everything, from tragedy to comedy, from realism to miracles, from cultural heritage to feminism.

THUMBS UP:

1) Worthwhile.
“So Far From God” is quite odd but it is nonetheless an engaging and moving read. And show more the more I think about it, the better it gets! It took me a while to get used to the author’s writing style but I grew to love it - her voice is strong and her narration is very readable, kind of gossipy. My favorite part is the later chapter on Fe - so tragically realistic and thought-provoking!

2) Tasteful magical realism.
In “So Far From God,” magical realism is subtle and often morphs into symbolism. The events can be explained away or at least understood as metaphors (with a few exceptions, namely, what the hell happened to Caridad and Esmeralda?), thus I would recommend this novel to the novice reader of the genre.

3) Authentic.
“So Far From God” has an authentic vibe as it is loaded with a blend of Chicano, Native American and Anglo cultures: folklore, local wisdom, religious beliefs, home remedies and even recipes. Plus, the language is authentic too as there are a LOT of words, phrases and even sentences in Spanish and a few obscure grammatical structures.

4) Thought-provoking.
Although Castillo’s tone is humorous and upbeat, this novel brings to light a lot of serious issues such as global violence, worker exploitation, violation of health and safety standards, environmental contamination, gross materialism and female discrimination. Plus, the story is told from a strong feminist perspective as all four of its protagonists, in their own way, break the stereotypical image of a Chicana woman.

COULD BE BETTER:

1) Slow beginning.
I had a hard time getting into the story. The narrator’s voice just seemed too distant, making it hard to relate to or care about the characters. Eventually, I got used to the writing style and enjoyed the story but not before I read almost a hundred pages.

2) Spanish overload.
As I mentioned before, there is A LOT of Spanish in this book. The upside: authenticity. The downside: I don’t speak Spanish, so I had to use a dictionary. A LOT.

3) Chapter titles.
The chapter titles are extra long. They basically summarize the whole upcoming chapter (yes, spoilers included).

VERDICT: 3.5 out of 5

Ana Castillo’s magical realism novel “So Far From God” is a charmingly odd and charismatic take on the lives of Chicana women. Although a little bit slow at first, this book is worth reading. show less

Fast, fun, and weird, this is one of those addictive books that sweeps you in and leaves you breathless. It's a wacky ride, as humorous as it is heartbreaking as it is surreal, but one which is surprisingly touching for all of its fast-paced explorations. This is plot-driven Chicana literature with fascinating personalities, as beautiful as it is strange, and worth the read on a quiet day that needs something outside of the norm. Come with an open mind, ready to enjoy the surprises.

Booklist Review: This is a riotous and rascally novel infused with mysterious forces both malevolent and divine. Tome, New Mexico, a tiny desert community, has long been home to Indians, Chicanos, and Anglos, but its ancient cultural and spiritual resiliency can barely contain the bizarre events that rock the household of Sofi and her four unusual daughters. The youngest dies abruptly of convulsions, but is resurrected at her funeral and endowed with clairvoyant powers. Fe goes stark raving mad when her wedding plans fall through. Caridad is brutally attacked and mutilated by some monstrous manifestation of evil, but experiences a miraculous recovery and apprentices herself to a "curandera". And Esperanza, a TV news anchorwoman, visits show more her family as a ghost after getting killed covering the Persian Gulf War. All of this and more is reported by a fast-talking, earthy, feminist, opinionated, and irresistible narrator. Castillo is simply dazzling, tossing off miracles, scathing social commentary, and smart-ass humor as easily and naturally as shaking water from a mane of wet hair. ((Reviewed Apr. 1, 1993)) -- Donna Seaman show less

A novel of the miracles and tragedies of a Chicana mother and her four daughters in a central New Mexico village.

Castillo immerses readers in the particular world of Hispanic New Mexico villages: their people, their beliefs, and their language. Her writing is intense, sweeping readers into laughter and pain and back again. Supernatural forces move in and out of the story, yet the circumstances of the characters are all too real as they deal with everything from war in the Middle East to the loss of ancestral land. Traditional religion, Roman Catholic and native, are interwoven with political protests.

Read more on my blog: me, you and books
http://mdbrady.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/so-far-from-god-a-novel-by-ana-castillo/

Castillo is a very clever satirist. I know I only understood about a third of the allusions and symbolism, but I caught some chuckle-inducing moments. This is another book that has given me more insight into the real, historical culture of my adopted state of New Mexico.