This is Julia Alvarez's first novel, and was originally published in individual chapters in magazines before being complied into a book. She recieved significant critical and public acclaimation, which I think she is worthy of. I haven't read any more of her books or poetry, but the book 'Yo' is a sequel to this one, and continues the story of the García family.
One thing I noticed about this novel in comparison to the others that we've read is the postivity of most of the characters towards the United States. Call me an idealist, but I enjoy reading about a family who immigrates and happily stays in their new country. One can become a bit burned out on books like 'Y no se lo trago...' and the title story in 'Women Hollering Creek'. Of course, those expiriences are just as valid as generally happy ones, but I like to have exposure to a full spectrum of opinions. Having been born and raised in Canada, I cannot personally relate to immigration, which is a reason why this course has been enlightening for me.
This being said, the path was not entirely smooth. I like the tension between Carlos and Laura and the four girls, the old ways and the new, the Dominican Republic and the United States. Carlos frequently tells the girls how he send them to fancy school so they can learn to speak English without accents, but resists other aspects of their assimilation. The girls reach out for their independence of the stringent social restrictions placed by their parents, yet also pine for guavas from home.
This tension makes me think that hybridity is a major theme in How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. None of them desire or are allowed to fully assimilate into American society, but instead must strike a balance between cultures. This is never more apparant than in the son born to Sofía and her German husband Otto. The baby is Aryan, but the namesake of Carlos and his favorite grandchild. The baby's white skin is prized above the García's darker tones, yet the cultural milieu that produced the baby is vilianized. Is it possible to achieve a perfect hybrid between cultures, or should one simply commit to one side or the other? In any case, these difficulties never ruined the Garcías and their lives in the United States.
1 comment:
That background information on how the book was first published was very interesting!! It feels awkward to think of this book being published as separate chapters, but you can see it making sense, as the chapters are all over the place. It's one of those columns that you would anticipate in the next magazine issue. :) I can't believe this was her first novel!!! what talent!!
I agree with the hybridity you observed in the García girls' attitudes....guavas or US? That was also a clever and thought-provoking comment you made concerning Sofía's baby's culture.
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