The Last of the Menu GirlsCHAVEZ, Denise. The last of the menu girls, a novel in stories. Random House, Vintage Contemporaries. 220p. c1986. 1-4000-3431-0. $12.95. SA While each short story in this collection features the same characters and is consistently from the viewpoint of Rocio Esquibel, the middle of three daughters growing up in New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). in the 1950s and 1960s, the narratives are not interconnected in a way that makes the whole any larger than the sum of its parts. Rocio is observant ob·ser·vant adj. 1. Quick to perceive or apprehend; alert: an observant traveler. See Synonyms at careful. 2. , sensitive and sensual. her surroundings filled with common objects--trees, clothes--that for her are imbued with personal meaning and a sense of world building. Unusual in fiction about Mexican American Mexican American n. A U.S. citizen or resident of Mexican descent. Mex  i·can-A·mer life during this period is that Rocio's mother is a working
professional (a teacher) and that her parents divorce (with little
apparent emotional fallout fallout, minute particles of radioactive material produced by nuclear explosions (see atomic bomb; hydrogen bomb; Chernobyl) or by discharge from nuclear-power or atomic installations and scattered throughout the earth's atmosphere by winds and convection currents. for anyone).
Each story is carefully constructed and engaging, but some are stronger than others. This is model autobiographical fiction and can serve those interested in seeing that genre realized capably. S--Recommended for senior high school students. A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries. Francisca Goldsmith, Collection Mgmt. & Promo pro·mo n. pl. pro·mos Informal A promotional presentation, such as a television spot, radio announcement, or personal appearance. ., Berkeley P.L., CA |
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