Sapogonia

by Ana Castillo

Book Overview

A New York Times Notable Book - "A complex, engaging novel...Sapogonia will establish Castillo as one of our finest Chicana novelists." --Rudolfo Anaya

The author of So Far From God, Ana Castillo confronts the complex issues of race and identity facing those of mixed heritage through the struggles of M ximo Madrigal, an expatriate of Sapogonia, the metaphorical homeleand of all mestizos. Subtly political, it demonstrates...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385470800
• ISBN13: 9780385470803
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Seductive in More Ways than One!

Long before this country discovered "His-panic" literature there was Ana Castillo. Long before feminists understood that the Mexican/Chicana/Latina existed at all Ana Castillo was already writing the testament. Honestly, this has not been my favorite of her all her work but having come out with a small press originally its liabilities may not have been her fault. Nevertheless, it has withstood the test of time. I love Maximo, that man we Latinas love to hate and hate to love. As for Pastora, only a fool would see that she is meant to represent the macho's idea of woman. He creates her only to destroy her before she can destroy him. Seductive in more ways than one and way ahead of its time!

Stunning and enthralling..exquisite writing...Bravo!

I read this exquisite achievement from Ana Castillo a while back ago, and it still permeates every pore in my body. This book illustrates the seduction between a beautiful pagan demi-goddess that is envisioned as Coatlique. A witch she is called by her desperate lover, Maximo through the soft lament of his guitar. This novel is an orgasmic documentation of an obsessive attraction of flesh and mind. Of Hero worship and loss.Ana Castillo creates Pastora as a strong sexual brilliant woman, who has enraptured Maximo. But Maximo can never have her.

Excellent

A multi-viewpoint view on the areas of assimilation, violence, and gender relations. Castillo masterfully wavers from the masculine narrator Max (whom she writes from both the first and third person, sometimes switching in the middle of the narration) and Pastora, the woman with whom he is infatuated and cannot obtain. She also mixes fantasy, memory, and dreams to create a work that will stay with the reader long after the final page is read.

Intriguing look at the assertive mujer and the macho.

Wonderful book that explores the fantasies and realities of being connected to another place, and people. Castillo intertwines the Mestizo's search of self between Sapogonia, US and Spain. Gives the strong Latina and Macho view of romance and obsession.

more than just a romance

Without a doubt, Ana Castillo is one of America's top women fiction writers...Sapagonia is a wild fantasy fluctuating between a make-believe country and Chicago. Romance, prejudice and women-hood explode in this 'social' self-exploration during a young man's maturation.