Jose Builds a Woman

By Jan Baross

Book Overview

Mesmerizing Stunning Elegant Captivating Powerful Lush A winner Magical realism that seduces the reader from beginning to end When Ooligan's acquisitions committee discussed this marvelous first novel by Portland photographer/painter/dramatist Baross, the superlatives and exclamations wouldn't stop. Word spread, and soon Ooligan's other student publishers were waiting in line to read this novel set in a fictional Mexican coastal village. Jose is the story of Tortugina, the narrator, whose happiness and hardship are tied to the sea and to the men in her life, from her demanding father and dead lover to her cruel, abusive husband and beautiful, sensitive son.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932010149
• ISBN13: 9781932010145
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Ooligan Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 0.8" x 5.6"

Customer Reviews

Phenomenal writing, fantastic story

Read in one sitting- absolutely rich and funny and heart breaking and vivid -- touches on all the tastes... just rich storytelling. The author isn't lazy - every turn of phrase is delectable. Has a personality of it's own. You can't help but be drawn into the world the author's created - life feels boring once you are finished.

Very imaginative page turner!

I was fascinated with this book. It's the first book in a long time that I couldn't put down! It's very imaginative. I thought the characters were well developed, especially José and his mother.

Wild Ride

Tortugina's startling adventures from her life in the diving village of El Pulpo to her husband's village of circus freaks is a story of heartbreak and hillarity. Tortugina, whose destiny is to make those around her weep for not wanting her as she is, learns the dance between love and self-realization. Baross's prose is a delicious braid of poetry, magic and earthiness. Her storytelling keeps you turning the pages. This is a must-read.

Well Written!!!

These are magical lives so vividly written as to take the reader into their world. The writer has written with lyrical wonder a culturally rich landscape. I can't wait to read her next book!

A Magical Masterpiece

Please do yourself a favor and buy this book. Then let Jan Baross take you on a lyrical journey into the lives of Jose, and his wonderfully flawed and human mother, Tortugina. There world is one of precious green sea snails with strange curative powers, and family curses. Tortugina must try to please two husbands, one who is a ghost. All the people who populate this world, the relatives and the villagers, are both simple and wonderfully complex. This book keep me reading long into the night and the characters stay with me still.