The Fifth Sun

By Mary Helen Lagasse

Winner of the 3rd Annual Miguel M?rmol Prize from Curbstone Press, Mary Helen Lagasse's The Fifth Sun is an inspiring story of an immigrant who struggles valiantly for a better life for herself and her family. A young Mexican woman, Mercedes, leaves her village to work as a housemaid in New Orleans. This fast-paced novel takes us through her adventures in New Orleans, her marriage, her struggle to raise her children, her deportation, and her attempt to re-cross the river and be reunited with her children.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1931896054
• ISBN13: 9781931896054
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Curbstone Press
• Length: 337 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Very good literature

THE FIFTH SUN is an excellent contribution to the common history that New Orleans and Mexico tend to have. Mary Helen Lagasse, who is one of my friends from Tulane days, has done an excellent job in describing the plight that refugees have to go through. In addition, she is making a contribution to the understanding of single mothers in very difficult circumstances. Fortunately, I know enough Spanish to be able to read the Spanish words in her text. The plot of the story takes place in the late 20's and early 30's; still, it applies to today's world as well, especially to the issue of Hispanics and the United States. Also, Mary Helen did an excellent job in inflecting the scene in Mexico and New Orleans at that time, as I can tell from my knowledge of the history of New Orleans and Mexico.

The Modern Heroine

An inspiration to any woman who faces obstacles she feels are insurmountable, Mary Helen Lagasse provides us with a character unforgettable in her tenacity and inventiveness. Mercedes manages to hold together a life that is sure to fly apart at the seams at any moment: she is faced with issues that would engender defeat in many people faced with the same or similar predicaments. She does not settle for the statement, "There is nothing that can be done." If something can be done, she finds it, she does it, and does it well. Like life, the story is part bittersweet, part heartbreaking and breathtaking in its scope and subject matter. The writing matches the tone, and there are many passages that are absolutely exquisite in both craft and imagery: "She awoke with a start, her head pulsing, remembering the alkaline taste of the medicine riding the yellow bloat of her seasickness, the deck of the ship heaving and falling away-all things governed by the undulations of the sea." (p. 165) This passage could serve as shorthand for the whole of the book: Mercedes wakes to find herself somewhere, in some state--internal or external--she didn't wholly expect. But, like a true heroine she takes on whatever task befalls her. Nothing is so daunting that is holds her back from her objective. Only rarely do we have glimpses of Mercedes worn out, wishing things were better. She does not wish things were better: she makes them better. She sets the path and the tone for her life and does not wait for it to be assigned to her, not by a man (her father or her husband), not by society (the police, the nuns, the shopkeeper, her landlady), not by anything but her sense of what needs to happen. Even the small touches are notable: the name and description of the coyote, for instance, Aguilar. Eagle, unless my Spanish fails me. The book is littered throughout with references and allusions that this reader thoroughly enjoys. Wonderfully written and detailed, I hope we see more work from this author in future--and soon!

On of my favorite books of the year!

The Fifth Sun is about a young Mexican woman whose life encompasses the story of near insurmountable challenges: the oppressive gender-biased culture into which she is born, the utter poverty, the rejection of a father who favors his "legitimate" family and treats the 13-year-old Mercedes-bereft after the death of her mother-as little more than a servant. Alone, uneducated, and timid, Mercedes Vasconcelos emerges as an unlikely prototypical feminist by her struggles to keep her family together, to earn the respect and love of her young "macho" Mexican husband, to maintain her dignity, and to achieve "spiritual wholeness." The novel is a historically accurate chronicle of the cataclysmic times of post-Revolutionary Mexico and Depression-era United States-specifically of New Orleans. This is an immigrant's story in which the reader participates and identifies because it is a passionate chronicle of self-discovery to which we-one and all-aspire. It is the story of the indomitable mother-daughter bond; a story of loss, and of deliverance from the soul-destroying indignity in the struggle to escape poverty and alienation. It is the story of what it takes to move beyond heartbreak and humiliation.. In a word, it is the story of Hope. -And beyond that, it is a great read; a story you will not want to end! Dianne M. Rousseau.

A Great Read!

Having finished The Fifth Sun at 1:30 a.m., I suggest you begin the book ealier in the day that I did. You won't want to put it down! Each character is richly engaging. The flow of the scenerios creates a steady rhythm of interest for the reader. The female protagonist, Mercedes, provides a strong role model of persistence and tenacity for her beliefs. Mary Helen Lagasse writes as a well seasoned author, and I look forward to her next publication!

A marvelous book.

The most disconserting thing, maybe the only disconserting thing, about this book is that as I read, I couldn't help thinking "this is a FIRST novel." It's just too good. MHL has a tremendous command of English and literary rhythm and in The Fifth Sun uses both with just the right amount of Spanish to add realism and flavor. I read the book at the suggestion of a friend (it is not on my list of normal genres) and I'm glad that I did. I think this book will be around for a long time. Readers who enjoy Allende, Borges, Marquez and the other romantic mystical novels will like this book. It's the best kind of story, about life and struggle, endurance and hope. A great deal of the book takes place in New Orleans. But the characters are not in the New Orleans that Americans know. They're immigrants, physically and spiritually. Aliens in every sense of the word. MHL takes you there, where the immigrants live, in The Fifth Sun.This is a book you'll want to give your friends. Your mother, sisters, that literary aunt, in fact any one you know that enjoys good literary fiction (and secretly wants it to also be a good story). It's a darn good story, and MHL is a darn good writer.