The Salvation of La Purisima

By T.M. Spooner

This is a publication of Floricanto Press. In this debut novel T. M. Spooner convincingly portrays the often perilous journey north for Mexican migrants. The novel is narrated by anthropology student Paul Westin who is drawn to Mexico by one of the men he befriends while researching his doctoral dissertation. As Westin becomes more involved with the migrants and learns of a tragedy among them, he struggles to maintain professional objectivity. In Mexico he encounters La Pur sima, the fractured village and symbol of rural Mexico, desperately struggling with the death of one of its own young men. The strange and unexpected reactions of the villagers force Westin and a local priest, Father Gabriel, to search for a solution to save La Pur sima. Spooner tells the story with keen insight and knowledge of the contrasts between the U.S. and Mexico. The novel, both exciting and authentic, shines light on Mexican migrants who are so often seen as a faceless mass. The novel reveals that the journey north is not only an economic necessity, but has evolved into a rite of passage for so many of Mexico's rural youth. Many migrants come reluctantly and the result can be tragic. The Salvation of La Pur sima is compellingly told and written - with tender regard for its characters. We will see much more from this insightful and gifted writer. The Salvation of La Pur sima is a profound and heartrending look at a disenfranchised and poverty-ridden society that, driven by necessity of its own survival, culturally pressures its members to make a perilous migration and earn money whether they want to go or not. Highly Recommended. Midwest Book Review Spooner has a keen eye and ear for Mexico, without glamorizing or admonishing the country or its people. His many years of Mexico travel to the less touristy destinations produce a work of unvarnished authenticity. David Simmonds (MexicoFile) T. M. Spooner is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and attended graduate school at DePaul University in Chicago. Before entering the university to study economics he served three years in the U. S. Army. Mr. Spooner is a frequent traveler to Mexico where he has traveled extensively. The Salvation of La Pur sima is his first novel. Photo of the author taken in Paris, Summer, 2015.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1519675240
• ISBN13: 9781519675248
• Release Date: December 2015
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Timely Novel About the Human Experience

Although this novel is a fictional story, the topic is a timely one. The story brings to light a common stereotype and then proceeds to shatter it by giving it a human face. The reader is given unbiased insight to realities and cultural differences that many Americans either are unaware of, or fail to consider for whatever reason. On that same token, this is not a book that preaches in any way. The story is well-written in a literary sense, the style is smooth and flowing, and the reader is left to see for themselves that despite certain differences, wisdom can be found in every culture if one is willing to look for it and accept what they find. In this book, Spooner's treatment of the emotions that everyone encounters at some point in their lives helps to make the story entirely believable. A strong first showing by this author, and I am pleased to see that another novel has been released.

A contemporary tragedy about a rural Mexican village wracked by fear, speculation, and superstition

The debut novel of T.M. Spooner, The Salvation of La Purisima is a contemporary tragedy about a rural Mexican village wracked by fear, speculation, and superstition, in the wake of the drowning of one of its own at the Mexican-American border. Through personal crisis as well as professional compassion, an outsider becomes involved in the village's suffering, and the economic and social forces driving migrants north. Told in from the first-person point of view of the outsider, The Salvation of La Purisima is a profound and heartrending look of a disenfranchised and poverty-ridden society that, driven by the necessity of its own survival, culturally pressures its members to make a perilous migration and earn money whether they want to go or not. Highly recommended.

Hidden Gem

The Salvation of La Purisima centers on the tragic crossing of a group of migrant workers from Mexico to the United States and the consequences of this tragedy for all involved. Spooner takes us on a journey back to Mexico to deal with the repercussions of this tragedy. We see Mexican culture through the eyes of American anthropology student, Paul Westin. Spooner's knowledgeable and compassionate portrayal of the Mexican migrate laborers humanizes a group who have become dehumanized too often in current political debate. The romantic relationships are given gravity that is missing from most current American fiction. The men and woman are not lustful animals, but rather real people dealing with that most complex human emotion. The novel causes us to question the high cost of the American Dream, but provides no trite or easy answers to the question. At the conclusion of the novel you come to realize that our way of doing things is just that: A way, but perhaps not the way. Overall, this is a quite impressive debut novel and I look forward to the future work of this author.

The Salvation of La Purusima is wonderful literature

Mr. Spooners tale of Mexican migrant workers is a well written account of a world of which I am largely ignorant. As a result, the honest telling of this story, and its introspective nature created a sense of caring and understanding both for the characters in the novel as well as the plight of the real world people that they surely represent. The characters were living and breathing throughout the book and Mr. Spooner accomplished this in a way that didn't represent these men and women within the stereotypes that I would have expected. This novel represents what I love in literature - a thoughtful and well written story with an intriguing plot, 'real' characters and content that challenges the reader to think.

An excellent essay on the human side of mexican migration

An exciting story about 4 illegal migrant workers facing tragedy while crossing the border between the US and Mexico. The author discusses the powerful social, economic, and political forces behind migration and their implications as the human tragedy makes the reasons of migration unjustifiable for at least one of the migrant workers. The author's deep knowledge of the mexican culture and colorful landscape makes the reading highly entertaining.