by Raymond R. Beltran
When a writer knows he’s got something good sitting on his desk, he’ll sacrifice whatever he needs to put it in a reader’s hands.
That’s the word around the campuses about Victor Villaseñor.
When his second book and most acclaimed Rain of Gold hit the shelves, it was a phenomenon to reviewers, some of whom wrote it up as the Mexican version of classic African story Roots by Alex Haley.
The sacrifice? Well, rumor has it that his family, who’s migration from Mexico to central California was depicted in the novel, was up-set with the mention of bootlegging, revenge, gambling and lawlessness during the prohibition, an issue that may have caused a permanent rift between them.
Letting the skeletons in the closet out for a walk?
Don’t hold me to it. Ask him in fact. He’s holding a public talk and book signing this Thursday in Carlsbad.
What’s not so questionable is that when his book was placed on the desk of his (now-former) big wig publishing house Putnam, they tried to cram it into a more Anglo friendly piece called Rio Grande. Feeling his work was being compromised, he remortgaged his home to yank the piece out of the clutches of assimilation.
Arte Publico Press, a quiet publishing house, ultimately published the book that led to bestsellers lists and led to two more sequels (Thirteen Senses and Burro Genius), creating a trilogy that is becoming required reading on college campuses, and for book lovers ... just for the heck of it.
Since, Villaseñor has become a local legend of a writer and an open book, it seems, with his numerous local readings and very intimate book releases, where readers say they’ve been welcomed onto his Oceanside ranch. They turn more into posadas before they’re over.
More than anything, he is a storyteller of epic proportions, reminiscent of Steinbeck, say his critics.
Oh yeah … did I mention he is dyslexic?
Victor Villasenor, author of the nationally acclaimed bestseller Rain of Gold, will give a talk and sign his books at Carlsbad City Library (1775 Dove Ln) on Thursday, May 24, at 7 p.m. The talk will take place in the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium. Free for the public. For more information, call 760-602-2012.
Eventos
Latinos and Latinas and WWII … why are they invisible? Latino veteran’s advocacy group, Defend The Honor, presents Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, associate professor of UT-Austin, who will talk about the book A Legacy Greater than Words, Friday, May 25, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Veteran’s Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park (2115 Park Blvd). For more info, email Maggie at info@defendthehonor.org.
The monthly Chicano Park Steering Committee meeting is this Sunday, May 27, at 3 p.m. under the kiosko in the park (adjacent to Logan Ave and Cesar Chavez Pkwy). This 36 year old committee is a grassroots voluntary group who work towards the development and expansion of Chicano Park. Take pride in this historic piece of nuestra tierra and come see how you can play a role in its survival.
San Diego Veterans for Peace wil display Arlington West this Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, at the Pier in Oceanside. Claude Anshin Thomas will participate and assist during the memorial. Memorial will be set up from noon to 8 p.m.. For more information, contact Dave Patterson at 760-207-9139.
Mexico and Asia: Public Opinion and Foreign Policy, Guadalupe Gonzalez of CIDE and Ambassador Sergio Ley, former Mexican ambassador to China, will discuss public opinion and foreign policy and Mexico’s relations with Asia at UCSD’s (9500 Gilman Dr in La Jolla) Institute of the Americas Building Tuesday, May 29, at 5:30 p.m.
Cada Semana
Loud and proud, Bill Caballero touts his horn, literally, every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. on the outskirts of downtown at the intimate arts venue, Voz Alta (1544 Broadway) with his band of loyal Latin Jazz fellow musicians. Join in, kick back and listen, and if possible, drop ‘em a donation. For info, contact Bill at 619-628-8568.
Museum of Contemporary Art’s Poem Lines on Phone Lines through March 2007, an over the phone poetry experience, featuring La Linea Collective members Abril Castro, Jennifer Donovan, Jen Hofer, Kara Lynch, Lorena mancilla and Margarita Valencia Triana. Let this experimental literature be invited into your home and be part of an extended museum experience by calling 858-454-9541, ext 9.
Club StuwII every Saturday at the Hot Monkey Love Café (6875 El Cajon Blvd), where teens come to have club-style fun with live DJ’s and dancing. Cover discount before 9 p.m. For more info, call Alma at 619-469-4113.
Proxima Semana
Unexpectedly, group Manu Chao has changed venues for their Tuesday, June 5, performance, from Viejas Resort and Casino to Plaza Monumental Playas (551 Avenida Paseo Playas) in Tijuana. The transfer was not explained, but has been confirmed. For more information visit www.produccionesbulldog.com or call 619-735-2333 or 664-685-86-87 (Tijuana). Show begins at 8 p.m.
(Planning a noteworthy junta, event, or show that the San Diego Chicano/Chicana community should know about? Send it to La Prensa at raymond.beltran@covad.net. Deadlines are every Tuesday if you plan to host on the following Friday.)
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