Dew on the Thorn

by Jovita Gonzalez Mireles, Jovita Gonzalez, Jose Eduardo Limon (Editor)

Dew on the Thorn seeks to recreate the life of Texas Mexicans as Anglo culture was gradually encroaching upon them. Gonzalez provides us with a richly detailed portrait of South Texas, focusing on the cultural traditions of Texas Mexicans at a time when the divisions of class and race were pressing on the established way of life.

Genres: Classics

Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Ruben Degollado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most important books to come out of Texas. It tells of a time when the world these characters have always known is disappearing and is prophetic in what is to come:

“Yes, my son, it will not be long before this land will be invaded by the newcomers; it will not be long before you will become an alien in what you once considered the heritage of your ancestors.” P. 178

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could I live in Texas without Jovita Gonzalez?

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an amazing analysis of the history, culture, racial and gender nuances of turn-of-the-century Texas. The inclusion of anecdotes and mini-stories throughout mimics actual Tejano culture and further explores the sources for their values. It follows a single extended family, los Olivares, and although it is based largely on personal experience and knowledge, it is also heavily researched. The book is set in the years Jovita Gonzalez was born/an infant, and it details life in Texas as an extension of Mexico (even though it was legally in the U.S.) immediately before Americans immigrated there and changed the economy to an industrial one wherein the Mexican locals were forced into the lowest social class, the laborers. Worth a read! Slow-moving, but intimate and loving portrayal of a nuanced culture.