In a Town Called Mundomuerto

by Randall Silvis

In this novel an old man is telling a boy the same story he has told him hundreds of times before, so that now the boy can correct him on his errors, omissions, and embellishments. It is a lyric story of bittersweet memories and the enduring power of a love the old man has felt since his boyhood for Lucia Luna, a once beautiful girl, now a bitter old woman, destroyed by the jealousy and superstition of her village.

Genres: Fantasy

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

Randall Silvis is the internationally acclaimed author of over a dozen novels, one story
collection, and one book of narrative nonfiction. Also a prize-winning playwright, a
produced screenwriter, and a prolific essayist, he has been published and produced in
virtually every field and genre of creative writing. His numerous essays, articles, poems and short stories have appeared in the Discovery Channel magazines, The Writer, Prism International, Short Story International, Manoa, and numerous other online and print magazines. His work has been translated into 10 languages.

Silvis’s many literary awards include two writing fellowships from the National
Endowment for the Arts, the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Prize, a Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Award, six fellowships for his fiction, drama, and screenwriting from the Pennsylvania Council On the Arts, and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree awarded for “distinguished literary achievement.”

Reviews

[Tamra Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a Town Called Mundomuerto will forever hold a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf. The lush imagery and beautifully rich and colorful prose had me captivated from the first page to the very last. The author's ability to craft sentences into lyrical art that is both evocative and poignant left me satisfied yet still wanting more and has me eager to read everything he has ever written.

[Eóin Ó Fuartháin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was very reminiscent of the magical realism genre which made for a beautiful, haunting, melancholy story full of vivid imagery. Silvis is an incredible story teller with equally incredible accomplishments for which he's been awarded. Enjoy!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ran across this book purely by chance (literally found it stuck in a tree) and since I was between books I gave it a look. I thought it might be a little too cute or cliched with its tale of magical realism narrated by an old man, but it kept my interest and was a good read. Still not sure what it meant to say but it I don't really care. :)

[Katey · Rating 5 out of 5]

funny story told by an old man to teen aged boy of the story of the old man's life, his biggest challenge and life in general.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book I read all year.

[Cynthia Reeser]

Review here: http://www.prickofthespindle.com/revi...

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 15 year old listens to an old man's tale of his love for Lucia Luna. A beautiful fable with gorgeous imagery. Read it slowly, give yourself time to think about reality, memory, truth and stories.