Enchiladas, Rice, and Beans

by Daniel Reveles

Written with an undercurrent of magical realism, and spiced with the flavors that linger long in the memory, these tales from Tecate--along the dusty strip of the Baja California border--evoke a wondrous place where roosters crow in Spanish, affection is spontaneous, and water, if it so chooses, can flow uphill . . . .
"These tales charm as they traverse a happy, well-observed life. The scenery is vigorous Californian-Mexican. The road signs crackle with whimsy, pride, and mystery."
--Kelvin Christopher James
Author of JUMPING SHIP AND OTHER STORIES

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Contemporary

276 pages, Paperback

First published August 16, 1994

Reviews

[Julie]

This was a tough book for me to read. It's not my usual genre, but I wanted something different and short. If you like novelas, this probably will fit the bill. Each story is somewhere between half an hour to 45 minutes to read. They will make you think. The one that they gave you at the beginning is probably the best one. It seemed like all of the stories had one central theme, gotcha. You will have an interesting cast of people who are sort of woven together, but not tightly where they tell you what happens with each person at the end of the book.

[Cindy]

This book was a lot of fun! Read it when you want something light and humorous.

[Kerstin Deppe]

Loved this. I don't often read short story collections, but I'm glad I found this one. You can almost believe they are real. :)

[Sara]

The first couple chapters had me enthralled However the stories fizzled out for me in the end.

[Christina]

Ok, who could resist buying this book for a quarter? I mean, check out the title! This book of short stories was just not my cup of tea. The first one was interesting, but then just ended so weirdly that it caught me off guard. The second one was a little offensive so I moved to the next and the third is just as weird. So, I think that I will just sell this one back to the library. Although, I found it nice to know that I was able to read a lot of the Spanish in the book that was used throughout. At least those 6+ years of Spanish stuck in there somewhere!

[Nancy H]

Sometimes I am in the mood for a book set in Mexico that is simply about the people. This one certainly fits the bill. Told by the narrator who 'discovered' this village, this book features a series of inter-related stories that involve characters whose personalities run the gamut from simple and charming to sly and even, in some cases, a bit evil. For those readers who can accept some magical realism, this collection of stories is a delight.

[Laura]

actually enjoyed this even more than I thought I would. The writing is good, the stories are excellent, and I feel the whole thing probably really gives a good feel for Mexico or, at least, for Tecate. Living in the southwest brings me into a contact with numerous people from Mexico. I'm glad I read this -- it helps me to see where they are coming from. Definitely a recommended read.

[Pallavi M.]

I learnt a lot about mexican culture, which was the plus side of this book! I just hated the ending of the book ( what? Really? That abrupt? No tie between the stories? etc) , and something about male author's writing in female voices, when it isnt done well( and i think its hard to do well), just ticks me off. It was a lively read in the middle though...

[Andrea]

The 1st short story is my favorite. I know the people and places in the book and always get a worm fuzzy feeling when i read them.

[Amy]

Good short stories that focus on the difference between American and Mexican cultures. Plus the title is my favorite foods haha.

[Abbey]

I enjoyed this book as it helped me reminisce about my own cultural experiences from childhood.

[Jana]

A nice collection of short stories. Fortunately, they did not all have tragic endings.

[Melissa Martinez]

My favorite out of all his baja tales. Funny and intriguing, the way he describes baja sends you there.