White Cadillac: A Mexican Soliloquy

by David Lane

Although the relationships between North America and Mexico have a long history behind them, this new composite novel by David Lane explores the desires, fears and expectations both "gringos" and Mexicans put against each other. Mexico, its towns and countryside are the background where this series of strongly connected short stories happen. It is not an easy equation for any of the characters to find whatever they are looking for. In most of the stories there are can be everlasting consequences for that ideal which the North American traveler places on that land of the south. Death is present, as well as pathos, and they seem to go side by side with this clash of cultures that geography cannot solve.

168 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2019

About the author

David Lane is emeritus fellow of social sciences at Emmanuel College.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am Mexican and I really enjoyed this book. I have known throughout the years many Americans and Canadians who come to Mexico looking for warmer weather and nice beaches, but beneath that desire, there is always so much more. Some of them try to modify Mexican ways (not understanding them or even disagreeing with them). Others go out of their way to modify our Mexican landscape (we have the roughest roads full of baches and topes, right?). And some others really conform to the Mexican reality. Some towns, here and there, become a very interesting merge of cultures. The stories in this books have all kinds of characters, some of them adorable, others not so much. But I had never found such a good human study of what a foreigner coming to my country could find.
The books comes with really nice drawings as well, of which I post a picture.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot tell what I think of this book full of short stories loosely tied together by a Michigan man in a white Cadillac, which could alternatively be titled "A Gringo's Guide To Being Undone By Mexico." An intro page of this book states a warning, "For those readers with delicate sensitivities or those easily offended. There are lines that might upset, affront or otherwise make you uncomfortable. It is suggested that those lines are read with your eyes closed." Some stories in this book are explicit in either violence or sex. Some characters are shockingly gullible or close-minded. And one or two redemptive stories illustrate a Mexico that uniquely binds and builds in ways its northern neighbor never can. Did I enjoy it? I think so. Should I be offended by it? Probably not. Do I recommend it? With caveats. And only to readers who want to step beyond the resorts, to explore a place that is more real and human, even if it is not humane.