The Hummingbird's Daughter in Around the Year in 52 Books

Apr 25, 2010 Book Concierge rated it really liked it

Shelves: latino-literature, mexico, magical-realism, book-club, culture, historical-fiction, favorite, nature, library, concierge

Urrea spent two decades researching the “history” of his distant relative – Teresa Urrea, the Saint of Cabora and “Joan of Arc” de Mexico.

This fictionalized biography of Teresa has many fantastical elements. She was a curandera and known to have prophetic dreams, as well as the healer’s gift. Even as a young girl she was in demand as a midwife because she could ease the mothers’ pains.

Urrea clearly loves the subject and writes poetically. There is a large cast of characters, though, and the re ...more

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Jun 28, 2009 Kathleen (itpdx) rated it really liked it

A warm, magical, mystical story. Urrea gives the reader so much--a piece of the puzzle of Mexico--the indigenous peoples, the mestizos, the Europeans, the society of classes, the Catholic religion layered on top of the indigenous religions, a glimpse at a small part of the chaotic history of history of Mexico. The meaning of sacredness and what community and nature contribute to it.

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Jan 24, 2012 Alison Rose rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-books, male-authors, poc-authors, all-time-faves, read-in-2012

Oh, the wonders that the written word can bring :) I fell in love repeatedly with this book, with its people and its imagery and its rich and vibrant world. This is some of the most beautiful and poetic prose I've read in some time, and the lovely intermingling of a distinct tangible world and a shimmering surrealist overlay was just to my liking. You can get a perfect picture in your mind of the land and the scenery and the faces Urrea describes, and you can be brought to maybe, just maybe, bel ...more

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Apr 10, 2008 Judi rated it it was amazing

Set in 1880's Mexico. It is the story of a young girl, Teresita, raised by a healer on her father's ranch in Sinaloa. Teresita too has the healing touch and her powers draw many pilgrims to the ranch seeking her help. The Mexican government feels threatened by this "Saint". Very good historical fiction. On the order of Bless Me Ultima. ...more

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