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About It's All In The Frijoles
Product description Do you wish you could remember all the words to the childhood songs your grandmother taught you, so you could sing them to your children? Have you ever found yourself repeating the dichos, or proverbs, your parents used to lecture you with? If you are looking for a way to get back in touch with your culture, It's All in the Frijoles is the perfect start. A treasure trove of cherished folktales, lullabies, poems, and dichos, this rich collection of Latino wisdom includes inspiring recollections and anecdotes by well-known and beloved figures, both past and present -- from actor Edward James Olmos and author Isabel Allende to Nobel laureate Octavio Paz and Saint Teresa de Avila. It's All in the Frijoles is certain to evoke with fondness many a childhood memory of essential teachings learned from parents and grandparents, including: *** El hombre debe ser feo, fuerte, y formal. A man should be homely, hardy, and honorable. El consejo de la mujer es poco y él que no lo agarra es loco. The advice of a woman is very scarce and the person who does not heed it is crazy. Pueblo dividido, pueblo vencido. A people divided, a people conquered. *** It's All in the Frijoles captures and perpetuates the essence of Latino tradition and is destined to become a family treasure that is passed down from generation to generation. This legacy of wisdom provides food for thought not only for Latinos but also for people of all other ethnic backgrounds. From Publishers Weekly Emmy-award-winning journalist Nava has produced a collection of poems, old sayings, personal stories, folktales and short quotations drawn from an eclectic array of sources that is guaranteed to be a constant resource for parents who wish to instruct their children in traditional virtues. ("Blood is inherited," Nava's mother told her, "but virtue is acquired.") Divided into chapters with titles such as Responsibility, Respect, Hard Work, Faith, Courage, Justice and Chastity, each section features a host of historical figures, contemporary writers, directors, producers, political figures, artists, actors and entrepreneurs--a veritable who's who of international Latinos that demonstrates the immense influence of this group on American culture. Laced through it all is Nava's commentary on her own life, which, coming as it does from a highly successful journalist and businesswoman (she owns the Ponce-Niacasio Broadcasting Co.), is worth consideration. Despite a tendency to rely on celebrity status as intrinsic proof of virtue, Nava pulls off her lessons of Latino life with charm and old-fashioned grace. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal Nava didn't understand why her terminally ill mother said that frijoles ("beans") were the source of her strength until after her death. "[T]he virtuous life," Nava writes, "is the product of constantly weeding out flaws and weaknesses, just like preparing a good pot of beans." This excellent anthology gathers more than 100 stories, proverbs, poems, speech excerpts, remembrances, and folktalesDorganized under 14 themes of loyalty, honesty, faith, courage, charity, and more. Nava, an Emmy Award-winning TV journalist living in California, believes that las virtudes ("the virtues") convey the essential collective wisdom taught to Hispanic children through the ages. The tone is upbeat and positive throughout, never demanding or moralistic. Short biographies of all 93 contributors (who go back as far as Teresa de Avila and up to present-day politicians, poets, and writers) appear at the end. Far meatier than most chicken soups, this is an excellent choice for family reading that transcends all cultures. In fact, the dichos ("proverbs") would make a delightful book by themselves. Highly recommended for all public libraries.DLinda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review Yolanda Nava's Mexican-born mother would carefully pick over the pinto beans she used to make frijoles de la olla, beans from a clay pot, ensuring perfection each time she created the signature dish. Nava says that character, like cooking, is all in the frijoles: "the virtuous life is the product of constantly weeding out flaws and weaknesses, and choosing right over wrong." Nava's noble collection of stories, dichos (sayings), myths, memories and poems has a "Chicken Soup for the Soul" quality to it, but with a much spicier seasoning. She has sensibly organized the short entries around various values: responsibility, respect, hard work, loyalty, faith, honesty, courage, humility, temperance, prudence, justice, fortitude, chastity and charity. Many of the contributors are famous, such as activist César Chavez, UNIVISI"N anchor Maria Elena Salinas and "Chicago Hope" director Jesus Treviño, while others are ordinary folks reflecting on life and God. Most are present or former Catholics, though some religious diversity exists. Healer-author Don Miguel Ruiz draws upon Toltec universalism by noting that "everything is a manifestation of God" and that every person is Divine. Many of the stories of perseverance and character are touching, such as actor Edward James Olmos's recollections about graduating from high school at the same time as his mother, who had gone back to complete her education. Nava's scrumptious collection of Latino sagacity is missing only the recetas--the recipes. (Beliefnet, May 2000) -- About the Author Yolanda Nava is an Emmy Award-winning television journalist, newspaper columnist, educator, consultant, and community leader. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she has balanced family responsibilities with a career and broad-based community service. She lives in Southern California.
