Ana Castillo Books

An Anchor Books OriginalCherished for her passionate fiction and exuberant essays, the author hailed by Julia Alvarez as "una storyteller de primera ," and by Barbara Kingsolver in The Los Angeles Times as "impossible to resist," returns to her first love—poetry—to reveal an unwavering commitment to social justice, and a fervent embrace of the sensual world.With the poems in I Ask the Impossible , Castillo celebrates the strength that "is a woman?buried deep in [her] heart." Whether memorializing real-life heroines who have risked their lives for humanity, spinning a lighthearted tale for her young son, or penning odes to mortals, gods, goddesses, Castillo's poems are eloquent and rich with insight. She shares over twelve years of poetic inspiration, from her days as a writer who "once wrote poems in a basement with no heat," through the tenderness of motherhood and bitterness of loss, to the strength of love itself, which can "make the impossible a simple act." Radiant with keen perception, wit, and urgency, sometimes erotic, often funny, this inspiring collection sounds the unmistakable voice of a "woman on fire" and "more worthy than stone."

This groundbreaking collection by Ana Castillo delves into the hidden secrets within households and the effects of patriarchal privilege on women's lives. Through poignant narratives, it reveals the complex behaviors shaped by societal norms and the profound impact on female characters. Castillo's work highlights the struggles and resilience of women navigating these challenges, offering a powerful exploration of personal and collective experiences.

Tome, a seemingly sleepy hamlet in central New Mexico, is vividly brought to life by Ana Castillo, revealing a place filled with wonders and diverse collisions: past and present, real and supernatural, comic and horrific, and the interactions among Native American, Hispano, and Anglo cultures. With a lively and intimate narrative style reminiscent of a Southwestern Cervantes, the author chronicles two decades in the life of a Chicana family. Central to this story is Sofia, who holds the family together after her husband Domingo mysteriously disappears, leaving behind his signature Clark Gable mustache and gambling addiction. The narrative also explores the lives of Sofia's daughters: Esperanza, a Chicana radical turned television news reporter; Caridad, a nurse coping with heartbreak through alcohol and casual encounters; Fe, a bank employee seeking a better life; and la Loca, whose early "death" and miraculous return have left her spiritually attuned. Castillo masterfully blends the mundane with the miraculous, the modern with the archaic, and the tragic with the humorous, creating a rich tapestry of homegrown magical realism infused with sharp commentary, controlled anger, and a distinct feminist perspective. The greatest marvel of all is the achievement of its creator.

A breakthrough novel from the author of the acclaimed "So Far from God"--a lyrical, steamy, and moving story of a love triangle set in the colorful world of flamenco dancing.

Manchmal kann sie fast nicht gehen, aber sie tanzt wie eine Göttin. Carmen, die Hinkende, ist eine Berühmtheit, denn der Flamenco beginnt nicht mit den Füßen, sondern mit dem Herzen.