Tuesday, August 11, 2009

DAMAS, DRAMAS, AND ANA RUIZ TOUR, REVIEW, & GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER
DAMAS, DRAMAS, AND ANA RUIZ

BLOG TOUR
BY BELINDA ACOSTA


ABOUT THE BOOK:

All Ana Ruiz wanted was to have a traditional quinceañera for her daughter, Carmen. She wanted a nice way to mark this milestone year in her daughter's life. But Carmen was not interested in celebrating. Hurt and bitter over her father Esteban's departure, she blamed Ana for destroying their happy family, as did everyone else. A good man is hard to find, especially at your age Ana was told. Why not forgive his one indiscretion? Despite everything, Ana didn't want to tarnish Carmen's childlike devotion to her beloved father. But Ana knows that growing up sometimes means facing hard truths. In the end, Ana discovers that if she's going to teach Carmen anything about what it means to be a woman, it will take more than simply a fancy party to do it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Belinda Acosta lives and writes in Austin, Texas where she is a columnist for the Austin Chronicle. Her non-fiction has appeared in Poets & Writers, Latino USA, the Radio Journal of News and Culture, AlterNet, the San Antonio Current, and Latino Magazine. She is a member of Macondo, the writers' collective launched by acclaimed writer Sandra Cisneros. She loves knitting, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, chips & salsa, mariachi (good, make your soul leap from your body, mariachi); conjunto music (todo old school), and given the opportunity, will square dance. Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz is her first novel.

FROM BELINDA ACOSTA'S BLOG:
QUINCEANERA DRESSES
"Speaking of "living color," check out this pretty palette of dresses in the photo. This was taken at the end of the fashion show at the Quince Expo & Latina Bridal Festival I appeared at last weekend in Austin, Texas. The expo is not your typical "book event," but I had to go when the invite was warmly offered by event planner (and sister las comadres member) Cindy Benavides. If there was any doubt that anyone heard me, those doubts were dashed when en eager bunch of young women and their mothers came up after I read to find out more about the book. Looks like there's a bright future for the Quinceañera Club series. Eso!"

MY REVIEW OF...
DAMAS, DRAMAS, AND ANA RUIZ:


Always curious about just what a quinceanera is, this was a great book for me! It is somewhat like a Sweet Sixteen party, when a girl celebrates a special time in her young adult life. The difference however is the quinceanera in the Hispanic culture is a celebration when a girl turns 15 and has more emotional and spiritual connotation attached to it.

The book starts when Ana Ruiz is a young mom with Carmen, her fourteen year old daughter, and who is working hard to handle the recent separation from her husband. Along with that, she must deal with work and how Carmen is very upset about all of this with her parents. Carmen is very vocal about it and blames her mother for it all. Ana thinks the
quinceanera might be a way to make things better with Carmen but Carmen wants no part of it.

Luckily, Bianca, who is Ana's niece, becomes the party planner and helps to keep peace between Carmen and Ana, at least somewhat. Diego, who is Carmen's older brother, also begins to understand his father's leaving and what his mother went through so also tries to help keep the peace. Planning Carmen's
quinceneanera acts as the basis of the drama going on in this family. I found it interesting that the book focused on Ana Ruiz and what she was going through in trying to continue her education and being a strong and confident woman.

The story is very touching as well as humorous. The characters are well developed and they are facing real life problems that all families face...not just Hispanic families. Parts of the story have short Spanish phrases in it and Spanish words but using context clues in reading allows for even non-Spanish speaking readers to understand what is going on. I liked the book and even the complications of the cultures are explained and what helped me to understand so much more. Acosta handles this well and I believe this is part of a series and if so, I am certainly looking forward to it!
GIVEAWAY
I have 5 copies of this book to
give away thanks to Miriam and
the Hachette Book Group!

RULES:
U.S. and Canadian residents only
No P. O. Boxes, Please
Include your Email Address in your comment
ALL COMMENTS/ENTRIES MUST BE SEPARATE
OR THEY WILL ONLY COUNT AS ONE

HOW TO ENTER:
+1 ENTRY: Comment below telling something you find interesting about this book and why you want to win it.

+1 MORE ENTRY: Comment on if you follow and where/how, or follow by joining through the Google Friend Connect in the left column of this blog

+5 MORE ENTRIES: Enter one other of my giveaways and then come back here after it is approved and posted, and tell me the contest and what number your entry is.

ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE BY
6 PM, EST, AUGUST 29

GOOD LUCK!

46 comments:

Pam said...

I think it's interesting that this book is told from the mother's point of view as from the description it almost sounds like it is the daughter's story. Isn't it amazing how we mothers get blamed for everything though?

+ follower

+ entered Your Roots are Showing (comments 9, 10); Tall Tales & Wedding Veils (11); Mandela etc. (2); America Libre (3, 4); The Lost Dog & Blue Star (9) and the Back to School giveaways (10)

melacan at hotmail odt com

holdenj said...

Like you, I think reading about the family's tradition of holding a quincenera would be fun. My brother went to a co-worker's daughter's and said it was an awesome day, lots of food, family and friends.

JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

Thanks!

holdenj said...

+1 Yes, I follow through GFC!

JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

Thanks.

holdenj said...

+5 I entered the Fear the Worst giveaway and seem to be the #9 comment.

Thanks!

JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

Bingo said...

I highlighted the ENTRIES being separate as the counter numbers them for me that way. Pam, don't worry as you were first and I hadn't highlighted that part of the directions so you are OK!

Debbie said...

I have always been fascinated by this tradition and would love to read more about it.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail(dot)com

Debbie said...

I'm a google follower.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail(dot)com

Jo-Jo said...

I love reading about how other cultures celebrate traditions. I have a neice that had a quincenera a few years ago and it sure looked like they had a good time.

I also follow you through google.

joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

The conflict between Ana and Carmen sounds like an interesting story. I would like to win the book beause I haven't ever read anything by Belinda Acosta before and I like to read new authors' books.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower through Google Reader.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

traveler said...

Thanks for this interesting and unique book. I am fascinated with this tradition and reading the book wold be wonderful.saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

bermudaonion said...

I love to learn about other cultures, so I'd love to be entered in this giveaway. milou2ster(at)gmail.com
+1 I subscribe in Google Reader

Ana Manrique said...

Uniquely Quince LOVES this book!!!

Review does the book justice as well.

Nicely done. Good to see more presence from Hispanic authors as well.

~Ana Manrique (Ask Ana)
www.uniquelyquince.com

Making your quinceanera as unique as you are!

kalynnick said...

The book looks like something I would enjoy reading.

Jenny N. said...

I like that the book is telliing both the mother's story and the
daughter's story.

-I follow you on google reader

-also entered the "To Seduce A Sinner" giveaway (comment #11)

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

tawndam said...

this book sounds interesting as a 'real' situation that many can relate to these days... I really want to win this

tawndam said...

blogger follower

tawndam said...

+5 I'm entered for 'Fear the Worst' #4

DarcyO said...

I would like to learn more about the quinceneanera celebration. My daughter is nearing that age, so this book may give me some insight as to what to expect in the next year or so.


dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

+ follower with Google Reader

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

+ entered many of your great giveaways, including Benny & Shrimp (#13)

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Anonymous said...

I am very interested in Hispanic culture. This story sounds extremely insightful, especially told from the perspective of the parent.

I entered many of your giveaways, including Labor Day. My entry is #31.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Debbie F said...

I would love to read this book! Mother/Daughter stories are great!

I follow - google reader
I have enter, probably all your other giveaways - Fear the worst - #29.
thanks for all that you do!
dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Victoria said...

It just sounds like a good book!

victoriah40@yahoo.com

Victoria said...

I just entered for Your Roots Are Showing! I'd love to read that one too!

Thank you!

victoriah40@yahoo.com

Victoria said...

I follow!

victoriah40@yahoo.com

starryann2000 said...

I found the comments about the girls coming out party interesting. I also felt that the mother was trying to do the best by her daughter that she could and was walking a fine line between protecting her daughter from hard truths and letting her grow up and see reality for what it was. I would like to read this to see what happens because I know how hard it is to make decisions affecting your children. Starryann2000@yahoo.com

Debs Desk said...

One thing I find interesting is she lives in Texas and so do I. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

catss99 said...

I've always heard about quinceañeras but never knew much about them so this would be great to read
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

catss99 said...

i'm a follower through blogger
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

Natalie A. said...

I would like to have this book because it sounds like a good book to read! I also can relate to some of it so it'd be nice to read that way! Thanks for the chance!
coolnatty12@yahoo.com

Natalie A. said...

I follow your blog! Thanks!
coolnatty12@yahoo.com

Admin said...

badassfemmes at yahoo dot com

BevE said...

It's always interesting to read about other cultures and about coming of age-that's always a rough time for kids and parents alike-it's nice to see happy beginnings into adulthood :D

+ follower

BevE
merryweatherbookblog@gmail.com

CherylS22 said...

I find the title of the book interesting. I'd like to read this book because I know nothing about quinceanera & am curious.
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

CherylS22 said...

I follow via Google Friend Connect
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

CherylS22 said...

+5 I entered the "Dark Hunger" contest & am entries 41,42 & 43
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Rebecca N. said...

Hmmm...this sounds like real life for a lot of folks! I'm really curious to know how mom teaches daughter. I admire mom for not wanting to destroy the daughters childhood admiration of her father.

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Rebecca N. said...

I follow your blog on google friend connect!

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Rebecca N. said...

I entered for YOUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING by Elise Chidley

Comment #'s 68 and 69

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

entry 1

Rebecca N. said...

I entered for YOUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING by Elise Chidley

Comment #'s 68 and 69

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

entry 2

Rebecca N. said...

I entered for YOUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING by Elise Chidley

Comment #'s 68 and 69

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

entry 3

Rebecca N. said...

I entered for YOUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING by Elise Chidley

Comment #'s 68 and 69

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

entry 4

Rebecca N. said...

I entered for YOUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING by Elise Chidley

Comment #'s 68 and 69

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

entry 5

Anonymous said...

I always wanted to know about this ethnic ceremony

Anonymous said...

I follow on gcf

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