one of my very favorite authors died yesterday

Carlos Fuentes

some of his books are amazing and wonderful

these are my favorites

The Orange Tree, Burnt Water, The Years With Laura Diaz

(he is best known for The Old Gringo

because it was made into an American movie, though it was a great book too)

he was not just a novelist, he was an intellectual in the public arena

he explored the relationship between the ancient fathers and mothers of modern Mexico

the Spanish, the Indians and the Mestizo's

his writing included political as well as literary commentary

he was creative about where Mexico had been

and vocal about where it should be going

he said, "The imagination exists and social commentary exists.

They are not at war with each other."

it is a shame my Spanish will never be good enough

for me to read him in the language he wrote in

but happy to be able to read him at all

he has been a great inspiration in my thinking and writing

I love Mexico and he has tempered my understanding of her

and he is muy guapo, no?

caliente!