The Hummingbird's Daughter - My Notes

First Edition: May 2005

Magical Realism

Mexico

Sinaloa/Sonora States

I have tried Magical Realism novels in the past. Although they were written by renown authors, I just couldn't get into all the fantasy/magic/spirituality types of characters and descriptions written into these stories.

Until now. 

This novel has made me laugh and smile as I have connected to these Mexican characters. I like how their connections to their land, language and community gives readers a feeling of fellowship with them. Also, their strength to survive whatever hardship life throws before them is heroic to say the least. They find humor in the most challenging of circumstances and show respect for those who are kind and fair. Although they own little of materialistic value, they live in a wealth of communal traditions and shared hope for the health and well-being of mostly all. 

The story centers on a Rancho Patron (boss,owner,employer), a Young Girl abandoned by her mother, and an Old Healer-Midwife surrounded by peoples in need. Circumstances evolve, challenging each to become more than what they intended to be. Everything and everybody written about in this book comes to life as if being placed right before our reading eyes. And although the historical part of me is suspect of factual events, the mystical, spiritual me is all in on this wonderful narrative of a sometimes-misunderstood era and culture. It is all relevant to what makes up the magic of Mexican dreams and the tight-lipped stories secretly passed down through generations.

Personally, this was for Abuelita Serafina Ross and her herb garden. This was for Grandma Bugg's medicinal home remedies. This was for Fronie Powell the emancipated "southern missy girl".  For Grandma Paylor the "northern midwife," and all the women healers who brought nurturing-comfort and wise-understanding to my ancestral path.

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"Look to the side."

"It is you. Every you, every possible you. Forever, you are surrounded by countless choices of which you are to be. These are your destinies."

Huila touched a globe. It rang softly like a chime. In it, Teresita sat on the train.

"This is your next second," Huila said. 

Teresita turned and stared.

"All of them. Every moment of your life, every instant, looks like this. Do you see? You are always in a universe of choices. Any moment of your life can go in any direction you choose,'"

"How?"

"Learn to choose. "

"How?" 

"Learn to see. This is your life, what it looks like to God. Every second of every day."

"Look to the side."

- from The Hummingbird's Daughter (pg.487)

Book Review of The Hummingbird's Daughter —