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. Find her online at her blog, Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz, and on Facebook's La quinceañera club books de Belinda Acosta fan club.
drey's thoughts:
Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz is, at its core, a story about a mother and daughter rediscovering their way back to each other. Ana Ruiz is trying to hold it together, to keep things as normal as possible for Diego and Carmen. But Carmen's not playing ball, and is downright witchy to her mom. Boy, if I talked to my mom like Carmen does here, I probably wouldn't be here blogging... Ok, make that DEFINITELY wouldn't be here blogging...
Belinda Acosta has created very real characters in this book, from antagonistic Carmen to Diego's attempts to be the man of the house. And Ana Ruiz. What a complex woman she is--so strong at the core, yet so conflicted between trying to keep doing what's best for her children, and what's good for her. Pulled into different directions by those around her, she still manages to blaze her own trail.
LOVED it. Couldn't put it down, I even guessed at what all the Spanish words meant because I didn't want to put the book down to go look the words up--that would've interrupted my reading time!
Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have up to five copies of Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: Did (or do) you know what a quinceañera is? Did you have one? If you did, what was it like? I didn't--to both questions. Until I watched Quinceañera, a 2006 movie about a girl, growing up, and family.
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Every 10 people entered gets another copy in the hat, so tell everyone! =)
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST August 27th. Good luck!
Tour stops:
August 10
You Gotta Read Reviews
Starting Fresh
Foreign Circus Library
Latinitas
authorslatino.com
August 11
Peeking Between the Pages
Books and Needlepoint
Bookin' with Bingo
My Own Little Corner of the World
Readaholic
August 12
Review from Here
Falling off the Shelf
Brimful Curiosities
I Heart Monster
Half Deserted Streets
August 13
One Person's Journey Through a World of Books
Booksie's Blog
Cheryl's Book Nook
Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
books! reviews and giveaways
August 14
Radiant Light
The Brain Lair
drey's library
A Journey of Books
Writing to Insanity
August 15
Jenn's Bookshelf
This Book For Free
A Book Blogger's Diary
Beth's Book Review Blog
Park Avenue Princess
Bookmagic
51 comments:
No, I didn't have one and have never attended one, but I did know what they are as my brother has attended a quinceañera. I can imagine the mother/daughter storyline is powerful-it can be a rebellious age for a girl and something that traditional could be a sticking point in any family!
Thanks for hosting a giveaway! Would love to win!
JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com
No to both questions...but I'd love to read the book to find out what it is. Count me in please.
kkhaas AT bellsouth DOT net
+1 I am already a follower
kkhaas AT bellsouth DOT net
Thanks for this delightful giveaway. I had heard about a quinceanera and read about it but have never attended one. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I didn't know what a quinceañera was until I started reading the reviews for this. I'd love to be entered.
I subscribe through FeedDemon.
carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com
I *do* know what one is because I live in Tucson where it is a very big deal. I don't know much about it though besides seeing all the ads for fancy dresses in the newspapers, so I'd love to read a book about it!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I follow on Google Reader!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I have heard of a quinceañera, but have never been to one. Thanks for the great giveaway.
+1 I follow with Google Reader.
dlodden at frontiernet dot net
No to both questions! I have heard the word but don't know!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I did know what a quinceanera is, but I've never been to one and didn't have one. milou2ster(at)gmail.com
I know what one is but I never had one or attended one. I am a follower.
I think a quincenara is like a big sweet 16 or debutante ball. I did not have one although my daughter probably will as my husband is Filipino and I know a "debut" is very important for girls in his culture.
melacan at hotmail dot com
follower
melacan at hotmial dot com
I have no idea what a quinceañera is so my answer would be "no" to both questions.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
I am a follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
I previously had no idea what a quinceañera was...
Looks like a good book, please enter me into this drawing.
I'm also a follower via Blogger.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
I had no idea what a quinceanera was
count me in sounds great
thanks
wadesherry@hotmail dot com
i follow
wadesherry@hotmail dot com
Sounds like a great book. I do know what a quinceanera is. I'm sure I read about it in a book somewhere becuase I certainly have never been to one. Raised in the midwest we didn't see very many different cultures than our own.
I do know what a Quinceanera is! I've never been to one and never had one myself. Thanks for this giveaway and please count me in
chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow your blog.
chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com
I didnt know what a quinceanera was until I searched it on google and never had one.
jen4777[at]hotmail.com
I do know what a quinceanera is, but I have never had one. My daughter has gone to one, but not me. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net
Nope I have no idea what a quinceanera is! Thanks for the chance to read this book. unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com
I loved this book! My sister-in-law took my copy, but I'd like to enter the contest for my mother. Is that possible?
+2 I blogged about your contest here
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-review-damas-dramas-and-ana-ruiz.html
+1 I'm a follower
+1 I didn't have a quinceanera and only heard of them recently. This book was my first real exposure to them.
Yes I know what they are-but never attended one.
thanks
chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com
blogged about it at
chocolateandcroissants.blogspot.com
chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com
No I do not know what a quinceanera is. Don't know if I've ever had one.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com
I'm a follwer.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com
Yes I've heard of it before, but I haven't been to one! Thanks for the giveaway!
coolnatty12(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow your blog!
coolnatty12(at)yahoo(dot)com
I did know what is was but I have never been to one. I do see the beautiful dresses and know the young ladies must feel so special. I follow on your site - starting to read african american christian fiction.
I do know what a quinceanera is because I taught ESL and many of my students were Hispanic. I didn't have one, but I did have a Sweet Sixteen.
Please enter me to win. Any chance of getting +1 entry for subscribing via email?
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
I inclduded this in a post.
http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/giveaways-in-blogland-13/
carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com
The teen got invited to one but I haven't heard of a quinceanera before that. Also saw a Disney channel episode of Wizards of Waverly Place 2 weeks ago featuring Selena Gomez having a quinceanera!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm a follower!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
I did know what a quinceañera was, but never had one myself.
+1 follower
I didn't have one. But I have been to a few. They were great fun they were huge like weddings.. great food, dancing, the family dances were so touching. I follow. :) I'd love to win this one.
I've also blogged about this giveaway here.
Thanks,
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
I knew what was one because my friend was in one and it took lots of preparation. I did not have one.
I'm also a follower! Thanks!
allygotts567 at hotmail dot com
I didnt have one but do know what it is.
allygotts567 at hotmail dot com
thanks!
I have heard of them but did not have one.
I am a follower.
budletsmom at yahoo dot com
No to both questions.
lag110@mchsi.com
I am a new follower.
lag110@mchsi.com
No, I have no idea what it is. But I would love to read this book. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
I am a follower!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
I know what a quinceanera is but I have not ever been to one
Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I shared your giveaway here
http://coolcanucks.ca/19548-dreys-library-damas-dramas-ana-ruiz-belinda-acosta-book-giveaway-aug27-canada
Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I've heard of a quinceañera, but I don't know what it is.
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
I have heard of them but didn't know much about them!
marielay@gmail.com
I am a follower.
marielay@gmail.com
Post a Comment
have a thought to share? I love comments!