PEEL MY LOVE LIKE AN ONION
Ana Castillo

One of my favorite books of 2000. It's about Carmen La Coja ("The Cripple"): a Mexican-American living in Chicago, Mexican to Americans, American to Mexicans; Mexican in the Spanish world of flamenco; a cripple in the world of the able-bodied, to say nothing of in the world of dancers; a woman in the macho world of flamenco; a gadje in the gypsy world of flamenco; an artist in a family of wage slaves.

Descriptions of the flamenco world seemed true, as much as I know. Descriptions of performances and parties I know were true. So the descriptions of worlds I really don't know, run-down residence hotels, garment sweat shops, schools for the handicapped, took on tragic reality as well.

I loved the descriptions of the dancers, the musicians, the gypsies, the petty rivalries. I can understand Carmen's resentment of Courtney: Carmen, and most of the other performers, live the world of flamenco. Courtney has taken some lessons and she's good at it, very good, in fact, so she can take starring roles and win audience approval and even gypsy lovers, without ever even realizing she's missed the heart and soul of the dance

The ending was a little awkward, but plausible, especially since everything doesn't work out all at once. Professional and commercial success, yes, but still unresolved family relationships and still confusing love relationships, although the power balances have shifted.

The chapters are titled as lines from a flamenco song, which is a nice touch. And I like the way the story unfolds, from obsessive memory of former love and glory during Carmen's years of harsh reality, back through the past and on to the future. I was puzzled by the Buddhist lines a t the beginning, though, and the brief but undeveloped mention of her time in a southwest New Age community. Without further explanation that just seems implausibly out of character.

ButŠ I loved this book so much I hated to finish it, immediately the next day went back and re-read parts. If it were done well, it could make a beautiful movie.