Esperanza's Box of Saints: A Novel - Softcover

Tony Hillerman A highly original, beautifully written, and heartwarming tale. Rudolfo Anaya A stunning commentary on religion and sex. Carolyn See This novel introduces us to many saints in heaven, and the more interesting -- and struggling -- saints-in-the-making right here on earth. A charming and compassionate fable. Oscar Hijuelos A sweet and entertaining novel by an inventive writer. John Sayles The saints in Maria Amparo Escandon's novel take us on a journey that explores the nature of sin and absolution, the pain of loss, and the resurrection of desire...an enormously compassionate work about a woman who wrestles with her own faith and emerges victorious. Luis Rodriguez Here is a Mexican woman's take on the Odyssean tale: a mother looking for a daughter, guided by a Saint's image on a grime-drenched glass oven door...this motherlove keeps Esperanza from losing her conscience, her beauty, and the purity of her soul. I admire Escandon's telling, a seduction in itself. Sandra Benitez [Escandon] takes us on a spirited journey at once poignant and hilarious. May the Saints bless the innocence and courage of Esperanza Diaz, the novel's inimitable hero, who winds her way through the world toward independence. May the Saints preserve her wit, tenacity, and passion. Ilan Stavans A haunting and hunting tale of spiritual self-discovery wherein a searcher and the object of her search are one and the same. Maria Amparo Escandon writes with enviable assurance and deceitful simplicity. Her style is all about sight, belief, and memory. And her tale is miraculous: it has the weight of a myth and the beauty of a legend. Jorge Ramos anchor, Univision Network A fascinating world where the mystical and the mundane collide...funny, offbeat, and bold...definitely a new landmark in Latin American literature. Laura Esquivel Esperanza's Box of Saints fills our souls with colors and flavors, but more importantly with a sense of genuine, heartfelt candor, born from true faith. With a smile on our face and a pang in our heart, we find renewed hope in Esperanza's quest.

"Esperanza's Box of Saints" is a magical, humorous, and passion-filled odyssey about a beautiful young widow's search for her missing child - a mission that takes her from a humble Mexican village to the rowdy brothels of Tijuana and a rarely seen side of Los Angeles. Rescued from turmoil by her favorite saint, Esperanza embarks on a journey that tests her faith, teaches her the ways of the world, and transforms her from a fervently religious innocent to an independent, sexual, and passionately devout woman.