Stories from Puerto Rico by Robert Muckley, Adela Martinez-Santiago
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Book Reviews of Stories from Puerto Rico
Book Review: Puerto Rico's Tales & Legends in One Book
Summary: 5 Stars
As a compilation of 18 legends, true-life experiences, and mysteries, "Stories from Puerto Rico," provides that reader with a wide array of stories all relating to the island's folklore and supernatural occurrences. The book's bilingual text, allowing both English and Spanish-language readers to enjoy these tales and accounts. The chronological order of these stories also is beneficial to classify which legends/accounts are recent and which are from the Spanish-colonial era. The tales in this book goes as follows:(1) Creation {Pre-Colombian tale}: Discusses the Taino Indians (original island inhabitants) belief on how their gods created the Antilles.
(2) The Death of Salcedo {1511}: True-life tale of the murder of a Spanish conquistador by the Tainos, who wanted to determine whether or not he was a god. The drowning of this man in an island river helped the natives realize that the Spaniards were not from heaven.
(3) Guanina {1511}: A legend similar to a Puerto Rican version of Romeo & Juliet. Spanish conquistador-Taina love story ending in tragedy.
(4) The Miracles of Our Lady of Monserrate {1600}: The apparition of the Virgin in the town of Hormigueros caused many to build a shrine in her honor. Similar to the apparition of the Virgin in Lourdes and Fatima, this one was different because it involved the image of the Virgin of Monserrate, the black virgin who is the patron saint of Catalonia (Spain).
(5) The Snake's Curve {1700}: a legend involving a witch's curse that turned a woman from the town of Guayama into a snake.
(6) The Devil's Sentry Box {1790}: A legend that took place in San Juan involving the disappearances of several Spanish soldiers guarding the city from a Sentry House near San Cristobal Castle.
(7) & (8) Cofresi, Parts I & II {1824}: A tale of a Puerto Rican "Robin Hood". The tale is divided into two chapters.
(9) Carabali {1830}: An account of a slave fleeing from Spanish slavery.
(10) Lola de America {1858}: The life of Lola Rodriguez de Tio, one of Puerto Rico's most famous poets, and the author of the island's national anthem..
(11) Elena of the Holy Mountain (1900): The apparition of this ghostly figure in the town of San Lorenzo uses warns people of an impending storm.
(12) Esperanza (1910): The legend revolving a statue of a dog on a San Juan beach.
(13) Guayama, Witch City (1940): A report on witchcraft activities in the town of Guayama.
(14) The Miraculous Well (1953): The reported sighting of the Virgin Mary in the town of Sabana Grande, who appeared to a group of schoolchildren to tell them that the water from a well would have miraculous healing powers.
(15) The Specter (1970): The reported sightings of a ghost in the town of Patillas.
(16) Extraterrestrials (1975): Actual accounts of alien and UFO encounters throughout the island.
The final section of the book contains the popular folklore tales of Foolish Jack" ("Juan Bobo) and "Friend Rabbit" ("Compadre Conejillo"), which are well-known throughout the island. The author also includes a brief history of the island's original inhabitants, the Tainos, as well as a bilingual Spanish-English dictionary for reference. This book makes an excellent book for anyone interested in Puerto Rican culture and/or who wants to learn either Spanish or English using side-by-side texts. The author has done a great job of capturing most of the island's tales all in one book!
Book Review: Reviews from California : Repasos de California
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this book to be very helpful in two important ways: widening my perspective of Latin culture, and bettering my Spanish reading comprehension. The 18 stories are each short enough to keep the reader interested in the story, but filled with enough vocabulary to keep him or her constantly learning. Plus, the reader that is a little shaky can use the opposite page in English as a crutch, and there is also an index of vocabulary in the back of the book if one would prefer that approach. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to further their vocabulary, while at the same time broaden their cultural perspective.Book Review: Great stories for teachers!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a teacher in PR, we always talk about these stories and most of the students are familiar with them in Spanish. These are great teaching tools to use in the English classroom. This also could be said for those trying to learn or teach Spanish in the States (or PR). These stories are commmon legends here on the island. Anyone you meet has a different tale or twist to it. It was nice to read, easy too, and there is an insight to island lore and culture that for outsiders you can get just anywhere. Enjoy!Book Review: The Best Stories in the World
Summary: 5 Stars
I recommend this book to all people, especially the Puerto Ricans, because it talks about our roots, our culture and our different ethnic origins. After you read this book you will understand our Spanish people more, know about our needs and be more understandable of Puerto Rican people.
My best regards to Robert L. Muckley and Adela Martínez-Santiago for their great job in this wonderful book.
Book Review: Books for Young Students with Puerto Rican Heritage
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book for a student of mine with Puerto Rican heritage. He loved having Spanish on one side and English on the other. He was not an avid reader, but he loved this book so much that he read it in a week or so.
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