The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande

This is a quietly unassuming, new-wave Americana memoir.  I’m a big supporter of memoir writers.  This form of writing can be cathartic.  It certainly allows one to better understand oneself and to reflect on the critical moments of one’s life.  Reyna seems to be smart and skilled at painting a scene in words.

Because it is a Latina memoir, we have to expect a little more Spanish language dialog than we normally run across in a fictional coming-of-age novel.  I think the author and editor made the right decision to go against the grain and call this a memoir up front.  That was a brave decision because it certainly limited her potential readership.  I thought it allowed her to more completely be herself, rather than forcing herself to think like a gringa. 

Reyna does an excellent job of writing a believable, pre-school character.  This is unlike last month’s McDermott, who didn’t convince me with her childhood remembrances.  Reyna doesn’t stretch for adult-like memories.  I’m guessing this difference is cultural.  The Latin culture of large families with emotional interactions probably led Reyna to discuss her childhood, the good and the bad, extensively within the family.  McDermott’s character was quiet, unemotional, and detached.

Another thing that seemed to work well for Reyna’s writing was staying on point at being the recording secretary, the diarist for this history.  The temptation is always great when writing a memoir vignette to expand the central character to grand proportions with deep thoughts and contemplative motivations.  Reyna’s life is described as though she were a leaf in the wind: blown this way and that, barely able to make it to the next short-term landing spot.

I thought last winter’s Sonoma County Reads, “Into the Beautiful North”, was a good book that could be enjoyed by teens and so I donated a dozen copies to the County jail system, half in Spanish, half in English.  This book is equally as good, but from a different angle.  “North” was an action-adventure that would be fun for teens; “Distance” is an inspirational book providing hope for those in the struggle to be American.  I’ll be donating three in each language to the Juvenile Justice Center.