tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post6971389976698811300..comments2024-03-08T03:18:48.591-05:00Comments on Lotus Reads: American Visa by Juan De RecacoecheaLotus Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-71352636739752292612008-11-06T18:36:00.000-05:002008-11-06T18:36:00.000-05:00It is a pity that this Lotus is such an ignorant. ...It is a pity that this Lotus is such an ignorant. <BR/>AMERICAN VISA is a very good book and, as Bolivian, I am proud of it. I am also a friend of Juan, the author, and know that he deserves to be known everywhere. <BR/>But to say all kinds of nonsense about Bolivian books cannot help readers or writers. <BR/>To say that Juan's book is the first Bolivian book to be translated to English in 50 years is not only to be ignorant, it is also to be stupid. Does Lotus believe he is the only reader of Bolivian books?<BR/>I can think of at least 20 Bolivian books translated to English since 1980, not to mention older books. One of those is my Biting Silence, which has not one but two editions. <BR/>With Google and Yahoo in his computer, Lotus has no excuse for his ignorance. What? Is somebody paying him to write as he writes? American Visa does not need that kind of help. <BR/>Lotus, please do your work well or keep your mouth shut. You are not helping anybody with this kind of stories.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-79280383533349996872007-07-17T19:07:00.000-04:002007-07-17T19:07:00.000-04:00I have quite a sweet tooth, unfortunately, Lotus. ...I have quite a sweet tooth, unfortunately, Lotus. You do need *lots* of water with cocadas!! Milk probably would be a good drink to tone them down a bit, too, but I guzzled water. :)Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-7499965816820069812007-07-16T10:59:00.000-04:002007-07-16T10:59:00.000-04:00Hi, Nancy!You are quick! :) So glad you were able...Hi, Nancy!<BR/><BR/>You are quick! :) So glad you were able to make the cocadas, I meant to make them on the weekend, but didn't get to it...my ingredients are sitting on my kitchen shelf. Thank you so much for the visit and for trying the candy, hope it wasn't too sweet for you. Sometimes I forget that not everybody likes really sweet treats. Most Indian sweets tend to be very sweet, so my sweet tooth is accustomed to rather large doses of sugar, help!!!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-67322929258336024692007-07-15T21:43:00.000-04:002007-07-15T21:43:00.000-04:00Update: The husband was heading to the grocery st...Update: The husband was heading to the grocery store, so I printed the recipe out and he got the ingredients. He already cooked them and they're delicious! Now, back onto the treadmill. :)Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-52866456849555813472007-07-15T14:57:00.000-04:002007-07-15T14:57:00.000-04:00Oh, wow, that sounds absolutely fascinating. I'll...Oh, wow, that sounds absolutely fascinating. I'll have to look for it. And, the coconut candy sounds a bit sinful. I'm printing it out. Thanks for yet another fabulous review.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-22141311050736604472007-07-14T08:42:00.000-04:002007-07-14T08:42:00.000-04:00@jenclair ~ I have a strong feeling you will love ...@jenclair ~ I have a strong feeling you will love the book, but the ex-school teacher and a love of Chandler are the only commonalities you share with the protagonist. Mario Alvarez is not the most likable person around, but you, you are the best!<BR/><BR/>@Tara ~ Thank you for the update. What a fascinating family! It will be interesting to see how everyone adjusts to the United States, I am sure the kids will love North America! Thank you for telling your friend about the book!<BR/><BR/>@Sanjay ~ Ahhh true, in those days connections were not as swift as they are today, right? lol@ mixing up Bavaria with Bolivia, it's easy enough to do I guess! :) <BR/><BR/>@gs ~ Thank you for your nice comment! Funny how every non-American seems to have a visa story worth telling! <BR/><BR/>@Framed ~ So happy to see you here! I discovered this gem on the BBC World News. They were interviewing the translator, Adrian Althoff and when I realized it was about Bolivia AND immigration, I knew I wanted to read it and I am glad I did!<BR/><BR/>@Gautami ~ Sorry! I haven't been as active in the blogosphere as I would like. It's summer holidays here and the kids keep me busy. Come September and god willing everything will be back on track. Glad to see you are reading so much!!!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-22440227333727032552007-07-14T01:00:00.000-04:002007-07-14T01:00:00.000-04:00Oh no! Another to add to my never ending read list...Oh no! Another to add to my never ending read list!<BR/><BR/>And Angel, where are you. I have been posting like mad on my reading room blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-47647901968023869702007-07-13T23:08:00.000-04:002007-07-13T23:08:00.000-04:00Where do you find such interesting books? This on...Where do you find such interesting books? This one is defintely one I want to read. Sounds fascinating.Framedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13703547279309902320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-76577060201249304012007-07-13T07:44:00.000-04:002007-07-13T07:44:00.000-04:00that was a great review,lr.having faced the trauma...that was a great review,lr.having faced the trauma of getting visa for l when she went to the us for her undergrad studies,i can empathise with the protogonist of the novel.thanks to your reviews,i have made a long shopping list of books to be bought in the us,if not available here,during h's visit.gshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04576528133434077283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-83800391443372466412007-07-13T07:33:00.000-04:002007-07-13T07:33:00.000-04:00Lotus. It may have been nothing to do with securit...Lotus. It may have been nothing to do with security, my visa was 4 day visa and would have exxpired. But you are right too, things are just not that simple. <BR/>And you know when I was in my teens I would confuse Bavaria and Bolivia? Don't ask why :)karmichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10973922761187532706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-50250416146255640992007-07-12T22:19:00.000-04:002007-07-12T22:19:00.000-04:00Lotus, you are right, immigration will be a non-is...Lotus, you are right, immigration will be a non-issue for them. In fact they have tried it before but the husband has not really been interested in learning English in the past...I think she's glad to be coming back to the US for the sake of the children. I don't think they have much contact with other children; also their life is apparently so primitive that the Mom isn't able to spend the kind of time she'd like to 'teaching' them early childhood things. I hope things work out for them. My friend was very happy to hear of this book, and plans to read it.Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208766776468157501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-21560404340643207032007-07-12T09:36:00.000-04:002007-07-12T09:36:00.000-04:00That the protagonist is a retired school teacher (...That the protagonist is a retired school teacher (ahem) <B>and</B> a fan of Chandleresque detective fiction adds just that personal touch. The opportunity to examine La Paz and reasons for wanting to immigrate are also compelling and, as you mention, current. Thanks for another great suggestion.jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-58563378349568872802007-07-12T07:41:00.001-04:002007-07-12T07:41:00.001-04:00@Amna ~ Here at last, yeay!!! E-mail me ok?*hugs...@Amna ~ Here at last, yeay!!! E-mail me ok?<BR/><BR/>*hugs*Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-60673278734502417772007-07-12T07:41:00.000-04:002007-07-12T07:41:00.000-04:00@Gentle Reader ~ I love books where the city and i...@Gentle Reader ~ I love books where the city and its streets is a character in itself and this is what De Recacoechea does with La Paz. Hope you enjoy the read!<BR/><BR/>@Dewey ~ Sure! Thanks for stopping by!<BR/><BR/>@Iliana ~ The paucity of material from Bolivia was one of the reasons I wanted to read this book, the other was the fact that immigration was the main theme...I love immigration and immigrant stories.<BR/><BR/>@Ms Muffet ~ Thank you for the visit! Hope your library has the book!<BR/><BR/>@Sugarlips ~ Awww, lovely of you to say that! :) I hope your phuphoo gets to see her son soon, how frustrating it must be for her! Things between Britain and the Sub-Continent are not very rosy at the moment, unfortunately.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-25624213470096621782007-07-12T01:17:00.000-04:002007-07-12T01:17:00.000-04:00lotus - i'm here, i'm here!!:)will email you tomor...lotus - i'm here, i'm here!!:)<BR/>will email you tomorrow :)<BR/><BR/>-amnaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-86367292831818753892007-07-11T18:18:00.000-04:002007-07-11T18:18:00.000-04:00Lotus you are a review goddess :)Really enjoyed re...Lotus you are a review goddess :)<BR/><BR/>Really enjoyed reading the review along with droolicious recipe :) It sounds like a great book :)<BR/><BR/>Other day I was talking to my phuphoo in Pakistan. Her son lives in UK and she is trying from past few months to visit him but haven't succeeded yet. Recently they rejected her visa and the way she was blabbing about embassy people was hilarious :)<BR/><BR/>Stay Beautiful...!!Sugarlipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09451250784149136535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-10085380298245950542007-07-11T16:27:00.000-04:002007-07-11T16:27:00.000-04:00that sounds like a really good book! will look it ...that sounds like a really good book! will look it up at the library..ur recipe sounds good too :)Little Miss Muffethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05821867869173580806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-22149313165692434152007-07-11T15:11:00.000-04:002007-07-11T15:11:00.000-04:00My family members have to deal with visas as well ...My family members have to deal with visas as well when they come visit but they've always been fortunate (knock wood!) and have had no problems. I know though that visas/passports can be their own kind of special hell for a lot of people. Anyway, I hadn't heard of this book but sounds great and I'd love to read something set in Bolivia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-77992166138501280162007-07-11T12:35:00.000-04:002007-07-11T12:35:00.000-04:00This sounds really good. I'm going to add it to my...This sounds really good. I'm going to add it to my wishlist. Thanks!Deweyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00395712971920800717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-14844674551155840692007-07-11T12:08:00.000-04:002007-07-11T12:08:00.000-04:00Great post! This sounds like a great book. I'd l...Great post! This sounds like a great book. I'd love to learn about Bolivia's mean streets. And I'm going to try the recipe, too--sounds yummy, thanks!Gentle Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09102364083044797155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-32224834787656725022007-07-11T11:59:00.000-04:002007-07-11T11:59:00.000-04:00@Radha ~ It is, it is! Found it at a Bolivian cul...@Radha ~ It is, it is! Found it at a Bolivian cultural recipe site!<BR/><BR/>@Id ~Thank you! Thank you also for inquiring about the translation..I think it's a very ably translated book and not once did I feel like I was reading a translation,infact, I would so far as to say it reads even better than some books originally written in English! :) And yes, this book was made into a Spanish feature film, but read Sanjay's comments before procuring the DVD. Thanks so much for stopping by Id!<BR/><BR/>@ml~ Thank you! we have similar tastes in books I think! :) Do let me know when you make the cocadas..I hope they are a success!<BR/><BR/>@Jyothsna ~ How nice to have a visit from you! Ofcourse you may blogroll me...I will be stopping by your blog soon too. Hope you won't find it too difficult to get a copy of this book in the UAE?Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-12194807315000219852007-07-11T10:02:00.000-04:002007-07-11T10:02:00.000-04:00Intersting review Lotus. I have come across people...Intersting review Lotus. I have come across people here in UAE who go thru so much for a visa. Education definitely makes a huge difference to obtain a visa, but those without it really struggle. Now I have to get my hands on this book. <BR/><BR/>Do you mind if I blogroll you? Nice recipe too.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03338468510575659800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-21728673780770207632007-07-11T10:01:00.000-04:002007-07-11T10:01:00.000-04:00@Milan ~ Hi! Thanks for sharing your visa story ...@Milan ~ Hi! Thanks for sharing your visa story with us, sadly, many of us have at least one visa horror story to share. At the best of times immigration officials are so cautious and wary of travelers and since 9/11 it has become more so.<BR/><BR/>lol@coca candies! I'm sure there's plenty of that too! ;) Have you read Taras Grescoe's book "The Devil's Picnic"? He has a really interesting chapter on his experience with Bolivian cocoa...I enjoyed reading it!<BR/><BR/>@Chitts ~ I really enjoyed this book..there was so much in there that spoke to me, and even though the protagonist was not the most likable character, I found myself growing very fond of him in the end. Yes, obtaining visas for older people is not the easiest task. Recently, the Canadian embassy in India made the parents of a friend really sweat while they debated their visa...it was granted to them in the end, but it was such a hassle!<BR/><BR/>@beenzzz~ You say it so well. Many of us don't realize how we in North America are perceived until you visit another country or read books by their local writers. I honestly think one of the highlights of this book was actually seeing America through the eyes of the Bolivians...it was more than interesting.<BR/><BR/>@Sai~ That's a great idea! You do have a knack for entertaining anecdotes and I would love to read your visa story...go for it!<BR/><BR/>@Anali ~ I always complain that there are just not enough translations, especially from Bolivia. Not sure what the problem is. Are we not interested in Bolivia? Is their literature somehow more difficult to translate than others? Somehow I would have thought there would be more translations. Hope someone can shed more light on this.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-11089259269776494242007-07-11T09:29:00.000-04:002007-07-11T09:29:00.000-04:00Awesome review, Lotus. What a fascinating topic -...Awesome review, Lotus. What a fascinating topic - well, you always read fascinating books! :)<BR/><BR/>The cocadas looks delicious. I think I'll make it.MLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15818786098417686889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-6319600383424064042007-07-11T08:48:00.000-04:002007-07-11T08:48:00.000-04:00Terrific review. Definitely makes me want to read ...Terrific review. Definitely makes me want to read it. Does the translation take away from the book in any way? I've always been wary of translations so I'm wondering how this one fared?<BR/>Also, I have friends from Bolivia who've watched a movie with the same title and I wonder if it's based on this novel.<BR/>Thanks for sharing another interesting read.Id it ishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10933156607975500727noreply@blogger.com