The remarkable diversity of Latino culture and literature is showcased in this excellent new anthology by Poey, a doctoral student at Louisiana State University, and Suarez ( The Cutter ). Represented in the 29 pieces offered here are Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban, Chilean, Chicano and Chicana writers. All of them live in the United States (many were born here). Because of this, many of the stories struggle with the issue of assimilation, and Spanish words rest comfortably in pieces crafted otherwise in English. Rolando Hinojosa-Smith's story of a retreat by UN forces in Korea leading to high civilian casualties becomes a biting and ironic study of cowardice and self-preservation. Ruldolfo Anaya, in only a few brief pages, manages to give readers both a well-formed character and an eloquent meditation on familial ties and death. Elena Castedo, in her simple story of a Hispanic maid, indicts the casual cruelty of racism and the fragmentary bond of employee to employer. Ricardo Pau-Llosa tells the story of an exile's return to a post-Castro Cuba and proves once again that one can never go home. Incredibly rich, this body of literature deserves to be better known in the dominant culture. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

The term Latino embraces a number of diverse cultures--Mexican-, Puerto Rican-, Cuban-, and Dominican-American--that share common bonds, such as Spanish-English bilingualism, the struggle for cultural survival, and issues of assimilation. This richly varied anthology brings together 29 short stories that reflect different aspects of Latino life from the despair of the barrio to the unease of working within the Anglo status quo, yet also embody humanity's archetypal dramas. These are tales of exile and alienation, pride and shame, generational conflicts, poverty and toil, the pressure to conform, and the urge to escape. A full range of emotions is expressed, from the brooding guilt of Guy Garcia's "Fraser Avenue" and the anger of Abraham Rodriguez, Jr.'s "Roaches" to the somber hope of Jack Lopez's "In the South," the delightful naughtiness of "Confession" by Lionel G. Garcia, and the libidinous hilarity of "My Life as a Redneck" by Gustavo P{{‚}}erez-Firmaty. Judith Ortiz-Cofer's "American History" captures the awkwardness and loneliness of a childhood shadowed by prejudice, while Denise Ch{{ }}avez's "Chata" celebrates the soulful strength of women. In other stories, Latinos anglicize their names, break cultural traditions, take Anglo lovers, realize the emptiness of crossover dreams, and suffer bicultural confusion and dissatisfaction. While each magnetic narrative is unique, they all radiate an aura of deliberateness, astuteness, and power. (Reviewed Sept. 1, 1992)0060553294Donna Seaman

In Iguana Dreams , editors Poey and Suarez have gathered an impressive array of original short stories in English by contemporary Latino fiction writers, from the more established and feted Dominican American Julia Alvarez, Chicana Sandra Cisneros, Texas Mexican Rolando Hinojosa, and Cuban American Elias Miguel Munoz to newcomers Puerto Rican Abraham Rodriguez Jr. and Cuban American Cecilia Rodriguez-Milanes. Some of their stories focus on the interaction between Latinos and Anglos, others explore Latino culture, and still others what Alvarez has described as ``exploring your hyphen'' (her expression for the process of writing from the perspective of two cultures). Some of the stories are as brief as one page, others as long as 32; they average about ten. The Latino fiction writer is emerging as a force in American letters, and this volume provides an excellent introduction to contemporary styles and themes. Highly recommended.-- Harold Augenbraum, Mercan tile Lib., New York (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.