Official Review: Pursuing a Better Tomorrow
Posted: 20 May 2019, 05:01
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Pursuing a Better Tomorrow" by Blanca De La Rosa.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Pursuing a Better Tomorrow is authored by Blanca M. De La Rosa. She writes especially for her children and grandchildren so that they may be inspired by the story of their ancestors and forge ahead with confidence. What I most like about this book is that Blanca offers a balanced view of immigration and all that it entails.
It is the beginning of the 20th century. José lives in rural Galicia. The Spanish government requires boys to serve in the military, which he really abhors. Hence, with his parents’ blessings, the young boy leaves home and country to travel to Cuba. He lives recklessly for several years before moving once again to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and marries a businesswoman named Maria. The marriage sadly ends in divorce, and José moves on with his daughter, Carla, to start a new life. She is the apple of his eye, but he is blinded by his love for Bienvenida. She convinces him to send Carla to a boarding school. Later in life, José’s eyes are opened. Carla falls in love with Sam, and the couple immigrates to New York in 1963. It has a small Hispanic population. The family struggles to adapt to the new language, work, and culture. However, the government is stable, and they manage to settle down and prosper. She joins the Jehovah’s Witnesses and changes completely. José finds the opportunity to go back to Galicia to meet his brother, Miguel, and see his ancestral home. In 1979, he is in New York with Carla. He must cope with the shock of an urban lifestyle.
Finally, the author (Carla’s daughter) comes in the picture and narrates how she adapts to the new life in America, wondering what would have happened if she and her family hadn’t immigrated to the country. She shares her spirituality and how she finds meaning in life as a working woman. The rest of the story is very interesting and hilarious with a more positive tone, in spite of the ups and downs in her family life. Blanca’s message is clear: Believe in yourself, dare to dream and reach out for the stars! “What would you give up today for a better tomorrow?” she asks. People often immigrate for basic needs in life that we ourselves take for granted. Some assimilate, whereas others are too nostalgic to adapt to the new environment.
The novelist is creative in her depiction of the story of three generations that live within the span of a century and describes their lives in Spain, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and the USA. The stories are not at all monotonous. They evoke mixed emotions in the reader. After reading this book, one can understand what forces families and sometimes children alone to flee from home to search for a better future in a strange land. I appreciate the author’s analysis of the risks involved in such journeys and how they involve separation from all that one holds dear. She conscientizes the reader that there may or may not be a community of older immigrants to support and help in adjusting to a new culture and environment. By bringing in the psychological aspect, Blanca shows how there is a sense of being uprooted and confusion of identity. The way she explains the coming of age of the characters and their moral development is excellent.
The concerns of immigrants are very close to my heart. This novel raises some new questions that I would like to explore further. What I disliked most in the story is how Carla takes refuge in the Jehovah’s Witnesses to gain a sense of belonging and withdraws herself from the rest of society, which she finds threatening. Every personality reacts differently to the challenges involved in immigration. Perhaps it is even more difficult today for forced migrants than it was a century ago. This theme is very relevant. The stories of immigrants are heart-wrenching, but we see the hope in their eyes, which takes them forward. It may take several generations for people to fully adapt and feel at home in a foreign land.
Pursuing a Better Tomorrow is entertaining as well as inspiring. The author’s tone is very motivating. For all the reasons described above, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It seems to be professionally edited, and I did not find any grammatical errors. I am happy to recommend this book for teenagers and adults who are interested in this theme. It will also benefit social workers, pastors, chaplains, doctors, nurses, and psychologists who are involved in serving immigrants.
******
Pursuing a Better Tomorrow
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Pursuing a Better Tomorrow is authored by Blanca M. De La Rosa. She writes especially for her children and grandchildren so that they may be inspired by the story of their ancestors and forge ahead with confidence. What I most like about this book is that Blanca offers a balanced view of immigration and all that it entails.
It is the beginning of the 20th century. José lives in rural Galicia. The Spanish government requires boys to serve in the military, which he really abhors. Hence, with his parents’ blessings, the young boy leaves home and country to travel to Cuba. He lives recklessly for several years before moving once again to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and marries a businesswoman named Maria. The marriage sadly ends in divorce, and José moves on with his daughter, Carla, to start a new life. She is the apple of his eye, but he is blinded by his love for Bienvenida. She convinces him to send Carla to a boarding school. Later in life, José’s eyes are opened. Carla falls in love with Sam, and the couple immigrates to New York in 1963. It has a small Hispanic population. The family struggles to adapt to the new language, work, and culture. However, the government is stable, and they manage to settle down and prosper. She joins the Jehovah’s Witnesses and changes completely. José finds the opportunity to go back to Galicia to meet his brother, Miguel, and see his ancestral home. In 1979, he is in New York with Carla. He must cope with the shock of an urban lifestyle.
Finally, the author (Carla’s daughter) comes in the picture and narrates how she adapts to the new life in America, wondering what would have happened if she and her family hadn’t immigrated to the country. She shares her spirituality and how she finds meaning in life as a working woman. The rest of the story is very interesting and hilarious with a more positive tone, in spite of the ups and downs in her family life. Blanca’s message is clear: Believe in yourself, dare to dream and reach out for the stars! “What would you give up today for a better tomorrow?” she asks. People often immigrate for basic needs in life that we ourselves take for granted. Some assimilate, whereas others are too nostalgic to adapt to the new environment.
The novelist is creative in her depiction of the story of three generations that live within the span of a century and describes their lives in Spain, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and the USA. The stories are not at all monotonous. They evoke mixed emotions in the reader. After reading this book, one can understand what forces families and sometimes children alone to flee from home to search for a better future in a strange land. I appreciate the author’s analysis of the risks involved in such journeys and how they involve separation from all that one holds dear. She conscientizes the reader that there may or may not be a community of older immigrants to support and help in adjusting to a new culture and environment. By bringing in the psychological aspect, Blanca shows how there is a sense of being uprooted and confusion of identity. The way she explains the coming of age of the characters and their moral development is excellent.
The concerns of immigrants are very close to my heart. This novel raises some new questions that I would like to explore further. What I disliked most in the story is how Carla takes refuge in the Jehovah’s Witnesses to gain a sense of belonging and withdraws herself from the rest of society, which she finds threatening. Every personality reacts differently to the challenges involved in immigration. Perhaps it is even more difficult today for forced migrants than it was a century ago. This theme is very relevant. The stories of immigrants are heart-wrenching, but we see the hope in their eyes, which takes them forward. It may take several generations for people to fully adapt and feel at home in a foreign land.
Pursuing a Better Tomorrow is entertaining as well as inspiring. The author’s tone is very motivating. For all the reasons described above, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It seems to be professionally edited, and I did not find any grammatical errors. I am happy to recommend this book for teenagers and adults who are interested in this theme. It will also benefit social workers, pastors, chaplains, doctors, nurses, and psychologists who are involved in serving immigrants.
******
Pursuing a Better Tomorrow
View: on Bookshelves
Like Renu G's review? Post a comment saying so!