The Memory Keeper

by Larry K. Collins, Lorna Collins

The Memory Keeper is the story of Tomás Romero, a native of the Acjachemen band, whom the Spanish renamed Juaneño. Born in 1820 in San Juan Capistrano, Tomás attends the mission school where, in addition to the catechism, he learns to read, write, and cipher—uncommon for the Indians in San Juan at the time. Because Tomás assists the padres, he becomes aware of the world outside the small religious community. During his lifetime, he experiences the rule of Spain, Mexico, and finally, the United States. He survives drought, floods, plagues, the secularization of the mission property, and its return to the church. He also marries, raises two children, makes many friends, and provides assistance to the priests. He becomes co-owner of a mercantile. Although his story is rich with local history, it is, in the end, an engaging family saga with characters who come alive on the pages.

312 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 2014

About the author

Larry Collins and his wife, Lorna, co-wrote their first book, 31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park, a memoir of building Universal Studios, Japan. They have since written two mysteries:Murder…They Wrote and Murder in Paradise, and are currently working on more in this series.
They wrote The Memory Keeper, a historical novel set in San Juan Capistrano between 1820 and 1890, and are working on a sequel.
Larry’s book of short stories, Lakeview Park, was published in 2011.
He has completed seven books in his McGregor Chronicles sci-fi fantasy series.
He lives in Dana Point, California, visits Hawaii whenever he can, and surfs every weekday.

Reviews

[Martha Cheves · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Keeper - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish




"What is he doing here?" I heard as I worked in the padre's quarters shortly after Maria and I were married. "Tomas helps me." The padre's voice was firm. "I can no longer walk the grounds and warehouses, and he is good at ciphering. Among other tasks he totals the mission products for my reports to the governor." "Well, I'm here now, and I will take care of the mission property. Too many Indians are employed." He took off his jacket and laid it over a chair. Then he turned to me. "You may be able to help me in other ways. Show me to the guest quarters. My family of twenty-two will arrive in a few days. They will require adequate accommodations."




Tomas has just met the new majordomo that would be taking over the mission. And take over is exactly what he did as well as just about run it into the ground. All work that the Padre and the Indians done over the years storing up grains, wine and cattle will no longer be controlled by the Padre but by Santiago Arguello with the work being done by the Indians as he makes his own family comfortable.




In the 1800s Indians were not allowed to be taught reading and writing but Fray Barona saw something in Tomas that prompted him to teach the young boy in secret, allowing him to help with the record keeping at the mission. Unknown to Tomas, this would later lead to a future unexpected by most Indians of that time.




I'm from the South and the southern history tells of the slaves and eventually their freedom but we're taught very little about the Indians and the slavery they actually lived through. Even more so, we hear very little about the Southwestern Indians that were in a fact, slaved by the Spaniards/Mexicans. This book has become an eye opener for me. I've found it quite interesting to read their trials as they go from the uneducated to educated. As they go from what were called property owners but the slavery that went along with that ownership in the form of all proceeds going to the government. And as they evolve in their freedom as they become citizens of the United States when California becomes a state.





This has been a very enjoyable reading in history but it has also been a heart touching reading as I followed the family of Tomas' mother as she lives in her old native ways and his father as he tries to bring her into the newer ways of the mission.

[Linda Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been enthralled by the history of Southern California for a long time, and when a book such as The Memory Keeper comes to my attention, I start reading. What a fabulous piece of historical fiction. The Collins’ have developed characters that are difficult to let go once you reach the very last page and you want the authors’ to write the next chapter in this family’s saga. Their book is rich with historical detail from the advent of the Spanish missions, through the upheavals by Spain, Mexico, and the US, and their descriptive writing style makes you feel you are there. The story of the Romero family captured my heart; so much loss to endure, yet with such strength. This is a wonderful read by anyone who loves history, historical fiction, or just a darn good read. I can only hope that the authors of The Memory Keeper choose to continue writing this family’s story. There is also a lot of history from 1890 forward that happened at beautiful San Juan Capistrano.

[Patricia Cleary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Keeper is an engrossing saga that follows the life of Tomás Romero, a Juaneño Indian and his family in California during the eighteen hundreds. This well-researched novel describes a multi-cultural environment that included Spanish clergy, Mexican colonizers, American, Irish and German settlers and the Juaneño and Luiseño and other Native American groups who were among the original inhabitants of Southern California. The Memory Keeper would be an invaluable addition to any middle or high school history curriculum. As a former middle school teacher and principal I see The Memory Keeper as a welcome accompaniment to other such novels that maintain needed records of California’s past and feature Native Americans as their central characters such as Ramona and The Island of the Blue Dolphins.

[Pamela Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Keeper is a work of fiction, but the writing is so compelling and the history so vivid it is hard to remember one is reading a novel and not a history book.
The narrator is Tomas, a man born in 1820 who has reached the age of 70. He has lived his entire life in San Juan Capistrano and is telling its story as he and his family experienced it. The detail brings this book to life and we feel his joy and sadness as events unfold.
For those who find history dry, but have a compelling curiosity about life in one of the original settlements of California, this is the right book for you. Lorna and Larry Collins are talented writers who know their subject and love their town. And Tomas will lead you by the hand and take you on a journey into the past that you will long remember

[Glenys · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. A fictional family saga based on true facts in the history of San Juan, it tells the story simply. It begins with Tomas as a child learning to read, write and calculate at the mission school which had to be kept from general knowledge as it was not permitted that Indians have these skills. He uses his skills to help the brothers and priests at the mission.
This education give him the opportunity to advance and he becomes a partner in a general store while his family grows and spreads. He becomes a contented old man with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren although there are many harsh times and losses along the way.

In Tomas' lifetime he witnesses the civil war, the statehood of California, the development of towns and cities with the coming of the railroad. San Juan Capistrano is sheltered from many of these events but it remains a frontier outpost for Americans traveling west.

The story was easy to read and an insight into a place about whose history I knew nothing at all.

[Lorna Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family Saga With Accurate History

This book follows the Romero family from 1820 through 1890 in San Juan Capistrano, California. The book chronicles the actual history of Mission San Juan Capistrano from the peak of its success through its near ruin. But it is truly the story of a family as they live through the events of this period. You will come to live the characters and gain a new perspective on the events of the era.

[Lynette French · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking forward to more books

This book was recommend to me by Roger Royal. I believe a cousin. I was intrigued because I love history and the California Missions. Have visited most. This story was phenomenal. I absolutely loved it. Can't wait for the sequence. I will be reading more of your books.