Mexican Enough: My Life between the Borderlines

by Stephanie Elizondo Griest

Growing up in a half-white, half-brown town and family in South Texas, Stephanie Elizondo Griest struggled with her cultural identity. Upon turning thirty, she ventured to her mother's native Mexico to do some root-searching and stumbled upon a social movement that shook the nation to its core.

Mexican Enough chronicles her adventures rumbling with luchadores (professional wrestlers), marching with rebel teachers in Oaxaca, investigating the murder of a prominent gay activist, and sneaking into a prison to meet with indigenous resistance fighters. She also visits families of the undocumented workers she befriended back home. Travel mates include a Polish thief, a Border Patrol agent, and a sultry dominatrix. Part memoir, part journalistic reportage, Mexican Enough illuminates how we cast off our identity in our youth, only to strive to find it again as adults -- and the lessons to be learned along the way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel, Latinx, Biography Memoir, Biography

323 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Stephanie Elizondo Griest is a globetrotting author from the Texas-Mexico borderlands. Her six books include: Around the Bloc, Mexican Enough, All the Agents and Saints, and Art Above Everything. Widely anthologized, she has also written for the New York Times, Washington Post, The Believer, BBC, and Oxford American. Her work has won a Margolis Award for Social Justice Reporting. Currently Professor of Creative Nonfiction at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, she has performed as both a Moth storyteller and as a literary ambassador for the U.S. State Department.

Reviews

[Left Coast Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a large number of books about North Americans in Mexico, and this one belongs on a short list of favorites. The author, who seems to be up for pretty much anything, moves down there with some familial introductions and begins the process of learning Spanish while also learning about other ways of life.

Most books about Mexico either fall into the poor-but-noble-peon-teaching-us-a-better-way-of-life or alcohol-soaked beach memoirs. What makes Griest's book so interesting is that she mostly hangs around big-city people on the cusp of adulthood who are trying to make lives for themselves. The one person who seems to not have much to do is the author, and some of her self-awareness in this regard is almost painful to read. The book also wraps up with a lovely conclusion.

I was expecting something polemical rather than observational, but Stephanie Griest is a fine observer.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this books because I had been interested in perhaps writing a memoir or a long article about my life as a Tejana, family ancestors (as they were part of Texas history), and other things. Griest is from Corpus and my generation so I thought it would be good to read her memoir and see what she wrote about so that if I chose to do one of my own I wouldn't repeat things that she already had mentioned. Once I got to the end I realized that though we were both born around the same time and in fairly Mexican American cities, our experiences as Tejanas couldn't be more different. I think this is a good book to read if you are at all interested in Mexican American culture as opposed to Mexican culture, as they are rather distinct. The writing is clear and concise. I read through the book in about a week, and that is on the bus in the mornings and evenings. I have to admit that I didn't agree with all of her points about Mexico but why would I? We have such different experiences.

[Michael Andersen-Andrade · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of an American woman who goes to Mexico as an adult to discover her Mexican heritage and learn Spanish. I really wanted to like this book---I learned to love Mexico and to speak Spanish as an adult, too---but it is so full of cliches and sophmoric observations that I was frequently irritated while reading it. I also found the author's constant mid-sentence translations of even the most basic words to be annoying.

[Priscilla Macias · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was skeptical reading this book because I usually have a hard time identifying with books about Mexican American women (I myself am a Mexican American woman). Either it's too hard-core Mexican or too watered down and portrays women in a "I'm a part of the earth and the water" type of deal. I am personally not that type of Mexican American women, so I always approach these types of books with caution and am a pretty hard sell. However, I read the book and I related to it WAY more than I expected. There were some parts of the book that lost my interest, but I think that it's kind of a good thing because her topics were comprehensive enough to have a little something for everybody. I came into the book wanting to read a book of memoirs about feelings and emotions. Not only did I get that, but I also got a history lesson on things that I pretended to know about because I felt stupid asking these questions that I'm apparently already supposed to know the answers to. I really liked the book and would recommend it, especially to people like me who want to know a little more their own culture, but feel guilty about having to learn it from someone else's book (as she covers this topic in the book).

[Angee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didnt really enjoy this book at all. she claims to be on a journey to find her heritage but in reality she goes with an bad perception of the country and spend the entire time finding the bad in a culture she knows nothing about. She doesnt make the effort to be open-minded and in the end finds nothing of her heritage.

I wouldnt recommend reading this book its a waste of time and personally, reading this book just put me in a bad mood.

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

When she finally buried her shovel in Mexican soil she had no idea how rich the ground might be. No longer satisfied with simply being considered a Latina on applications, Griest, who learned Russian to travel in the former Soviet Union and Chinese to live in China, decided it was finally time to learn Spanish by traveling Mexico.

In her best and most heartfelt book yet, Griest documents both her amazing process of embracing the wild, dangerous, loving, and enthralling calliope that is Mexico and its volatile political and social atmosphere. Along her way, Griest meets farmers and activists, gay men and macho wrestlers, revolutionaries and victims of violence. Each encounter changes both writer and reader.

All the while the main question is hovers in the sky: What does it mean to be Mexican? Can a woman from Texas with roots in rural Mexico and the Kansas prairie find her reflection in brown eyes or blue eyes?

Read the book. Griest's journey resonates with all of us who struggle to define ourselves in a complicated world.

[Liz Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this book. I respect the fact the author brought up the complexities of Mexican society and did not shy away from talking about the many human rights abuses going on within Mexican society that the author seems to see as hidden from many outside the country (probably not too false an assumption). While the author was searching for her own cultural roots I felt the whole way through that she was as much a tourist in this country as anyone else visiting. Incidents were written up with a reporters eye but didn't give away too much of the author's real feelings in my mind. I wasn't touched by this book as much as I feel I should have been, having a particular love and interest for Mexico and its people. That said, the author appears an uncomplicated, brave woman with much to give the friends she made along the way.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am ashamed to admit that I know next to nothing about Mexico's political history other than the current dispute about Mexican immigrants. Stephanie Griest's book was extremely informative and entertaining.I now know more than I wanted to know about the corruption and political oppression of Mexico's minorities from its gay citizens to its indigenous Indian population. I also understand how NAFTA has hurt and not helped improve the lives of all Mexicans. I especially like this author's journalistic and entertaining style. Facts aren't impersonal. They are presented in the context of people's lives. The author views these people as her relatives although after she explores their lives she knows she will never be Mexican enough.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

there are lots of different levels of this book:

1. What's it like to be Mexican

2. What's it like for those of Mexican heritage to be treated by Mexicans and fellow US citizens

3. Immigration

4. Class Issues

5. Gay Rights

6. Racism

This is such a great book that touches on so many different topics that are also part of a wanderlust's desire to travel. What I really enjoyed was the authors honesty at her faux pas, mistakes and smalls humblings.

[Sandra Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up as a Chicana myself, I related to Stephanie's quest through out the journey that was her book. I was sad when I was done reading as I hope to live vicariously through her stories. The book also reminded me of how "white-washed" I truly am and, on a different level, how Mexican I can be.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. Stephanie is pretty gutsy to be willing to go into many places not many of us would dare....not even if the story was worth telling. However, I do think all her stories are awesome and give us an interesting and powerful insight in what is going on in Mexico and in USA.

I very much enjoyed her stories and her facts about people working in USA as illegals....and her willingness to go and visit their relatives in Mexico. It is nice to see that and I am sure everyone appreciates it...I would if I was in their shoes.

Strongly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn a bit about ourselves and the fact that we belong to two different nations and two very different cultures.

I too was quite impressed about what is going on with the indigenous people in Mexico. A very interesting and quite different point of view.

And lastly—I enjoyed tremendously her funny way of writing and mixing English and Spanish---I do that all the time too. Not that I mean it though!

[Josue · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the story of a woman named Stephanie who was born as a Mexican American In the city of El Paso Texas. As a Mexican, she faces racism and acceptance in her school. surrounded by border and gang/ cartel violence in her city and El Pasos neighbor Ciudad Juarez know as one of the most dangerous cities in the world she is kept secluded. At the age of 30, she decides to go visit her mother's native birthplace Oaxaca and do some research of her roots. She becomes part of a social movement while in Mexico defending gay rights. I like this book a lot because she was interested in her culture and succeeded in the united states as a graduate. now she found her self being an activist fighting for human rights and that's something I respect. I recommend this book to any Latino and even white person to see what a Mexican might face in society.

[Daniel Medina]

Mexican enough is about this lady who does not want to go with their family to mexico. She had been struggling and then she wanted to go and she has seemed to like it since then. One thing she does is go with her parents and have a great time. Eventually she liked the place and felt like it was her home and started exploring more of the culture of mexico. One quote from the book is “ But nothing with the Virgen de Guadalpue , on it,” Fabian Gumbled”( page 31) This shows how this lady's friends it caring about his religion with the Virgen de Guadalupe. Along the way I haven't finished the story and I have liked it over the time and it's a really good story. If you like traveling and religion, maybe you should give this book a try. I would give this book a solid 4 i really liked it and very intriguing to read.

[Crooks Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie Elizondo Griest is a wonderful writer, and I can’t wait to read her newest book, “All The Angels and Saints”.This book was a memoir of her travels to Mexico and her search for cultural identity. I appreciated the numerous footnotes to explain her writing. I recommend this book to all Tejanos and those interested in the duality of being Mexican and American.

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting travelogue from the 2005 time frame of a young woman finding her Mexican roots by travelling throughout Mexico and learning about the many different cultures, languages, foods and political thoughts that make up the Republic of Mexico.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book. Not what I envisioned. I could relate to the identity issue. I found it enjoyable as I have lived in Corpus Christi whare the author is from and I have been to some of the places in Mexico that she traveled to. It's an easy read.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely smart book for anyone who has ever grappled with identity and interested in politics.

[Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't finish it.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Griest expertly explains the inner conflict of being biracial, and her stories of her time in Mexico are rich with character, history and culture.

[Laura Pritchett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really a beautiful book by a gifted writer. Honest and real and tough subjects - and yet handled with wisdom and humor. Can't recommend highly enough!

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up in Texas and working as a photojournalist there, I felt a connection to the places and the events the author mentioned. Her perspective was interesting, and I like that she shared multiple stories that did not present her in a positive light. Overall, the message throughout the book about our search for identity, our desire to categorize others and ourselves, and the recognition of how impossible that is was appreciated.

[Drew Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good into the world of our students who cross borders, cultures and families. It is the story of a woman who at 30 years old decides to go visit her mother's native Mexico and do some searching for her roots. She actually becomes part of a social movement that changed the shape of Mexico. She has adventures with a Polish thief, a Border Patrol agent, and a dominatrix as well as some resistance fighters and gay activists.

Where did she fit into the cultural mosaic? When was she Mexican or American enough? Great true adventures.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors accounts of her travels through Mexico were interesting. The curious thing was that her route almost coincided with mine. I was on tour through Oaxaca and Chiapas in September 2006 and must have missed her by a few weeks only as she returned for her second trip. Her focus was directed towards political and socio-cultural aspects of Mexico, which captured my interest. I recall seeing the independent elegidos in Chiapas, but did not venture into them nor did I have enough historical backround knowledge to understand what had happened there. Her well-researched book made that connection for me. What her book lacked for me was personality. Suppossedly she said out to make a connection with her heritage as a Latina. Yet, she got caught up exploring the lifes of others. There was little transition between her travels. One day she arrives in Morelos and that same night she is already back on the bus to la capital. What was her purpose in Mexico? How did she elect the places she visited and why? As a reader, she failed to make a connection with me. The only time she became a little personal was when she debated adopting the little Zapotec girl. Other than that, it seemed, she wanted to keep her life on the outside. It became obvious that she was single at the time as she quite often kept showing interest in the guys that crossed her path. That turned me off as I felt that she needed to reveal a bit more of herself in order to acquire my sympathy.
In the end, I don't see what she accomplished. She got to know Mexico, but what else? Somehow she leaves the reader hanging, especially as she then ties back to her roots in Kansas.
On the last page she quotes Gloria Anzaldua, a famous chicana writer who dealt with the struggle of growing up as a Latina in the US and not feeling home in neither of the two places. Does she feel like that, split between two places? If so, it did not come across.
Mexican Enough? Not sure she lived up to the title of this book. There was not enough of her in this book to draw such a conclusion.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library looking for something to keep my attention. Knowing how much I enjoy biographies and memoirs, I strolled though that section and when I saw this title, I grabbed the book off of the shelf; when I saw the cover, I remembered seeing this book in an article in Latina magazine entitled, "Books Every Latina Should Read."

I am not Mexican, I am not Latina, I am, however, a Spanish teacher who has lived in Mexico and who also struggles with cultural identity. I point this out to say, you do not have to be Latina to relate to this book.

While reading Mexican Enough I found myself laughing-out-loud to Stephanie's early observations about Mexico. I got emotional at the mention of VIP's and remembering that, yes, I went to Wal-Mart and saw Sam's Club in Monterrey. As the book moves along, I am reminded of the intense racism/classism in Mexico, the machismo, the gay struggle, the corrupt government, and many other things the university attempts to hide from it's exchange students. Mexican Enough reminded me of so many things I have forgotten in ten years and also went deeper into the issues I only tapped into during my short five and a half month stay.

This book should be read by all. I say all because if only those interested in Mexican-American politics read it, the message would not be spread to those who REALLY need to hear it. Stephanie does a wonderful job telling her story and that of the Mexicans she encountered. She writes in a way that keeps you interested and entertained. You will not be disappointed if you read Mexican Enough.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephanie Griest definitely has more of a journalistic style of writing. Usually, just stating the facts without much elaboration. She reports with careful distance and detachment. I appreciate that she doesn't sidestep the machismo issue. It frustrates me that the prevalent machismo behavior is too often ignored or swept under the rug. It's a BIG problem!! So, kudos to Griest for calling it out, however briefly.

This is huge here, men coming home after months away and then beating their wives. Of course, domestic violence is a problem throughout the world. The difference here is that the women don't think there is anything wrong with it. 63 Although, I question that. I hope that's not the case that women think it's not wrong. Maybe, rather, they have little means to extricate themselves from the machismo which surrounds them.

I learned many interesting new details about Mexico which made this a worthy read for me.
Like all good Tejanos commencing a journey, we head first to Falfurrias to pay respects to the famed Mexican curandero Don Pedrito Jaramillo. He traveled to El Norte from Jalisco in 1881 and was informed of his power to heal the sick by Dios himself. For the next twenty-six years, he made house and rancho calls on foot or donkey-back between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande, treating the rural poor. 234 I will definitely look for more information on Don Jaramillo.

Griest captures well the spirit of Mexico. Ah Mexico, so beautiful and troubled.

[Eduardo Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mexican Enough is a book made by a lady called Stephanie Elizondo Griest and this lady is telling her story right now of how when she was little she had difficulties growing up as a half mexican and how hard she found to compare herself to this different culture, since she was little she saw how Hispanic students had an enormous amount of help in school and she took advantage of that while applying to colleges. Years later while traveling through the Arizona desert she had a vision of a Mexican family crossing the border and that inspired her to go to Mexico and learn about her heritage, when she arrived at Mexico a man asked her if she was lost and offered her a ride to his place, this man called Ignacio then became friends with Stephanie and through most of the book he took her to bars, good restaurants, and a lots of different States of Mexico where she saw different landmarks, she at her time in Mexico also learned about her Mexican culture and the history of it, now at the end of the book she shows that she is really proud to be Hispanic and she is thinking in visiting Mexico in the near future and embrace her culture as something truly special. I really like the book because me as a latino I can relate to a lot of stuff that she is only experiencing right now like the food and celebrations that Mexicans have so its really nice to read of somewhere were I grew up on and got to experience this unique culture.

[Cathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book I'd never heard of, until a friend recommended it. She read it for a college class in Houston, Texas, and she was able to meet the writer, as well. While I didn't absolutely love the book, I liked the writing style, which was very personal, easy-to-read, and full of unexpected humor and honesty. There were a couple of extremely vulgar spots in the book, with foul language that I could have done without, but overall, it was very well written and worthwhile. I'm grateful for all that I learned about Mexican history, as well as the incredible challenges of modern-day Mexico. I don't think I'll ever think of Mexico (and my many dear friends who come from there) in the same way ever again.

Last week, our book group met and discussed this book, and it was a real treat to have Stephanie Elizondo Griest be part of our discussion. She currently lives in upstate New York, but thanks to the wonders of a cell phone (on speaker) we all gathered around my kitchen table and spoke with Ms. Griest for about 45 minutes. She is extremely bright and well-spoken and a typical Texan (very friendly and open about her life), and she was very gracious in sharing her time with our small Colorado book group. It was a neat experience to have the author of a book discuss it with us--a first for me.

[Harry Brake · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are so may lists I have made mentally on where I NEED to go within Mexico after reading this - the woven knowledge that Stephanie Elizondo Griest receives in trying to recover a past that she feels she needs to make up for, the information she shares is priceless. At times it seems she expects too much to return to Mexico and pick up the pieces, even after a long haul, but the realization she stumbles upon at the end? - priceless and reality at its best. So many discrepancies in cultural perceptions emerge from beginning to end, and yet, all the while you are learning so much about Mexico that defy the portrayed Mexican persona.

The individuals that Griest meets and becomes close to throughout this novel are often a window open to Mexican culture. That is a beauty in itself and you find yourself contemplating the pros and cons of truly becoming more Mexican. Yet, that was not the real discovery the author makes as you, share in on the author's discovery.

Although Griest novels tackle and defy the human body and personify, add the mix of culture and rock music and a whole new conversation develops. If anything, you will draw closer to the elements that help make a play inspirational.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having attended UNAM in Mexico City and spent much time visiting Mexico over the years, I was completely ignorant to the humans rights violations perpetrated by the Mexican government until reading this book. From violence and harassment suffered by homosexuals, forced confessions to solve crimes (via torture and threats to loved ones), hired thugs to repress strikes, stealing of newspapers before they reach readers, and the cruel and inhumane treatment of the indigenous population - this author investigates it all and she has guts! On the flip side, Stephanie also highlights the people that are fighting for these causes. She sneaks into a prison in Oaxaca, camps with the Zapatistas, and befriends the owner of an upscale boutique who is donating all proceeds to build an orphanage for girls of the local indigenous population. Mexicans from all walks of life are fighting back, and in some cases winning!

Part soul searching, part travel journal, and part social injustice commentary; this book is a must read for anyone interested in Mexico and immigration issues.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great introduction to Mexico for those who know little about the country and its people. Elizondo Griest gives a diverse overview of Mexican life which piques the interest and provides excellent starting points for future research. I was particularly chilled by her chapter "Malaleche" about the women artists who created a visual project to document the femicides in Ciudad Juarez. Also, Elizondo Griest takes an intimate look at the indigenous peoples of Mexico, how immigration from Mexico to the US affects economics and family structures there, and the extensive government corruption to name a scant few topics covered. Check it out, y'all.