Imaginary Parents

by Sheila Ortiz Taylor

In this uniquely fashioned memoir, one sister uses words, the other installations to re-create a childhood filled with adventure, tragedy, and the two most glamorous and mysterious people in their young their parents. The setting is Los Angeles during and after World War Two. Hollywood is defining. Cigarettes ubiquitous. A meal is not a meal without meat or eggs. Red lips, toenails, and fingernails match red cotton blouses festooned with yellow sombreros. Taking on the voices of her mother, father and sister--as well as speaking for herself--Sheila Ortiz Taylor, the writerly daughter of an Anglo vaudevillian-lawyer and a Chicana movie star manqué, strings together well-crafted vignettes that read like film clips. One scene leads to another, fractures into another until a rich family drama and a remarkably clear child perspective emerge through the silences and substance. Sandra, the elder, artistic sister, offers 3-D collages in a simultaneous yet slightly shifted narrative of life under their father's red-tiled roof. Mirrors, tortillas, calaveras, Mexico, horses, books, boats and guns are the curios of the Ortiz Taylor family cabinet. Readers will set to recollecting their own pocadillas after relishing this funny, touching portrait of a regular yet anything but common American family.

Genres: Memoir

280 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

Reviews

[Sage Αναστασία · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the story of this book was both heart-warming and heart-breaking, and the use of imagery was unique and interesting, I did not find the style of writing to be captivating in the slightest. While Sheila certainly has an interesting story to tell, it was not told in a way that kept my interest, and thus I feel like I missed out on what could have been a great story. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad book, but it certainly wasn't for me. It's simply not a page-turner.

[Amy Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good and interesting read! The language and layout of this book were beautiful, and the story-telling process was well-executed.

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I forget what this book is about!