Cuando una mujer se levanta

by Christine Eber

The Spanish edition of award-winning When a Woman Rises
International Latino Book Award finalist, “Most Inspirational Fiction Book”
2020 New Mexico-Arizona Book Award, Multi-cultural
Silver in Multicultural Fiction, Independent Publisher Book Awards
Zia Book Award finalist
Balcones Fiction Prize finalist
Starred review from School Library Journal
Two Zapatista women, bound by cultural expectations, struggle to express the truth of their lives in the highlands of Chiapas. Magdalena summons the soul of her friend, Lucia, who migrated north to find work and disappeared. She tells daughter Veronica how they yearned to be teachers. How poverty and gender roles stole away their dreams. Yet, each woman remained true to herself, Lucia as a Zapatista leader and curandera; Magdalena as a weaver and community organizer. But poverty is cruel.

Genres: Fiction, Feminism, Contemporary, Friendship, Latinx, Womens

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Elaine Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met the author, Christine Eber shortly after I moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico. Ms. Eber is a driving force behind "Weaving For Justice" a women's weaving cooperative in highland Chiapas, Mexico. The story she tells is of the deep friendships, spiritual awakenings, struggles, tragedies and hopes of an indigenous Maya community. The story moved me to tears with its authentic voice and spirit. I am blessed to have purchased numerous weavings from these strong and determined woman. After finishing the book, I felt as if I was closer to understanding the differences and similarities between our cultures.

[J.J. Amaworo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully-written story-within-a-story set in a Mayan community in Chiapas, Mexico. The themes of tradition versus modernity and women's emancipation are woven through the novel seamlessly, and the central figure of Lucia, a healer and a future Zapatista leader, is compelling. It's a tale simply and gently told. Wonderful.

[Christina Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Christine Eber does an excellent job weaving ethnography and storytelling into the narrative, and captured cultural details that give readers a beautiful snapshot into the lives of women in indigenous Maya communities. This book was well worth the wait.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel brings attention to the life of the tsotsil women in Chiapas, but also, and most importantly, in storytelling. Veronica is a young tsostil woman who has gotten job recording stories from women in her community; she chooses to record her mother, but her mother decides to talk about her best friend of childhood, Lucía.

With a weaving structure, Christine Eber creates a moving tale about spirituality, culture, religion, politics, traditions, love and friendship -words that, by the way, do not exist, but are greatly understood by these three tsotsil women.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very beautiful, moving book about a family in a village of Chiapas. Mother and daughter are weavers, father works the land. Life is very tough but the love of family and traditions are very strong. I learned a great deal about the Mayan community that I didn't know before. A very touching book.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of my favorite novels have been written by anthropologists. This book is filled with so much love and respect, I really enjoyed meeting the women and hearing their stories.

[Bev]

enjoyed

[Charley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is written in very simple language, which made it really hard for me in the beginning to get into the flow of the book, but in the end I really liked the book.

[Victoria Wolcott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful book that takes you into the lives of indigenous communities.

[Lorne Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book giving a special insight into the daily lives of indigenous people in the Chiapas Highlands. Really engaging and made me think a lot about the struggles Australian indigenous people have.

[CYNDY REICHGELT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a woman anthropologist who lived a year in Chiapas, Mexico among the indigenous people. Lovely portrayal of their beliefs and their lives.

[Lulaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó porque es informativo y nos acerca de una manera muy sutil y humana a una realidad que muchos no vivimos todos los días. Nos permite entender otras culturas y empatizar.
Tal vez por momentos sentí la escritura un poco monótona y sin tantas metáforas, pero es un estilo también y es gracias a él que podemos acercarnos a otras perspectivas de una forma transparente

[Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent glimpse into indigenous Maya life