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The Line of the Sun
Set in the 1950s and 1960s, The Line of the Sun moves from a rural Puerto Rican village to a tough immigrant housing project in New Jersey, telling the story of a Hispanic family's struggle to become part of a new culture without relinquishing the old. At the story's center is Guzmán, an almost mythic figure whose adventures and exile, salvation and return leave him a broken man but preserve his place in the heart and imagination of his niece, who is his secret biographer.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1989
3 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Judith Ortiz Cofer
44 books109 followersJudith Ortiz Cofer (born in 1952) is a Puerto Rican author. Her work spans a range of literary genres including poetry, short stories, autobiography, essays, and young-adult fiction.
Judith Ortiz Cofer was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, on February 24, 1952. She moved to Paterson, New Jersey with her family in 1956. They often made back-and-forth trips between Paterson and Hormigueros. In 1967, her family moved to Augusta, Georgia, where she attended Butler High School. Ortiz Cofer received a B.A. in English from Augusta College, and later an M.A. in English from Florida Atlantic University.
Ortiz Cofer's work can largely be classified as creative nonfiction. Her narrative self is strongly influenced by oral storytelling, which was inspired by her grandmother, an able storyteller in the tradition of teaching through storytelling among Puerto Rican women. Ortiz Cofer's autobiographical work often focuses on her attempts at negotiating her life between two cultures, American and Puerto Rican, and how this process informs her sensibilities as a writer. Her work also explores such subjects as racism and sexism in American culture, machismo and female empowerment in Puerto Rican culture, and the challenges diasporic immigrants face in a new culture. Among Ortiz Cofer's more well known essays are "The Story of My Body" and "The Myth of the Latin Woman," both reprinted in The Latin Deli.
In 1984, Ortiz Cofer joined the faculty of the University of Georgia, where she is currently Franklin Professor of English and Creative Writing. In April 2010, Ortiz Cofer was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame.
In 1994, she became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story “The Latin Deli”. In 1996, Ortiz Cofer and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children’s literature.
(from Wikipedia)
Judith Ortiz Cofer was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, on February 24, 1952. She moved to Paterson, New Jersey with her family in 1956. They often made back-and-forth trips between Paterson and Hormigueros. In 1967, her family moved to Augusta, Georgia, where she attended Butler High School. Ortiz Cofer received a B.A. in English from Augusta College, and later an M.A. in English from Florida Atlantic University.
Ortiz Cofer's work can largely be classified as creative nonfiction. Her narrative self is strongly influenced by oral storytelling, which was inspired by her grandmother, an able storyteller in the tradition of teaching through storytelling among Puerto Rican women. Ortiz Cofer's autobiographical work often focuses on her attempts at negotiating her life between two cultures, American and Puerto Rican, and how this process informs her sensibilities as a writer. Her work also explores such subjects as racism and sexism in American culture, machismo and female empowerment in Puerto Rican culture, and the challenges diasporic immigrants face in a new culture. Among Ortiz Cofer's more well known essays are "The Story of My Body" and "The Myth of the Latin Woman," both reprinted in The Latin Deli.
In 1984, Ortiz Cofer joined the faculty of the University of Georgia, where she is currently Franklin Professor of English and Creative Writing. In April 2010, Ortiz Cofer was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame.
In 1994, she became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story “The Latin Deli”. In 1996, Ortiz Cofer and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children’s literature.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 10, 2017
A less good writer of memoirs than a storyteller, Judith Ortiz Cofer surprised me in The Line of the Sun as having a great sense of humour and a gift for storytelling.
November 26, 2022
A novel set first in Puerto Rico in the 1950s and then in a few years, follows the characters as they migrate to Paterson, New Jersey, across the river from Brooklyn.
I wonder if the author based this on any bits from her own life. She was born in 1952 in Puerto Rico, then her family followed her father, who was in the Navy, to Paterson, New Jersey, and then eventually to GA (where she taught at UGA). The story here is told by Marisol, a teen ager living in Paterson, New Jersey, who is deeply Puerto Rican but has no memories of the island or her grandparents there. She, her brother and her mother live in a tenement building with other Puerto Ricans while her father is somewhere in the world, on a Navy ship. Her mother never learns English, never wants to leave the Puerto Rican community within the building, although soon her husband can afford for them to do so and wants the American dream of a house.
The story of the narrator's uncle is also running through the book . . . first as a wild young boy in Puerto Rico and then as a young man trying to make a living in a cold city.
I could feel the longing for the warmth, food and community of the Island from these folks and in the end, each makes his/her own peace with either returning or staying in the States permanently.
My favorite line in the book comes close to the end when Marisol writes of the American attitude, "to live fully in the present your mind has to be always focused on tomorrow; happiness is the ability to imagine something better for yourself."
Judith Ortiz Cofer more known for her memoirs and poetry than her novels -- I think she only wrote two. I enjoyed this one.
I wonder if the author based this on any bits from her own life. She was born in 1952 in Puerto Rico, then her family followed her father, who was in the Navy, to Paterson, New Jersey, and then eventually to GA (where she taught at UGA). The story here is told by Marisol, a teen ager living in Paterson, New Jersey, who is deeply Puerto Rican but has no memories of the island or her grandparents there. She, her brother and her mother live in a tenement building with other Puerto Ricans while her father is somewhere in the world, on a Navy ship. Her mother never learns English, never wants to leave the Puerto Rican community within the building, although soon her husband can afford for them to do so and wants the American dream of a house.
The story of the narrator's uncle is also running through the book . . . first as a wild young boy in Puerto Rico and then as a young man trying to make a living in a cold city.
I could feel the longing for the warmth, food and community of the Island from these folks and in the end, each makes his/her own peace with either returning or staying in the States permanently.
My favorite line in the book comes close to the end when Marisol writes of the American attitude, "to live fully in the present your mind has to be always focused on tomorrow; happiness is the ability to imagine something better for yourself."
Judith Ortiz Cofer more known for her memoirs and poetry than her novels -- I think she only wrote two. I enjoyed this one.
July 19, 2024
"They say Guzman had been a difficult pregnancy for Mama Cielo, who had little patience for the bouncing ball in her belly."
Following the story of an immigrant family, both their life in Puerto Rico and as they move to New Jersey, this book is beautiful and sad. It is full of the most gorgeous plant imagery, yet at the same time there is an undertone of a kind of magic beyond this world underlining the entire story. It feels mystical, as if someone is telling you a family story.
I cannot reccomend this book enough.
Following the story of an immigrant family, both their life in Puerto Rico and as they move to New Jersey, this book is beautiful and sad. It is full of the most gorgeous plant imagery, yet at the same time there is an undertone of a kind of magic beyond this world underlining the entire story. It feels mystical, as if someone is telling you a family story.
I cannot reccomend this book enough.
July 31, 2017
Fascinating stories of Puerto Rico's many arch-typical working class people. I cannot wait to read more of this author.
September 16, 2018
Judith Ortiz Cofer's novel is set in rural Puerto Rico and Paterson, New Jersey, during the 1950's - 60's. We follow a family through 3 generations, through love, loss, and challenges. Good read!
May 22, 2023
It was okay, but I didn’t really care for it.
November 22, 2023
FINALLY I finished this,, it was okay, the perspective changes and large shifts in storytelling were confusing,, I enjoyed some part of it though
June 23, 2009
The Line of the Sun depicts the life of Puerto Rican immigrants in the early 1960s. The story is narrated by Marisol Santacruz, a young girl who is transplanted to Paterson, New Jersey while her father is serving in the Navy. Marisol begins her tale on a nostalgic note, recounting the adventures of her uncle Guzmán in the small town of Salud. Guzmán is a wild boy who is more interested visiting the witch who lives along the banks of the river than studying or helping his parents in their small businesses as his siblings do. His relationship with the witch, Rosa, becomes a scandal that forces both of them to leave the village: Guzmán to the United States, Rosa to parts unknown. Before he leaves, Guzmán introduces his best friend, Rafael, to his sister, Ramona. The two fall in love and marry after a socially proper courtship. Rafael joins the United States Navy as a submariner and moves his family (which now includes two children: Marisol and Gabriel) to Paterson, New Jersey because it is close to the Brooklyn Navy Yard where he is stationed. When the family moves to New Jersey, the parents begin to clash over how they will live: as Americans or as Puerto Ricans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2010
I read this as required reading for a sophomore student's class - excellent choice! The book is initially set in a small village in Puerto Rico, and eventually the main characters move to a small city in NJ outside of NYC. Cofer does an excellent job of exploring the difficulty so many immigrants encounter when moving to the USA. Since Cofer alternated between living in PR and NJ during her childhood, it is clear why her voice is so lucid and believable, right up until the end of the book.
May 12, 2008
The book explores the impact of Santeria in Puerto Rican life. I was rooting for Guzman "el diablo." He was clearly misunderstood. Rafael losing his dad was devastating to read..quite sad. Overall a great read and very addictive. The book ended abruptly, but its impact personally will stay with me for a long time.
April 18, 2012
I enjoyed reading Marisol's story much better the second time around. The first time I read it, the second half was so bothersome because all these terrible things kept happening. I really can see the art of it now. Marisol is so relatable and likeable, so you really go along with her everywhere. This is an amazing book.
April 21, 2008
a novel about puerto rican immigrants to the US. if you read the first 25 pages, you can probably fill in most of the rest.
June 14, 2008
This was a good read, it was ok
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March 21, 2009its been so long I probably could tell you the plot but I remember being 14 and really feeling like I found someone I could relate to and who knew what it was to be from a bicultural world.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews