Status Updates From Fragile Night

Lived it

Last two stories read so I can return this to the library today. #14 The Dangerous Game – love – and when it is safe to try again. #15 - Sad finishing story about a child's "make-a-wish" type trip to ride a whale.

Frustrating that my previous status update did not "post" -- can't recreate exact words but it covered #10 Doña Dolores, beautiful woman whose life turns ugly after her son dies; #11 Black Widow which demonstrates that some men as well as spiders can be poisonous. #12 Lucinda Maria, young girl whose life changes as her body develops; & #13 Cinderella Danced-an old woman reviews her life --one of my favorites!

#9 Penguin's Mother -- Powerful story about child abuse and revenge.

Isabel judges herself harshly when she disappoints others in #7 "Isabel's Judge" and I loved the imagery of the tarnished platter in #8 "Pablo the Penitent" -- can he polish his own image and regain a happy married life?

Cobra, the #6 story, was pertinent in that I had just given up on reading "Let their spirits dance" – Duarte's novel about the Vietnam war. Cobra is a nickname for a veteran of the Vietnam war who is still haunted by his war experiences. Stories I can handle right now, but not a Duarte novel.

Duarte's stories are gritty and sometimes dark but are also heart-rending and compelling. She seems to have personal acquaintance with her characters. In story #5: "The Mango", a lonely and depressed schoolteacher compares her life to a half eaten mango. "cut open, half used, and ready to be thrown out." Unexpectedly hope knocks at her door at almost that instance -- life changing events do occur!

Fourth story: "The Remedy". Two quarreling sisters learn of a terrible secret cure to their quarreling.

Fragile Night is the third story, not the second as I incorrectly noted in my last update. Alma throws off her "lead" shoes and gets rid of her abusive husband years after her Abuelita warns her about him. "Night's fragile weave..." Second story, mentioned previously, is titled Los Gemelos. The twins?

Second story is the title story "Fragile Night" -- good title but not too indicative of the subject. Twins who drift apart come together when one of them is terminally ill.

Set in Phoenix barrio. Finished first of 15 stories, "What La Llorona Knew" about an adult woman who learns secrets of her mother's history, while walking with her in the middle of the night.