"PEN/Faulkner award winner and author of various novels, including The Road to Wellville (1993), Boyle avoids any potential pitfall of his prior achievement by veering in another direction and seriously examining social and political issues in this timely novel. He establishes an obvious dichotomy by interweaving the scrapping, makeshift, in-the-present lives of illegal aliens Cándido and América Rincón with the politically correct, suburban, plan-for-the-future existence of wealthy Americans Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher. The Rincóns' lives, though full of fear and hardship, contain far more passion and endurance than the Mossbachers' mundane and materialistic lifestyles. An initial, pivotal car accident briefly unites, and ultimately separates, Delaney and Cándido, provoking question after question concerning immigration, unemployment, discrimination, and social responsibility. Surprisingly, Boyle manages to address these issues in a nonjudgmental fashion, depicting the vast inequity in these parallel existences. This highly engaging story subtly plays on our consciences, forcing us to form, confirm, or dispute social, political, and moral viewpoints. This is a profound and tragic tale, one that exposes not only a failed American Dream, but a failing America." (Booklist)

Travelling tortilla...

It has arrived! Thank you ApoloniaX for mailing this all the way from Germany. It does look interesting. Thank you also for the postcard and the stickers. I will use them right away as I have no others at the moment.

Released at the meet-up. Enjoy!

Releasing at Seconds! Bookcrossing Meetup (Burnaby/New West).

Where: Waves Coffee, 715 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC
When: Tuesday, January 25th at 7PM

Picked up at the Lower Mainland Seconds! BookCrossing Meetup last night. Thanks!

Adding to the Passport to the World VBB.

This is a great read, but a painful, painful book. I did read it twice - only a few moments of hope.
This book is now on its way to itpdx

Received in Portland, OR USA
Thank you

T.C. Boyle writes the story of two couples living within a few miles of each other--one couple is illegal Mexicans "camping out" in the canyon, the other an anglo couple living in a southern California subdivision that becomes gated and walled during the story mirroring the anglo husband's conversion from tolerant liberal to lunatic racist as the Mexicans go from a distant idea to very real people living practically in his back yard.
I enjoyed the story and it covers many issues of illegal immigration, but I did think that the Mexican Candido's bad luck was a little melodramatic in places.

left at the OBCZ west of the fireplace

Great read!