The wind blew past my face making goose bumps rise along my outstretched arms. I gripped the wheel tight and continued down the road basking in the sunlight that danced behind the tree tops. My mind wandered; I let the air and surroundings engulf me. Then I saw her. Cars shot passed mine as time stood still. A very stocky woman with long but thin black hair, her skin the color of a ceramic vase, waited at the side of the road. Immediately, thoughts of remorse, shame, and pity entered my mind – how could she be standing at the side of a highway; was she waiting to cross the stampede of cars? It was all in this one moment that I felt sorry for this Mexican girl. As I drove passed her down the road late for my nail appointment I could think only of the book I have been reading for english class, what a perfect connection to the book that has inched its way into my daily life.
Some might find this book distasteful because of its underpinnings of racism. But I on the other hand find the book intriguing. The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle expands the mind of the reader; it allows for two worlds to collide worlds that would have never weaved together. The novel is unlike any other I have read. Instantly in the first few chapters you begin to feel guilty; you finally realize how much you take for granted: food, water, shelter, work, and education. There are millions of people in the world who do not have the luxuries you and I have. And as you a reading this you might be thinking to yourself, oh I wish I had more clothes or I really want that new thing or Can I go there for Spring Break? WAKE UP! Sorry to break the truth to you so late in life but stop being so selfish. Trust me I know it is hard, because I am very selfish at times, but I am learning to appreciate what I have even more after starting this book. Okay, so I’m only six chapters into the book I’m going to read more now so expect another post from me in a few days when I have more material to work off of. But for now, here is a little fact that I stumbled upon through my research.
** Did you know that the leading country of illegal immigrants is Mexico? Their total is the highest with 5.9 million people. That number is climbing each day as Mexican cross the border. I have nothing agianst Mexicans and this is not a racist arguement. I just think that the amount of illegal people in the country should be way less depsite what country they orginate from. **
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