172). Another man writes of his obvious charms to his female customers at the gift counter in a department store, and how he works the system and gets caught. There is something innocent about all these stories, even though the characters are not all innocent or even in some cases likable. However, just like the theme of the book, they show the melting pot that forms Chicano/a culture, and how so many different people and personalities make up these people. It also shows the view they have of one another, which is not always positive, and indicates again that all these writers are writing about people who are searching for their culture, their voice, and their purpose in a life that pulls them in two directions at once.
Finally, the New Departures section is the hope of the culture in the future. These beautiful works, which read more like fairy tales or myths, indicate the hope the authors have for the future of Chicano/a culture and how it will change and grow, just as it always has done. One story sums up the theme of this book and this section quite well. The author writes, "One belongs where one is from," she would say, painting with her old-lady hands and child's eyes. 'Because like it or not, wherever you go, they send you back home'" (Mastretta, 2006, p. 248). This could sum up the overall theme of this book quite well. The writers show, that no matter where they go,...
Some seek their roots in Mexico, others in the United States, and some seek them in their own souls. Wherever they find them, that is where they are from, and that is the heritage they should celebrate, enjoy, discover, and share.
In conclusion, Bordering fires is a book whose time has come. It explores the culture on both sides of the border and how it affects Chicano/a's wherever they live, come from, or hope to go. It captures the unique blend of cultures, religion, surroundings, and aspirations that fill anyone's life, no matter where they began their lives. It shows that a culture is not made up of one or two aspects of their home, or their new home. A culture is a melting pot, just like the United States is a melting pot, and it is different for every member of a culture and a place. If anyone wants to explore their culture and understand the many things that combine to create a feeling of roots and family, they should read this book. That is because it shows that no one can lay claim to one central culture or cultural ideal, instead, they can lay claim to a million illuminating details that combine to create something special for each person and their own unique background.
References
Garcia, C. 2006. Bordering fires: The vintage book of contemporary Mexican and Chicano/a literature. New York: Vintage Books.
