Latina/o Literature and
Literature of the Americas at the
University of Northern Colorado

Sheila & Sandra Ortiz Taylor -- Imaginary Parents

"Imaginary Parents" are anything but imaginary as Sheila Ortiz Taylor and Sandra Ortiz Taylor join to offer their family's autobiography in the collection titled "Imaginary Parents" ((C)1996, University of New Mexico Press, 260 pages, ISBN: 0-8263-1763-4).

Sheila is a professor of English at Florida State University at Tallahassee. Sandra is a visual artist in San Francisco.

Together they have pieced memories of their past childhood in differing art forms. Sheila has offered us tender prose filled with fresh outlooks of her family. Sheila has created stunning artistic images that help convey the words of her sister through imagery and form.

Combined these two offer a glimpse into the Ortiz-Taylor household, a family featuring an Anglo father and Chicana mother living in Los Angeles after World War II.

At first the books seemed critical of the parents, but as it progresses it tends to show family life through a series of vignettes that are sad, amusing, lively and, just utterly interesting to read.

Some of the best scenes are what Sheila leaves to the imagination of the reader. There is one scene where Sheila and her father leave the house. Sheila is obviously fond of her trips alone with her father for they usually frequent hardware stores ("I like nails, screws, hoes, hedge clippers, mailboxes, hammers, wheelbarrows. The smell of hardware"), the Atwater Public Library or the beach. But this trip is decidedly different. Her father cautions, "This should make your mother's life a lot easier," as he pulls into the parking lot of a barber shop. Scissors fly and hair strands fall. As Sheila tells it, "I look at the boy in the mirror."

As the two arrive home Sheila's mother "lets out a little sound like a moan, but softer." Sheila races up to her room as her father begins to explain. Sheila hears him say the word "easier" as she closes her bedroom door.

The battle that ensues is not described in the book. But such a scene is not necessary. We all know what will transpire.

In another scenes a bit of history helps take care of a more recent matter. Sheila tells her mother's story of how Pancho Villa and his men once rode to the family's ranch house. Villa scooped her mother up in his right arm and embraced her. He also gave his long coiled whip of braided leather to Sheila's grandfather, who was honored by the gift. The whip now hangs on the wall.

But it is the story that ensues which gives the Pancho Villa story much more life and meaning. It seems uncle Jimmy Doll came arrived home from school one afternoon crying after taking a beating from the principal. Sheila's grandmother immediately "took that whip down from the wall, carried it coiled in her hand, walking all the way down to Allesandro Street School, the school built on the land of her own people, carried that whip into the main office, called out the principal, whipped him as he had whipped her son."

Such is the tone and style of Sheila's words and storytelling. They are strong, moving descriptions of a recent past.

Sheila also tells of her mother's infatuation with dolls as she admonishes her two girls for not playing with dolls. The two prefer wear jeans and play with toy guns. Sandra and Sheila don't even like to play house because, "The problem is there's no story to it at all. You shop and wash dishes, feed the baby and say Hi honey on the phone. Too much like real life. A couple of guns, and a movie starts to happen all around you."

Add a talented writer and inventive artist and you have a great book. Try "Imaginary Parents" by Sheila Ortiz Taylor and Sandra Ortiz Taylor for a refreshing and wonderful glance back into childhood and family.

(NOTE: All reviews are read on "Cancion Mexicana" at 10:45 a.m. Sunday mornings on KUVO-FM 89.3 FM Radio, Denver, Colorado, and also are submitted to the Rocky Mountain News book editor for consideration)

Send galleys or review copies to:

Ruben Sosa Villegas

Rocky Mountain News

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Denver, CO 80204

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