Society For Crypto Judaic Studies
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Star of Luis by Marc Talbert. (Clarion Books, New York, NY, hardcover, $15.00 reviewed by Gloria Trujillo It was only after I had started reading Marc’s book that I realized I am listed with several other persons on the front page of the book. It had been several years since I had talked to Marc, and I forgot that I had given him some insights into the East Los Angeles Hispano and Jewish neighborhoods that I am so very familiar with. The novel is divided into three parts; Part One begins with the introduction of the main character, Luis Medrano. Young Luis and his friends who live in East Los Angeles are taken by surprise by the sudden beginning of World War II. Luis is fascinated and then frightened when he learns that his father enlisted in the army and will be leaving him and his mother alone. Luis faces another challenge in Part Two when he learns that his grandfather is ill and his mother plans to go back to New Mexico. The two travel by train to New Mexico and Luis meets the rest of his parent’s family for the first time. Luis slowly begins to understand his family and make new friends. It is here where he learns the “secret” about the family from his uncle who is a priest and we see Luis' struggle to find out who he is. In Part three, when it was time to return to East Los Angeles, Luis wishes he were back in New Mexico, but is soon happy to be back with his friends and the familiar surroundings of East Los Angeles. Luis has decided to resolve the matter of his Jewish background and acknowledges his Jewish friend Stan. Luis and another friend, Eduardo, attend services at Stan’s synagogue. Luis felt excited and tense and braced himself for the shock but was totally alive in anticipation of what he would find inside. |