A Scathing Review - Enrique's Journey

Nazario’s patronizing tome unintentionally highlights the problem of the Americas in general, seemingly portraying a world where a mother will sacrifice anything to ensure her children have access to Barbies and Nikes, let alone to food. Nevertheless her contribution to the debate surrounding the on-going suffering in Central America, juxtaposed with the rasping soulessness of contemporary American society, will probably ultimately assist in improving circumstances at least in some measure. In that sense Nazario achieves her journalistic objective, reliant though it may be on creating gory mental images.

What will they achieve though in a region where rotten governments swing from left to right in a macabre dance over the decades, always with the same extreme level of corruption leading to many of the population living in filth and degradation without access to basic necessities we take for granted. It was very interesting though to learn of the lengths the Central American mothers would go though to provide education for their offspring. Humbling as ever were the efforts made by some individuals to help others, however this condition of the Americas in general is the United States on crack …

In South America, below the Panama, there is a stronger connection with European sensibilities and firmer identity stemming from the various nations of origin and local cultures. With any luck in the longer term this part of Latin America, for all of its challenges, may emerge in better human shape than Central America, which might ultimately do better to look southward for its future than to the US.

Undoubtably Nazario’s observations, but lack of real empathy and ability to articulate what those in Enrique’s circumstances may experience, will provide her with a lifetime meal ticket. Her website demonstrates a classic cheesy American attitude toward her subject matter. She shows her American lack of internal life by assuming that her characters suffer the same fate. You’ve read the book, now see the mini series, It’ll be bigger than Roots but not half as soulful I suspect.

…. Maybe I’m wrong, am I too spoiled … maybe those who are uneducated and in dire need can't afford have complex or interesting feelings … what do you think? Check out the plethora of slobbering reviews and book sale sites across the internet. Is there no-one not making money out of Enrique!

Mark