Alburquerque

By: Rudolfo Anaya

Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon

From the best-selling author of Bless Me, Ultima, the absorbing story of an adopted Mexican-American boxing champion's quest for identity.

Abrán González always knew he was different. Called a coyote because of his fair skin, the kid from Barelas found escape through boxing and became one of the youngest Golden Gloves champs.

But the arrival of a letter from a dying woman turns his entire life into a lie. The revelation that he was adopted makes him feel like an orphan and sends him on a quest to find his birth father.

With the help of his girlfriend, Lucinda, and Joe, a Vietnam veteran, Abrán begins a journey that hurls him from the barrio into a world of greed and political corruption spearheaded by Abrán's manager, Frank Dominic, a con artist running for mayor with visions of building El Dorado on the Rio Grande.

Rich in spirituality, and taking its title from the original spelling of the city's name, Alburquerque casts a light on the importance of ancestry while cutting across class and ethnic lines to tell a story of hope and displacement, love and regret, and the power of identity.

©1992 Rudolfo Anaya (P)2020 Tantor

Captivating & Historically Invaluable

Wow, what a great ending! This book had me at the edge of my seat. Made some thoughtful images, inspiring me to head to New Mexico. The characters expressed by the author, really caught my attention. The details of their lives and even Coyote, who in small parts made me chuckle. The narrator was very good, with the use of different voices, really made it well rounded. Thank you for sharing!

Beautiful

I adore Anaya’s work. And the narrator was perfect. He sounded like my uncle or cousin and that brought comfort to the story. Will read/ listen again.

Alburquerque

This author has revived a love in literature for me. Starting out by his book bless me Ultima he keeps you spell bined and takes you on journey that just bra back for more. I recommend all of his writings.

Excellent

This was an excellent work. I envisioned the scenery the characters and saw the story unfold as it was told.

Wish the accent was more accurate

The author so clearly depicts the small cities within our Albuquerque. West side, east side, the heights, the war zone, uptown, each part so distinct. The hope that politicians continue to have today to unite these areas into one Albuquerque. One of my favorite books read this year and enjoyed even more as a native New Mexican.
As I listened to the audio book I wish the reader had done better on the New Mexican accent. While they were capable of the Spanish accent a lot of the specific New Mexican accent and slang was lost. This would only be evident to a New Mexican so it does not impact my enjoyment too much.