Muchacha en Azul = Back of Nude

Mexican author Molina has received numerous awards, including the celebrated Sor Juana In s de la Cruz prize for El amor que me juraste (The Love You Promised Me, Joaquin Mortiz, 1998). In this coming-of-age novel, she tells the story of Hilda, a Mexican girl who is sent to Paris to escape domestic violence. During a reception at the Mexican embassy one day, she briefly meets Herman Sulzer, a man of extraordinary personality. Twenty years later they meet again, and Hilda narrates the course of her life since that magical first night. Readers are immediately transported into the world of Hilda's acquaintances, a mosaic of experiences in troubled and exotic places. Malaysia's sweet fragrances and lively colors, the singing of the nocturnal birds and crickets in San Juan, and the sensual rhythm of the African nights are harmoniously juxtaposed with the vestiges of a decadent aristocracy and the rigidity of Spanish Civil War expatriates who refuse to give up their ideals. As Molina captures the essence of many cultures, she proposes a universal vision of the human soul and invites readers to accompany Hilda in her journey to adulthood. Teenagers and adults alike will enjoy Molina's intimate and down-to-earth style. Recommended for public libraries and bookstores interested in contemporary Mexican fiction.Isabel Cuadrado, New York City