About “The Silk Purse”
Memories of a Puerto Rican in New York
New Book tells of young girl’s South Bronx childhood
As children, we are taught to let go; as adults, to hang on. When do
we do which? TV producer Raquel Ortiz's first book The Silk Purse takes
us into the life of a young Puerto Rican girl growing up in the Bronx
and at the same time to an intimate portrayal of a Puerto Rican family
and a close-knit Puerto Rican neighborhood. It is not enough that a good
story be told, it must be told well. And Ortiz knows how to spin her
true story into a beautiful tapestry of family, friendship, finding and
losing love, and personal tragedies.
In the cramped and decaying South Bronx neighborhood, an ingenious
and talented Puerto Rican girl found a sanctuary. In the Ortiz household
itself, Raquel had the love of her mother, stepfather, and grandparents,
her favorite grandaunt and her younger sister. In spite of the beginning
signs of decay and devastation, the entire Puerto Rican neighborhood was
like an extended family. Children went through one kitchen to another;
each adult was an uncle or an aunt who would reprimand and tell on every
prank or misbehavior.
The Silk Purse begins when Raquel is three years old and ends with a
major transition in her life at age eighteen. Along the way, she learned
to stand up for her young black friend, and to let go of her favorite Titi Maria, and her first love Alfonso. And perhaps most importantly, to
let go of a vicious personal attack that would haunt her forever. We
never forget for the memories will be with us forever; but we must learn
to cherish the joy and accept the tragic and the bitter. This book will
take you on a journey of self-acceptance and warm memories of a loving
home.
About the Author
Raquel Ortiz is an award-winning producer, writer, and director. She
has 35 years of experience in television and educational production
within the public broadcast system and the media. She also owned and
managed her own independent production company, Ortiz/Simon Productions,
Inc., which specialized in the development and production of
multicultural film and video projects; produced multimedia educational
videos and TV and radio commercials; and has consulted for various media
entities in the United States and Latin America. Her award-winning works
include the Latino series La Plaza produced for WGBH-TV in Boston, the
educational language video Caminos des Jaguar, and Mi Puerto Rico, a
personal documentary journey exploring the complex relationship between
Puerto Rico and the US for PBS.
[eCaroh] |
The Silk Purse
by Raquel Ortiz
eCaroh Price: $21.95
|
