Rekindling a Flame: On a Marvelous Endorsement

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
Albert Schweitzer


Joshua Berman is an accomplished travel writer. He is co-author of Moon Handbooks Nicaragua, unquestionably the best guidebook for this country. What first drew my attention to Joshua’s work was that, a little over a year ago, he wrote in his blog that he had just purchased Bernardo and the Virgin and was looking forward to reading it. Grateful for the plug, I sent Joshua an email thanking him.

In his response, he stated:

Dear Silvio,

Wow, ¡qué milagro! I’m in the middle of reading Bernardo and the Virgin (I hadn’t yet read it when I wrote the post about Nica reading lists on my blog), and I was planning on contacting you later this week. Incredible. Bernardo and the Virgin is not only one of the best books I’ve read on Nicaragua, but one of the best historical fictions I’ve ever read. So, felicidades for that. I plan on including your novel on the Suggested Readings list of the next edition of my guidebook on Nicaragua.

I’m looking forward to communicating more with you,

Josué

Joshua and I have since corresponded, but only briefly. Today, however, my spirit soared after reading the grand endorsement Joshua gives Bernardo and the Virgin in the most recent edition (Third edition, September 1, 2008, Avalon Travel Publishing) of Moon Handbooks Nicaragua. The following quote can be found on page 459, in the section titled Further Study. Bernardo is the first book mentioned.

Suggested Reading

A prodigious amount of literature emerged from the Sandinista years, when Nicaragua was the setting of the hemisphere’s most celebrated—and criticized—socialist experiment of the century. You’ll find more titles on Nicaragua in the used-book section than you will on the new releases shelf. Following is an extremely eclectic (and incomplete) list of your options.

Fiction

Sirias, Silvio. Bernardo and the Virgin. Chicago: Northwestern University Press, 2005. Bernardo stands head and shoulders above other books about Nicaragua for sheer originality, real-life texture, and ingenious use of voices and characters. This historical novel tells the true story of the Virgin Mary’s appearances to a campesino in Cuapa, while portraying a thick slice of Nicaragua’s past and present. If you only have time to read one book before your trip, this may be the one.

I would never dare to wish for a better review than that, especially from someone who has read extensively about Nicaragua.

Gracias, Joshué. Your message came at a time when I needed that extra boost.


To purchase your copy of Moon Handbooks Nicaragua, click here.

Or, for a copy of Bernardo and the Virgin, go here.