Notifications

Clear all

Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas

Alice_Campos · 2011-07-13T23:15:03Z

Hopefully, some of you have heard of Victor Villasenor, the writer who was nominated for a Pulitzer two times. He wrote Rain of Gold, Burro Genius, and many other critically acclaimed books. Hopefully, some of you have heard of Victor Villasenor, the writer who was nominated for a Pulitzer two times. He wrote Rain of Gold, Burro Genius, and many other critically acclaimed books. He writes about his family's experiences in Mexico as well as in the U.S. In his books, he often mentions that his family came from Los Altos. In fact, one book, Wild Steps of Heaven, is about the family's experiences there. I was very curious where in Los Altos they were from and wrote to his website. Surprisingly, his sister wrote back to me and said they were from Arandas. She mentioned that the people there are known for being great horsemen and for having really good teeth! Any Villasenors from Arandas out there?

Page 2 / 2 Prev

Genealogy Research

Last Post by meef98367 14 years ago

22 Posts

14 Users

0 Reactions

18 Views

RSS

nancasillas

(@nancasillas)

Posts: 25

Eminent Member

That would be a neat idea, even if I cannot personally attend….I just got 4 of his books, and started Rain of Gold. I am so excited..i t’s taking me back in time…to 1917- 1920 which is when our G randfather, Cristino, came to the US, during the time of the revolution. Both he and his brother Jose arrived with their wives and children. Maybe Victor Villasenor would consider this invitation. It would be wonderful for everyone who could attend .

I must tell you that I married into this Mexican family…..and that was many years ago….in the 1960’s. For me when we went to visit my French grandmother every Sunday, we would sit in a parlor and listen to the clock tick for hours, all dressed up in our Sunday best for Mass and starving, because w e had fasted for communicon. It was excrutiating as we “paid our respects”. We were six children and we didn’t even get a glass of water, some mints though. I had to go ask my father “when” we would be going and would it be “soon”. Being the oldest that was my job each Sunday….b ut my Mexican family taught us how a family should be….with their “a brazos” coming and going each time we met, and such delicious food! The first time I did the same to my father…..he had a worried look on his face…and said “W hy are you giving me a hug, will I not see you again?” I told him it was only a sign of love…..after that it has been a part of our family “tradition” and was carried into the homes of all our friends too.

U ntil a few years ago (when I moved), I belonged to a Catholic parish where most of the parish members were Mexican, and they had a Spanish Mass. I loved the music, so I joined the choir, because oh I love to sing, and I sang my heart out, doing solos even…and when you sing for some reason, you don’t seem to have an accent…but I do not speak Spanish….I understand some and speak a little, but that is not exactly the same thing, as most of you know . O ne day I asked one of the other choir members to translate the words as we sang….well, that nearly did me in. Each song was more beautiful than the one before it. Something that had only been beautiful sounds to me, had meaning. As I learned each and every word and what they meant , it became more and more difficult to sing. The passion and the meaning of each left me totally speechless, and after awhile I could not sing at all. I had nothing but tears rolling down my cheeks. I told them no more….they must not tell me the meaning of a single lyric, because I would not be able to sing….everyone laughed that day…. and gave me another “a brazo”.

Nancy Casillas

Saint Clair, Michigan

—– Original Message —–

From: “Joseph Puentes”
To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 8:36:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas

maybe someone can contact him and see if he would like an “honorary”
membership in the NR group. . .which by the way would include a
invitation to speak at the next NR S.California get together.

it never hurts to ask.

joseph

======================

Joseph Puentes
NoMeat@h2opodcast.com
http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html (Vegan Environmental Solutions Podcast)
http://h2opodcast.com (Environmental Podcast)
http://h2opodcast.blogspot.com (Blog for above)
http://PleaseListenToYourMom.com (Women’s Peace Podcast)
http://NuestraFamiliaUnida.com (Latin American History Podcast)
http://nuestrosranchos.org (Jalisco, Zacatecas, and Aguascalientes
Genealogy)

francisco sevilla wrote:
> Victor Villaseno resides in Oceanseide California and he has a
Thanksgiving dinner open to all his friends.
>
> — On Fri, 7/15/11, Steve Apodaca wrote:
>
> From: Steve Apodaca
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas
> To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
> Date: Friday, July 15, 2011, 9:37 PM
>
> Rick,
>
> Besides Rain of gold/Lluvia de Oro, other books from Victor
Villasenor that are translated in Spanish are Wild Steps of Heaven/Pasos
Salvajes del Paraiso, Thirteen Senses/Trece Sentidos, Walking
Stars/Estrellas Peregrinas, Burro Genius/Burro Genio, Macho/Macho. Also,
he has written several bilingual children’s books. I ordered a couple of
them to read with my 3 year old daughter, and I really like the message,
especially in one titled The Stranger and the Red Rooster.
>
> I’ve met Victor Villasenor on two ocassions and he really talks with
passion about his family history. I had already started on my genealogy
before I read Rain of Gold, but after reading this book, I felt even
more motivated to learn about my own ancestors.
>
> Steve in NC
>
> — On Thu, 7/14/11, Rick Rodriguez wrote:
>
>
> From: Rick Rodriguez
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas
> To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
> Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011, 9:15 PM
>
>
> Alice,
>
> We are very proud here in Los Altos to be able to brag Don Victor
Villaseñor
> as one of ours.

Posted : 27/07/2011 12:15 am

jcaguayo

(@jcaguayo)

Posts: 55

Trusted Member

I agree with Ricardo…..

Juan Rulfo is a definite read for those interested. I really enjoyed the short
stories in his book El Llano en llamas. I believe there are 17 short stories
in this book. When I did a little research on him a few years ago I realized
that Juan Rulfo is most likely related to my wife via his maternal
grandmother. Apulco, Jalisco is a small town and was most likely a quite a bit
smaller in the early 1900s. Today I noticed that more Jalisco records are
available online including Apulco, so I’ll try to see how my wife and he are
related.

Saludos,
Juan Aguayo

—— Original Message ——
Received: 02:51 PM PDT, 07/19/2011
From: “Rick Rodriguez”
To:
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas

Hi Alice,

I definitely need to read his books! The style I’m referring to is kind of
Juan Rulfo’s style, fun, its narrative, entertaining, descriptive so you
don’t want to put down the book until you finish reading it.

R. Rodríguez

Posted : 27/07/2011 11:00 pm

RaquelRuiz

(@raquelruiz)

Posts: 238

Reputable Member

Thank you, Nancy. After working through a challenging batch on indexing,
your story made me smile and made my tension disappear.
Raquel Ruiz

Posted : 27/07/2011 11:45 pm

Alice_Campos

(@alice_campos)

Posts: 43

Estimable Member

Topic starter

I was just looking at Victor Villasenor’s website and saw that he posted that
Rain of Gold is going to be a miniseries on HBO and should air in 2012. He also
said a Mexican television station wants to air it on the 100th anniversary of
the Mexican Revolution. Also, just a reminder to those interested in Victor’s
books that Wild Steps of Heaven is the one about his father’s family who was
from Arandas.

http://victorvillasenor.com/blog/

Posted : 28/07/2011 5:30 am

oldcar53

(@oldcar53)

Posts: 776

Nancy,

What a heart warming story, thanks for sharing it with us.

Alicia,
San Jose, Ca

From: “nancasillas@comcast.net”
To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 5:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas

I must tell you that I married into this Mexican family…..and that was many years ago….in the 1960’s. For me when we went to visit my French grandmother every Sunday, we would sit in a parlor and listen to the clock tick for hours, all dressed up in our Sunday best for Mass and starving, because w e had fasted for communicon. It was excrutiating as we “paid our respects”. We were six children and we didn’t even get a glass of water, some mints though. I had to go ask my father “when” we would be going and would it be “soon”. Being the oldest that was my job each Sunday….b ut my Mexican family taught us how a family should be….with their “a brazos” coming and going each time we met, and such delicious food! The first time I did the same to my father…..he had a worried look on his face…and said “W hy are you giving me a hug, will I not see you again?” I told him it was only a sign of love…..after that it has been a
part of our family “tradition” and was carried into the homes of all our friends too.

U ntil a few years ago (when I moved), I belonged to a Catholic parish where most of the parish members were Mexican, and they had a Spanish Mass. I loved the music, so I joined the choir, because oh I love to sing, and I sang my heart out, doing solos even…and when you sing for some reason, you don’t seem to have an accent…but I do not speak Spanish….I understand some and speak a little, but that is not exactly the same thing, as most of you know . O ne day I asked one of the other choir members to translate the words as we sang….well, that nearly did me in. Each song was more beautiful than the one before it. Something that had only been beautiful sounds to me, had meaning. As I learned each and every word and what they meant , it became more and more difficult to sing. The passion and the meaning of each left me totally speechless, and after awhile I could not sing at all. I had nothing but tears
rolling down my cheeks. I told them no more….they must not tell me the meaning of a single lyric, because I would not be able to sing….everyone laughed that day…. and gave me another “a brazo”.

Nancy Casillas

Saint Clair, Michigan

—– Original Message —–

From: “Joseph Puentes”
To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 8:36:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas

maybe someone can contact him and see if he would like an “honorary”
membership in the NR group. . .which by the way would include a
invitation to speak at the next NR S.California get together.

it never hurts to ask.

joseph

======================

Posted : 28/07/2011 9:15 pm

nancasillas

(@nancasillas)

Posts: 25

Eminent Member

Umm you are welcome…and you would not believe how such a simple thing as a hug on greeting has become a part now of most American US families…and friends. I see it often now. I assure you this was not a habit 50 years ago. I attribute it completely to the Mexican influence here in our culture, and their love of family.

—– Original Message —–
From: “Alicia Carrillo”
To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 5:10:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas

Nancy,

What a heart warming story, thanks for sharing it with us.

Alicia,
San Jose, Ca

From: “nancasillas@comcast.net”
To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 5:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas

I must tell you that I married into this Mexican family…..and that was many years ago….in the 1960’s. For me when we went to visit my French grandmother every Sunday, we would sit in a parlor and listen to the clock tick for hours, all dressed up in our Sunday best for Mass and starving, because w e had fasted for communicon. It was excrutiating as we “paid our respects”. We were six children and we didn’t even get a glass of water, some mints though. I had to go ask my father “when” we would be going and would it be “soon”. Being the oldest that was my job each Sunday….b ut my Mexican family taught us how a family should be….with their “a brazos” coming and going each time we met, and such delicious food! The first time I did the same to my father…..he had a worried look on his face…and said “W hy are you giving me a hug, will I not see you again?” I told him it was only a sign of love…..after that it has been a
part of our family “tradition” and was carried into the homes of all our friends too.

U ntil a few years ago (when I moved), I belonged to a Catholic parish where most of the parish members were Mexican, and they had a Spanish Mass. I loved the music, so I joined the choir, because oh I love to sing, and I sang my heart out, doing solos even…and when you sing for some reason, you don’t seem to have an accent…but I do not speak Spanish….I understand some and speak a little, but that is not exactly the same thing, as most of you know . O ne day I asked one of the other choir members to translate the words as we sang….well, that nearly did me in. Each song was more beautiful than the one before it. Something that had only been beautiful sounds to me, had meaning. As I learned each and every word and what they meant , it became more and more difficult to sing. The passion and the meaning of each left me totally speechless, and after awhile I could not sing at all. I had nothing but tears
rolling down my cheeks. I told them no more….they must not tell me the meaning of a single lyric, because I would not be able to sing….everyone laughed that day…. and gave me another “a brazo”.

Nancy Casillas

Saint Clair, Michigan

—– Original Message —–

From: “Joseph Puentes”
To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 8:36:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas

maybe someone can contact him and see if he would like an “honorary”
membership in the NR group. . .which by the way would include a
invitation to speak at the next NR S.California get together.

it never hurts to ask.

joseph

======================

Posted : 28/07/2011 11:15 pm

meef98367

(@meef98367)

Posts: 1036

Yes, we did not see white men in America embracing each other until President Clinton started it. For some reason, after that it took off, also the high fives and other types of handshakes borrowed from other cultures. What I don’t see yet is the kisses on the cheeks between men like you see in France and the Arab countries. I was astounded when President Bush kissed some Arab princes, but I have not seen him kiss any other men here.

Emilie

> Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:00:09 +0000
> From: nancasillas@comcast.net
> To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas
>
> Umm you are welcome…and you would not believe how such a simple thing as a hug on greeting has become a part now of most American US families…and friends. I see it often now. I assure you this was not a habit 50 years ago. I attribute it completely to the Mexican influence here in our culture, and their love of family.
>
> —– Original Message —–
> From: “Alicia Carrillo”
> To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
> Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 5:10:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas
>
> Nancy,
>
> What a heart warming story, thanks for sharing it with us.
>
> Alicia,
> San Jose, Ca
>
> From: “nancasillas@comcast.net”
> To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 5:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas
>
>
>
> That would be a neat idea, even if I cannot personally attend….I just got 4 of his books, and started Rain of Gold. I am so excited..i t’s taking me back in time…to 1917- 1920 which is when our G randfather, Cristino, came to the US, during the time of the revolution. Both he and his brother Jose arrived with their wives and children. Maybe Victor Villasenor would consider this invitation. It would be wonderful for everyone who could attend .
>
> I must tell you that I married into this Mexican family…..and that was many years ago….in the 1960’s. For me when we went to visit my French grandmother every Sunday, we would sit in a parlor and listen to the clock tick for hours, all dressed up in our Sunday best for Mass and starving, because w e had fasted for communicon. It was excrutiating as we “paid our respects”. We were six children and we didn’t even get a glass of water, some mints though. I had to go ask my father “when” we would be going and would it be “soon”. Being the oldest that was my job each Sunday….b ut my Mexican family taught us how a family should be….with their “a brazos” coming and going each time we met, and such delicious food! The first time I did the same to my father…..he had a worried look on his face…and said “W hy are you giving me a hug, will I not see you again?” I told him it was only a sign of love…..after that it has been a
> part of our family “tradition” and was carried into the homes of all our friends too.
>
> U ntil a few years ago (when I moved), I belonged to a Catholic parish where most of the parish members were Mexican, and they had a Spanish Mass. I loved the music, so I joined the choir, because oh I love to sing, and I sang my heart out, doing solos even…and when you sing for some reason, you don’t seem to have an accent…but I do not speak Spanish….I understand some and speak a little, but that is not exactly the same thing, as most of you know . O ne day I asked one of the other choir members to translate the words as we sang….well, that nearly did me in. Each song was more beautiful than the one before it. Something that had only been beautiful sounds to me, had meaning. As I learned each and every word and what they meant , it became more and more difficult to sing. The passion and the meaning of each left me totally speechless, and after awhile I could not sing at all. I had nothing but tears
> rolling down my cheeks. I told them no more….they must not tell me the meaning of a single lyric, because I would not be able to sing….everyone laughed that day…. and gave me another “a brazo”.
>
> Nancy Casillas
>
> Saint Clair, Michigan
>
>
>
> —– Original Message —–
>
>
> From: “Joseph Puentes”
> To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
> Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 8:36:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas
>
> maybe someone can contact him and see if he would like an “honorary”
> membership in the NR group. . .which by the way would include a
> invitation to speak at the next NR S.California get together.
>
> it never hurts to ask.
>
>
> joseph
>
> ======================
>
> Joseph Puentes
> NoMeat@h2opodcast.com
> http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html (Vegan Environmental Solutions Podcast)
> http://h2opodcast.com (Environmental Podcast)
> http://h2opodcast.blogspot.com (Blog for above)
> http://PleaseListenToYourMom.com (Women’s Peace Podcast)
> http://NuestraFamiliaUnida.com (Latin American History Podcast)
> http://nuestrosranchos.org (Jalisco, Zacatecas, and Aguascalientes
> Genealogy)
>
>
>
> francisco sevilla wrote:
> > Victor Villaseno resides in Oceanseide California and he has a
> Thanksgiving dinner open to all his friends.
> >
> > — On Fri, 7/15/11, Steve Apodaca wrote:
> >
> > From: Steve Apodaca
> > Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas
> > To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
> > Date: Friday, July 15, 2011, 9:37 PM
> >
> > Rick,
> >
> > Besides Rain of gold/Lluvia de Oro, other books from Victor
> Villasenor that are translated in Spanish are Wild Steps of Heaven/Pasos
> Salvajes del Paraiso, Thirteen Senses/Trece Sentidos, Walking
> Stars/Estrellas Peregrinas, Burro Genius/Burro Genio, Macho/Macho. Also,
> he has written several bilingual children’s books. I ordered a couple of
> them to read with my 3 year old daughter, and I really like the message,
> especially in one titled The Stranger and the Red Rooster.
> >
> > I’ve met Victor Villasenor on two ocassions and he really talks with
> passion about his family history. I had already started on my genealogy
> before I read Rain of Gold, but after reading this book, I felt even
> more motivated to learn about my own ancestors.
> >
> > Steve in NC
> >
> > — On Thu, 7/14/11, Rick Rodriguez wrote:
> >
> >
> > From: Rick Rodriguez
> > Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Author Victor Villasenor is From Arandas
> > To: research@nuestrosranchos.org
> > Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011, 9:15 PM
> >
> >
> > Alice,
> >
> > We are very proud here in Los Altos to be able to brag Don Victor
> Villaseñor
> > as one of ours.
>
>

Posted : 29/07/2011 8:15 pm

Page 2 / 2 Prev

3 Forums
16.3 K Topics
36.1 K Posts
0 Online
1,685 Members

Forum Icons: Forum contains no unread posts Forum contains unread posts

Topic Icons: Not Replied Replied Active Hot Sticky Unapproved Solved Private Closed