November 10, 2006
Hola,
My
name is Omar Gonzalez, and I am a gay Xicano from El Paso. I am now a graduate student in the Chicana/o Studies Dept at Cal
State Northridge. I was extremely moved by your book. Thank you for putting more attention on this tragic situation on our
homeland. Every visit to El Paso is bittersweet. I miss Chico's Tacos and the menudo, but I would suffocate if I ever lived
there again. I have a question for you. I have noticed the level of homophobia among young Xicanas/os rising, and this disturbs
me. I am out, and I always bring up queer issues in my classes. The faculty are supportive, but many students harbor latent homophobia. I
used to be ashamed of claiming El Paso, but you and John Rechy make me very proud of El Chuco.
con respeto,
omar
October 22, 2006 (can someone translate this from Italian for me?)
Ciao Alicia,
preferisco scriverti in Italiano per trasmetterti
esattamente le mie emozioni. Il mio spagnolo non
è dei migliori... spero tu sappia l'italiano o
che ci sia qualcuno che ti aiuiti a tradurre
questa lettera.
Mi chiamo Ilaria, sono di Roma, ho 31 anni. Ho
letto il tuo libro IL DESERTO DELLE MORTI
SILENZIOSE, e... è come se un ombra si fosse
gettata sul mio spirito. Mi sento un pò come
Ivone che non sapeva nulla di tutte quelle
violenze. E ora... ora che questa spada taglia
anche la mia anima mi sento stupida e impotente.
Il tuo libro l'ho letto in due notti (di giorno
il lavoro mi succhia gran parte della giornata e
la notte è l'unico momento in cui posso dedicarmi
alla lettura). Notti interminabili che mi hanno
trasporatato sveglia fino all'alba, notti in cui
ho tremato, pianto, vomitato, notti in cui la mia
vita è cambiata. E questo grazie a te. Perchè nel
tuo libro sono custodite emozioni e fatti
sconvolgenti, intensi, di un'atrocità che valica
ogni possibile fantasia malsana, ma che è nostro
dovere sapere. E non è giusto vivere
nell'ignoranza, come ho fatto io fino a questo
momento.
Come è possibile che accadano cose del genere?
Come è possibile che ci sia tanta omertà? Come si
può odiare a tal modo? Domande banali che ti
sarai posta mille volte, lo so, ma che non mi
lasciano, neanche per un attimo, durante le mie
giornate.
Sono profondamente addolorata.
Ho, naturalmente, firmato la petizione.
Questa lettera è solo per dirti che esiste una
persona nel mondo che ora è consapevole grazie a
te, al tuo libro. Che ritiene che il tuo lavoro
sia stato fondamentale, che tutte le animme del
mondo dovrebbero conoscere.
Se mai un giorno dovessi passare dall'Italia per
presentare un nuovo libro o altro, mi piacerebbe
esserci, poterti conoscere.
per ora ti ringrazio per tutto ciò che sei riuscita a darmi (e non è poco)
Un profondo abbraccio
IlariaOctober
19, 2006
Professor
Gaspar de Alba,
My
name
is Tiffany Ivy and I am a student at the University of California Santa
Barbara. This summer I did a small research project with five other women on
the murders that are happening in Juarez. This summer was the first time that I
had ever heard about the murders. Since then I have had it in my heart to bring
awareness on this issue and to do what I can to bring an end to what is
happening. I feel like the University is a good place to start and am planning
an event sometime this winter at UCSB to bring awareness to what is happening.
I read
your book two weeks
ago as an
assignment for a chicana studies class I am taking and really enjoyed how you
brought the facts of what are happening into your novel.
Sincerly,
Tiffany
Ivy
September 27, 2006
Hello,
My name is Lauren Albani and I'm currently a senior at the
University of Kansas, majoring in Spanish. In my class this semester we are
studying the overlappings of history and fiction and we recently have been
discussing the Juarez murders. I'm currently writing a paper about how the
Juarez murders have been portrayed in fiction and the consequences of this. I'm
in the middle of your book and I noticed that your explicit intent was to NOT
sensationalize the murders, which is precisely what I intend to argue as the
best method for intertwining history and fiction. However, I was curious as to
what your views were concerning the two Hollywood movies about the murders that
will be coming out in the next few weeks.Bordertown with Jennifer Lopez and the
Virgin of Juarez with Minnie Driver. If you have time, please let me know what
you think about Hollywood's emergence in this issue.
Sincere thanks,
Lauren Albani
July 24, 2006
Hi Alicia,
Christina Marin who is
a professor in Educational Theatre at NYU just loaned me your book. I'm originally from El Paso, undergrad at Northwestern (summer school
at UCLA), MFA at UT Austin 2004. For my thesis project I created a one person performance inspired by an installation by Celia
Alavarez Munoz ( El Pasoan) thru which I first learned of the Juarez murders in 1999.
I moved to NYC 2yrs ago and am a struggling actress.
I'm working on re-writing my thesis. Its tough. I'm not a trained writer and I find myself so close to the material. It grips
me. I read the first line in your book and had to put it down for several months and am just now able to read it. I too am
filled with stories of growing up on the border. There is a strange comfort and understanding in reading your book.
If you know of any other writers/ artists in the NYC area that I could find encouragement from
I'd appreciate it. I long to perform my story- my border story and my musingsover the Juarez murders. I can use support tho.
Bless you and thank you !
Melinda Peinado
June 9, 2006
Professor...picked up your book by chance...liked
the cover and it had a blurb by James Crumley...glad I stuck with it. I was amazed that this is going on with no one knowing...well
I didn't. The numbers are staggering. The indignities suffered by woman workers there on a daily basis was just as shocking.
Every murder is solvable I think. The Boston Police Dept. cleared 7% last year.( Boston Globe and Boston Herald ) So if the
perp is sitting there with a bloody knife in their hand saying 'I didn't mean it' they have a shot at clearing the case. Contrast
this with the United Kingdom.
I go back and forth between Massachusetts and Nova Scotia...so am pretty aware of the implications of NAFTA as regards this
area. From both sides. But you showed me a third side. Congrats on a very fine book...not only a page-turning crime novel
but an educational one. Don't know what I can do about it...but if you have any ideas... Until there is no third world there
will be no justice. One World says Bob Marley.
Chris Judson
May 5, 2006
Alicia,
I
am a professor at IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), a rather
large university in the PA state system. I
usually teach classes in
sociolingusitics, language and gender, composition etc. This spring,
however,
I was assigned a freshman level class called Humanities
Literature. It's an "introduction" (read: learn-to-understand-and/or
like-literature)
course, and while I had taught it in the past, I
hadn't recently--in the past 5 years.
I'll
cut to the chase--I ordered, sight unseen, Desert Blood after
reading a review in Arte Publico. I did so because
I thought the
topic important and I wanted to include something in crime/detection
genre. I put the book
in the syllabus without having read more than
the first chapter. To tell you the truth, once I began reading, well
into
the semester, I became a bit concerned that students would react
negatively. Or worse, that they'd simply blow
off the book and topic
as not important to their lives. Boy, was I wrong! They were totally
overcome
by the book--its message & its significance. Here's a quote
from one student's journal entry:
"The book Desert Blood was my all time favorite book to read during
the
entire class. It made me angry, made me laugh, made me cry, but
it especially made me open my eyes to the fact
tht you should not stay
ignorant about what is going on in the world..."
Also,
during the time we were reading Desert Blood and talking about
it in class, campus ran a "chalk-on-the-walk" contest
where students
could articulate any message they wanted. I offered extra credit if
students wanted to
participate by chalking about any of the literature
we had read. One male student won, and he won with a message
about
Desert Blood! I was thrilled.
I wanted to commend
you on this book. It was an excellent addition to
a course which is oftentimes a yawn for students not interested
in
literature. I feel that if I can continue to engage students in
discussions of socially relevant issues,
I've done my job. Desert
Blood sure helped me to do that. Thanks,
Nancy
Hayward
May 3, 2006
Dear Alicia Gaspar de Alba,
my name is Jill Scherneck from the University of Sussex.
I have recently read your novel 'Desert Blood'.
I firstly wanted to express my respect and gratitude for this novel: I have found it extremely interesting and it touched
me so deeply that I could not sleep, nor talk of anything else! So, thank you!
I think that the points that you have raised in your novel are extremely important. I also think that writing a novel instead
of academia is a great way to reach out to the public!
Best Regards
and my greatest respect
Jill Scherneck
University of Sussex
January
8, 2006
While flipping through channels on what started to be a rather dull Sunday afternoon
I was pleasantly surprised to find you on my television. Until that moment I had never heard of you but most certainly had
heard of the travesty of justice to the young women in Juarez. Oddly enough it had been several years ago that I first heard
of this and I wondered what was being done to solve this mystery. On the other hand I had no knowledge of El Paso being a
dumping ground for sex offenders and am appalled. But thanks to this information my choice of destinations next year after
completing my social workers degree has been simplified, relocation to El Paso is certainly in order. My area of specialized
studies is child abuse/neglect and sexual offenders. Sounds like my cup of tea waiting in El Paso.
So I just wanted to "Thank You" for this info, my time seeking relocation possibilities is now ended.
In the event you are ever in the Oklahoma City area please give a call as I would love the opportunity of meeting you.
Sincerely,
Frauke
Davis
JANUARY
30, 2006
Desert
Blood was an amazing eye opening, exciting, and gut wrenching read. The terrorand
the element of suprise made it impossible to put down the book. I was leftwith chills down my body. I
read the book in one sitting because of how much it touched me. I knew about
the Juarez murders. I knew about the women, but i didn'tfeel it to the extent
that it was echoing in my mind. THis book is in your face.
THese
murders are happening and everyone should be aware. THis should definitelybe a requirement for law enforcent,
and schools to read. People need to be aware.
THank
you for writing such an amazing book!
Elisiana
"Fuego Del Sol" Custodio
Los
Imprudentes
January 8, 2006
Hello
Alicia,
I just listened to you on book TV filmed in Texas. I wanted to write and let you know I very much enjoyed your
thoughts.
I have been against immigrants crossing the US boarders but I am trying to get a better understanding.
Listening to you help bring
down my prejudice wall. I don't know exactly why I built this wall I just know there is no reason to keep it standing.
Good luck
Take care
Julie
I plan to read your new book
December
17, 2005
Hello
again Alicia - I just finished reading "Desert Blood" early this am.
It is stunning. The most throroughly documented and vital work on the Juarez
murders that I have read to date. It should be required reading for anyone
studying Border issues, femicide, Border corruption etc etc. Your insider
knowledge of the area speaks volumes. I feel so fortunate to have heard you
speaking at the Texas book fair here in Austin.
I
have dedicated my work to the women of Juarez - and noticed that you also
acknowledged Norma Andrade at the end of DB (she spoke to an Amnesty
group here in Austin a couple of years ago about the murder of her own
daughter). And I first heard about the appalling "snuff" flick
industry from women of the group Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera
, which
prompted me to write YARD.
Your book hit me
on many levels - not only did it deepen my knowledge of the Juarez femicide,
but also my knowledge of El Paso (my grandfather used to work for ASARCO.) I look forward to hearing from you - and congratulate
you again for exposing
one of the most disgraceful realities of the Border.
In sisterhood,
Pamela Ferguson
November 11, 2005
dear ms. gaspar de alba,
my name is violeta sánchez and i am currently a graduate student at the
university
of houston. i just read DESERT BLOOD for one of my classes and i just wanted to thank you. even though i already knew about
the juarez
murders, your book has inspired me to learn more. as soon as i finished
reading your book
late last night (or very early this morning), i signed the
NI UNA MAS petition and started reading articles on
the web. i could not go to bed. i finally had to write a (poorly written) poem to get some stuff out of my system and i finally
went to bed at 5 am. i was so haunted by your story and those i kept reading last night that i even dreamt (or nightmared) about
it all. but i think this is good--these stories aren't supposed to leave your mind when you close a book or a webpage.
i also want to say that i happen to be a huge tori amos fan. as soon as you
mentioned
the song "black-dove (january)", the song got stuck in my head and i heard it all through the irene chapters. also, those
images from the
choirgirl hotel cd you described have actually been on my living room walls for a few months now.
i used to think they were just neat images, that's why i framed them. now they've become reminders of the juárez women. i
don't think i can get them out of my head.
once again, thank you.
your writing is beautiful and your research
inspiring. miles de gracias.
sincerely,
violeta
sánchez
October
9, 2005
Dear Ms. Gaspar
De Alba
I just finished reading your book. It was quite a different way to read about murder since it had a very real background.
I was chilled to the bone to understand the danger to yourself and the many others who had the courage to report on this
story.
Although I can see that many magazines and newspapers wrote about this I live northeast of Dallas and am formerly from Van
Horn 120 miles east of El Paso. I do not remember seeing anything on the murders. I am astounded that nothing has surfaced
in our daily papers, ect
I believe that truth is a great globe and integrity is being true to where the light shines for you. My heart cries for the
girls violated and murdered, their families and for all those at risk to shine the light on what is happening.
Vaya Con Dios
Martha
August 13, 2005
Hola
Alicia,
Acabo de leer tu
libro y escuchado una entrevista tuya. Estoy tan contenta de haberte leído y
saber que existe una mujer como tu. Soy mexicana y vivo en Canadá. Estoy organizando
una marcha en mi ciudad Kamloops (cerca de Vancouver) para el día de "Take
back the night" y voy a hablar ese día acerca de las mujeres de Juárez,
porque por acá no se sabe mucho de lo que está pasando todavía. También quiero
ir a investigar a las mujeres maquiladoras de Juárez personalmente, pero no sé
a qué organización o grupo contactar para que me puedan dar entrevistas y quizás
hacer un tour. Me da miedo ir sola porque escucho que es muy peligroso. Si tienes
alguna idea o sugerencia, te lo agradecería.
Esperando recibir
noticias tuyas, quedo a tus órdenes.
Margarita Lopez
Garcia de Alba
June
28, 2005
Dear Ms. Gaspar
de Alba,
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your book "Desert Blood" (although I'm not sure enjoyed is exactly the correct
word). Having lived in El Paso for several years - I graduated from Irvin High School in 1964 - and having returned there
many times over the years, it was interesting to be able to identify many of the places you mentioned.
I first learned about the murders by reading the same article in Ms. Magazine, and I'm horrified that they are most likely
still occurring. Juarez is a very different place now than it was when we first moved to El Paso in 1960. Crossing the border
for the first time as a 13-year old, I was appalled by the poverty - little children selling chewing gum and sleeping on the
bridge - yet I understand that conditions are much worse now.
I'll be returning to El Paso in September to visit a dear friend. When I see the star on Franklin Mountain, I will think
of the victims lying in the desert and thank you for writing a book that has implanted itself in my memory and heart.
Thank you,
Mary Wujcik
June 27, 2005
Dear alicia, i just
wanted to let u know i just finished reading the book, thank you so much for giving the mujer artes ladies a copy, i wanted
to say the book took me to another place within myself that i have never been. i am a different person today because of your
book. you know i have never finished a book totally to the end,and your book i just couldn't put down,,,many late dinners,and
my family saw and understood how important it was to me to finish to the end...i will always have a smiling child in my mind
thanks to brigitt and ivon..may they stay forever happy... and forever safe.....once again thanks for an eye opening
experience.......... deedee guajardo /mujer artes
June
13, 2005
Alicia, it is
11 p.m. and I just finished reading your book and I am a WRECK!! What a creature you have wrought! It has to be the strongest
political novel in years. You are a genius in more than one way: 1)to make the horrors of the Juarez murders into A NOVEL,
not another non-fiction work no matter how well intended; (2)to make the novel a suspense-killer that nobody could put down;
(3)on top of all else, actually to offer an analysis of what is causing the killings when the reader is finally ready for
that.
And more and more, and I am too wasted to write more but I did want to send you a mountain of congratulations and amor and
and and!!!
Love and venceremos, Betita Martínez. Amen.
June 6, 2005
Querida Alicia:
Just a quick note: I devoured your entire novel on my nightmare flight from Los Angeles to Miami
(which took almost a day from door to door, go figure), and then re-read it on the plane to Madrid. Congratulations for a
fabulous novel; smart, intensely readable, angry, political (without being preachy), moving, and empathetic. I was blown away,
but not surprised to have that reaction given how much I have loved Sor Juana's Second Dream and yr poetry.
Abrazos transpacificos de ozlandia
Paul Allatson
May 26, 2005
I want to thank
you for writing this book. I'm an
El Paso native attending UTSA. I
attended your reading there, and recently bought the book. I
read it in one day, hardly ate, and
hardly moved. I recently visited
El Paso for a family reunion, and some
cousins and I crossed over into Juarez against our parents' wishes. We saw the
posters, and the fear was real. I
wanted to talk about it with my family
who lives in El
Paso, but it seems that no one was really interested.
Those were murders that were happening "over
there", as if a cement ditch and a barbed- wire fence made all the
difference in the world.
Andrea Figueroa
MAY
26, 2005
Numbers don't count
No
matter the amount
Three hundred plus
There
is no fuss
Tears keep falling
The
land keeps calling
For Coyotes and Mules
And
anarchy rules
The law is green
The
dirty looks clean
Across the River
The
women shiver
Above waves a flag
A
red, white, and green bodybag
I
am a 35 year old black male who has lived in El Paso for over 26 years. My interest and sympathy have grown since I first learned
of the continuing tragedy in Mexico. Desert Blood, for me, is a small flickering flame on a candle that shines brightly against
the darkness of corruption and impunity which is allowed to fester uncontrollably. However, that flame has spread to my soul
which has changed simple interest and sympathy into a sense of urgency and hope. Please allow me to share in your quest for
the truth. Then justice will surely be realized. Sincerely,
Ben Woolridge.
