José Builds a Woman

Title:

José Builds a Woman

Description:

In a male-dominated culture, how does a fiercely independent woman contend with machismo and still find sexual and spiritual satisfaction? This is the question asked by author Jan Baross in her vibrant first novel, José Builds A Woman. Bringing her background as an artist to the written page, Baross paints a vivid portrait of Latin American culture with the brush of magical realism. Her writing celebrates the sensual, sexual, and supernatural as it challenges social and cultural taboos. It balances exaggerated masculinity with exhilarating feminine strength.
José Builds A Woman tells the story of Tortugina, a wild young woman who is destined to make her quiet family weep. Through the waters of the womb, Tortugina transfers her yearning for love and acceptance to her son, José, conceived during an otherworldly union with her drowned lover. It is José’s fate to also suffer the twining of flesh and spirit, earth and water, love and loss. In a melding of free spirits, earthly passions, and Latin American culture seasoned with irreverent humor, José Builds A Woman reminds us what means to be alive and in love.

Keywords:

Latin America, Mexican, Mexico
Magical realism, mysticism, mystical
Woman, feminine, mujeres, mama, mother, wife, sister-in-law
Man, masculine, machismo, padre, father, husband, brother-in-law
Coastal, coast, ocean, cliff(s)
Divers, dive
Little turtle, octopus, pulpo
Wedding, marry
Virgin, womb
Strength
Dream
Tragedy, tragic
Village
Tortillas
Legs, lips, hands, heart, head, face
Tortugina
José
Gabito
Miguel
Jan Baross

Article:

Readers of magical realism will be delighted with Jan Baross’ novel, José Builds a Woman. Magical realism is a literary element common in Latin American literature, and is defined as “an aesthetic style in which magical elements or illogical scenarios appear in an otherwise realistic or even ‘normal’ setting.”

Baross’ book incorporates mystical elements seamlessly into the lives of her characters, and particularly that of the protagonist, Tortugina, and her drowned lover, Gabito. The two grow up together in their small coastal village of El Pulpo, Mexico. Gabito is an octopus diver, one of the brave young men that dive off the high cliffs into the ocean below to catch the octopus that feed their village. Tortugina’s admiration of Gabito is only strengthened by her own to desire to become an octopus diver as well.

Early in the novel, Gabito dies in a tragic diving accident. But his role in the novel has only just begun. He and Tortugina “marry” shortly after his death in a private, dream-like wedding ceremony, and they conceive a child, José. Tortugina remains committed to Gabito throughout her life, although she marries another, Miguel, and must keep her devotion to her deceased husband a secret.

In the midst of the magical elements woven throughout this story, very real issues are addressed as well. Readers will identify with the power struggle between man and woman as Tortugina must assert her feminine strength to survive her mortal husband’s brutal machismo. Other issues touched on in this book include infidelity, loyalty, and the relationships between mother and daughter, father and son, mother and son, and wife and sister-in-law.

This is a beautifully written story that readers will appreciate especially for its strong descriptions of tactile sensation. Her descriptions of the body and the physical sensations of the characters are powerful, and her use of simple words such as legs, lips, hands, heart, head, and face make the reader feel connected to the characters in an intimate way.