Books: “House of Broken Dreams” by Luis Alberto Urrea

In “House of Broken Angels,” Luis Alberto Urrea weaves a warm, humorous tale of a San Diego paterfamilias, known as Big Angel, who has gathered his Mexican-American family together to celebrate his 70-something birthday—only to have his mother die, unexpectedly, days before the party.

Complicating the situation further is Big Angel’s diagnosis of cancer. Which means this birthday will probably be Big Angel’s last.

The occasion offers an opportunity to gather the children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, half-siblings that constitute a large Latino family as well as all of their family rivalries and

other personal issues. The most significant and contentious relationship is between Big Angel and his half-brother known as Little Angel. LA has moved to Seattle, shucked off his Latino heritage and become a yuppie of sorts.

“House of Broken Angels” is a refreshing, readable take on the immigrant experience (both documented and undocumented) written by an author who is a half-Mexican son of an immigrant himself and whose work has been praised by the likes of Richard Ford, Jim Harrison, and Dave Eggers. Now it’s your turn. Vaya con Dios.