Tortuga: A NovelRudolfo Anaya's personal journey to Tortuga began one desert-hot day when, as an adolescent, he and some friends were swimming in irrigation ditches. He dove in, sustaining an injury that put him in the hospital for an arduous period of time. Tortuga is set in a hospital for crippled children and is based on Anaya's swimming accident. He explores the significance of pain and suffering in a young boy's life and the importance of spiritual recovery as well as medical. Tortuga, or Turtle, is the name of the oddly shaped mountain near the hospital, but "Tortuga" also points toward the rigid cast that encases the young hero's body. In celebration of the twenty-five years since the first edition of Tortuga was published, Rudolfo Anaya has provided an Afterword to share his memories of those days in the hospital and how they impacted the remainder of his life. |
From inside the book
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... never complains , he never complains ... I've never heard him utter a single complaint , have you Samson ? " Samson shook his head . " He hasn't moved an inch since the day he came ... never will ... but he doesn't complain . He spends ...
... never had a chance ! Damnit , he never had a chance ! " We all shared his anger and frustration , because we felt like he did , but there was nothing we could do . " We should take this case to the Committee , " somebody suggested ...
A Novel Rudolfo A. Anaya. Perhaps I can never love again never hold Ismelda in my arms into the pit again without holding the girl who lies wasting in the iron lung Perhaps the shadows which pursue me will drag me down of shrunken bodies ...