Palm Latitudes: A NovelWritten nearly a decade after Lithium for Medea, Palm Latitudes, Kate Braverman's second novel and arguably her chef d’oeuvre, explores the intertwined lives of three women who await absolution and revelation in the bougainvillea- and violence-filled "barrio" of Los Angeles. Frances Ramos is a voluptuous prostitute who flaunts her wealth and is held in high esteem by the local street gangs. Gloria Hernandez is a dutiful young wife and mother—until her husband’s act of betrayal sparks her growing estrangement and fury. Marta Ortega, a prophetic old woman connected viscerally with the forces/elements of nature, nods as past and present mingle and quietly charts the cross-pollenization of her turbulent neighborhood, and of human destiny. |
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amber American Angeles Angelina and Orquídea Barbara Branden beneath birds birth blood blue bougainvillea Boulevard Caracas church clouds color Consuelo López courtyard curandera daughter dogs draped dusk earth Enrique erased eyes flesh Flores Street flowers Francisca fronds garden glass Gloria Hernández gray green Hail Mary hair hands hills horchata house on Flores husband Joseph and Bill lake lips liquid lived Los Angeles Luna Marta Ortega metal Mexico Mexico City Miguel moon mother mouth night numbers ocean Octavio Herrera orchids Padre painted palms patrón perhaps petals pink plants plaza pueblo Puerto Vallarta Puta rain Ramón recognized remember ritual river Roberto rock Salvador Velásquez scent seasons seemed Señora sense silence sitting skin sleep Spanish staring stars Sunset Boulevard taxicab telephone Tenochtitlán terrace thought trees waiting walked walls watched wind woman women yellow Yucatán