Page 4 - Boca ViewPointe - July '22

Page 4, Viewpointe July 2022
Book Review

Plight of the Working Class Elena Medel has written a poetic, touching novel about the
plight of the working women in contemporary Spain set from
Sir, I am a true laborer. I earn that I eat, get that the time of Generalissimo Francisco Franco’s death and end
I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man’s happiness, of fascism to the following half century of social democracy
glad of other men’s good, content with my harm, and the modern feminist movement. The surrealistic work
and the greatest of my pride is to see my ewes graze rendered in vignettes of memory is unified by the presence
and my lambs suck.” Shakespeare’s Corin, As You Like It of Carmen who appears as an infant, illegitimate daughter of
J.D. Vance. Hillbilly Elegy, A Memoir of Family and Culture the sixteen year old Maria who lovingly tends to her needs.
in Crisis. New York: Harper Collins, 2016. But in the interest of the child’s future, she gives her up to the
Elena Medel. The Wonders, A Novel, trans. Lizzie Davis and care of her family, her Uncle Chico, and moves to Madrid to
Thomas Bunstead. Chapel Hill, N.C.: Algonquin Book, 2022. undertake a humdrum life eking out a living while working in
menial jobs, and hoping one day to reclaim her daughter. She
By Dr. Ronald J. Meyers neither apologizes nor bewails her life, but fulfills the calling
Cough Medicine, etc. It likely draws inference from the of her faith and her destiny. She is faithful to Pedro, a man
“H illbilly” w ith rustics celebrated by the Elizabethans, William Shakespeare who loves her, and they share Marxist belief; but is unwilling
the denotation of an and Edmund Spenser, for their raw common sense and strong to live with him while she undertakes work for the association,
unsophisticated country moral scruples. These are predominantly descendants of a feminist movement for the improvement of women’s status.
person from the heartlands Scot-Irish immigrants, victims of advanced industrialization In later pages, we encounter Carmen as wife, and mother
has gained a favorable who were left behind on their small farms in Appalachia and to Alicia, who is also a victim of fate though brought up in
connotation in regards to the the mid-west as the country moved in new directions. J.D. a prosperous middle class family. Her father owns several
truthful, authentic country Vance, running currently for the United States Senate from restaurants named Carmen. She is a good student with a
music which conveys the Ohio, recounts his own hillbilly past with his grandparents, promising future. But her future is curtailed by two events,
heart of America, as from Papaw and especially Mamaw who raised him after the first her being subjected to bullying in school, being hung by
Hayseed Dixie, Grandpa divorce of his parents and the frequent confinement of his her ankles in the gym, and then the suicide death of her father
mother Bev due to her mental illness. in reaction to steep business reversals. She ends up with the
He argues a sociological study as he transitioned same non-descript jobs as her grandmother, Maria, finally in a
From The Desk Of from page 1 from Jackson, Kentucky hillbilly country, to middle class snack shop at the Madrid railway station. She fears forming a
represented by Middletown Ohio. The book chronicles J. permanent bond with her man, Nando, who presses for marriage
The Resource Center operated by BHH provides D. Vance’s rise from his roots as a hillbilly to the heights and children, even as Maria was pressed by her man Pedro to live
emergency financial assistance to help with rent, of American economic and political system, that it is the together after their twenty four year relationship. Both women
overdue utilities and childcare. validation of the American Dream. Vance is not at all are distrustful of men, though Alicia has a roaming heart while
In addition, access to affordable medical, dental and ashamed of his roots, in attributing his success to his Mamaw Maria is faithful to her Pedro. Their stories are linked by tragedy
behavioral care are also provided through a partnership who instilled in him the values of pride in himself, hard work, and resiliency, suggested by the title.
with Genesis Community Health and Florida Atlantic and ambition. It is a most touching story of escape from his Yet, one wonders whether the young poet author Ms.
University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing mother’s addictions and mistreatment. One would imagine Medel, still only in her thirties, is engaging in hyperbole, or
Community Based Clinics. that it had the ingredients for a great movie; but in spite of rather irony--in calling her book The Wonders. There is little
BHH is always in need of volunteers, donations and the work of notable director Ron Howard, the acting of Glenn hope, Maria and Alicia enjoy a sad but proud life, and points
food for their pantry. For more information, please call Close and Amy Adams, the Netflix films released in 2020, to the notion of Marxism and the feminist movement as a
561-317-0913 or visit www.bocahelpinghands.org. which I have not seen, has not caused a great stir. faint glimmer for improvement; the sense of it is there is no
The values of patriarchy are seen in both books. The rectification possible, a powerful theme in Spanish literature
If you are interested in having Mayor Weinroth patriarchal tradition in Spain has been a dominant influence where cruel fate governs as in the outcomes of women in
speak at a community, condo or homeowner and the two heroines of Elena Medel’s novel accept it wholly. the writing of the brilliant twentieth century Spanish author,
association event, please contact our office at (561) The hillbilly is more about macho than patriarchy. Mamaw Garcia Lorca. Though it also reads like a version of socialist
355-2204 or email RWeinroth@pbcgov.org.  with her crusty tongue and shotgun ready to gun down the realism and proletariat class consciousness as put forth by the
mailman or any intruder and serve garbage to Papaw when noted Hungarian Marxist Gyorgy Lukacs. In some way, the
he shows his frequent drunken state or even lighting him on plights of Maria, Alicia and J.D. Vance reflect the restrictions
Lease Renewals fire, another comeuppance for bad behavior. But J.D. finds imposed by poverty with the prospect of overcoming it through
education. Nando, Alicia’s husband, can only dream that his
refuge, love, and understanding in their home away from her
mother’s cruelty and lax morality. He learns values, to value
by attaining a university education; but yet absolutely lacking
hard work whatever it may be, picks up math from Papaw and yet unborn son Fernandito might escape the ravages of poverty
Renters- If you plan to renew your lease life from Mamaw. He serves in the Marine Corps as a prelude the optimistic outcomes envisioned by Mamaw, Papaw and
at Boca Pointe, please provide the BPCA to college, which sets him on the course of graduating summa Bev and J.D. Vance himself in Hillbilly Elegy.
Management office a copy of your renewal cum laude from Ohio State, and earning a place in Yale Law
Dr. Ronald J. Meyers, a resident of La Paz, is Emeritus
lease and vehicle registration prior to your School, and a future brilliant career in law, in business and Professor of English. rmeyers@esu.edu. 
now perhaps in politics.
lease expiration date. Both items are needed
to ensure that your transponder does not get
deactivated when the lease ends. Please email
to admin@bocapointe.com.
Thank you!  VOTE AUG 23

Vehicle Information

If you have purchased a new vehicle within the
past 6 months, please make sure the Boca Pointe CARYN
Community Association management office has a copy
of your current vehicle registration on file. Your gate
transponder is linked to your vehicle so it is important SIPERSTEIN
that we have accurate information in our system.
Please fax it to (561) 395-5936 or email it to admin@ FOR
bocapointe.com.
JUDGE
Thank you for your cooperation!

BPCA Management team 

PAID FOR BY THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE TO ELECT CARYN SIPERSTEIN FOR PALM BEACH CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE.
Professional Organizer

Assistance to help you arrange your home, office, garage,
or storage unit into an organized and functional space.

Caryn4Judge.com
Dori Cohen

Phone: 561-933-2001
email: dc1214@gmail.com