Mini review: Here's to You, Jesusa! by Elena Poniatowska

The book selected for November for the meeting at Moonshot Coffee is Here's to You, Jesusa! by Elena Poniatowska. The theme for the meeting at this location is feminism around the world, so I decided to start in Mexico! Elena Poniatowska is one of Mexico's most famous female writers. I felt an instant connection to Poniatowska based on her life story. She was born and raised in France. Her first language was French, and even though her mother was Mexican and spoke Spanish, Elena only learned Spanish from the maids. Throughout her early writing career, Elena struggles with the idea of feeling Mexican enough. Here's to You, Jesusa! is one of her earlier books, written in 1962, that highlights her struggle for cultural identity. 

This novel is a testimonial, which is a blend of fiction and autobiography. The character of Jesusa is based on a real person, but some aspects are fiction. The introduction to the novel hooks the reader as Elena describes her visits to see Jesusa in her shack dwelling and the relationship they shared. Often Jesusa would make Elena help her with the chores as she would always tell Elena that she was bugging her. The novel that we read is the product of those interviews that went on for four years until Jesusa passed away.

Jesusa is an extremely raw character with lots of opinions. She is tough as nails, and at no point do you experience any emotions from her. The novel is intensely factual, and you are only going one direction, forward. Jesusa was raised by her father and numerous stepmothers who beat her. She only liked one of them who taught her to work while her family ran a jail. When she got older, she went off to war with her father as Mexico was going through a civil war in the 20th century. When she is at war, she cooks, cleans, marches with the soldiers, and at times even shoots rifles. One of the soldiers marries her against her will, and she is then following her husband, who is apart of a cavalry unit. At no point does she express any love for him as he was abusive and controlling. When he dies, she is not given a widow stipend and has to make her own living. She bounces from a maid to bar hand, to making money through drinking games, to raising hogs, to being a doctor's assistant. There is no point that she is not working or moving around, she compares her life to that as a dog, and that she will most likely die on the street like one. I enjoyed reading this book as I never laughed so much in public and was refreshed by seeing the grit Jesusa never lacked, no matter how hard times got. I would recommend this novel, but be aware there are scenes of extreme abuse and fighting.

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