"Miss Del Río" by Bárbara Mujica - Historical Fiction Book Club - Past Titles

About the Author: Bárbara Mujica

Birth and Education:
- Bárbara Mujica was born in Washington, D.C., USA.
Academic Background:
- She holds a Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania.
Academic Career:
- Bárbara Mujica is an accomplished academic with expertise in Spanish literature and language. She has held positions as a professor, teaching courses on Spanish literature, language, and culture.
Literary Career:
- As an author, Bárbara Mujica has demonstrated versatility by writing across genres. Her works include novels, short stories, and essays.
Notable Works:
- "Frida" (2002): A historical novel that explores the life of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
- "Sister Teresa" (2007): A novel that imagines the life of Saint Teresa of Avila, a prominent figure in Spanish mysticism.
- "I Am Venus" (2006): A novel that delves into the life of the famous Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli.
- "Miss Del Río" (2001): A novel that explores themes of identity, love, and cultural heritage in the context of the Cuban-American experience.
Translation Work:
- In addition to her original works, Mujica has contributed as a translator, bringing works of Spanish literature into English.
Awards:
- Bárbara Mujica's literary contributions have earned her recognition, including awards and critical acclaim for her novels.
Teaching and Writing:
- Mujica has balanced her career as a teacher and writer, combining academic expertise with a creative exploration of historical and cultural themes in her fiction.
Multilingualism:
- Mujica's proficiency in multiple languages, including Spanish, has allowed her to engage deeply with the literature and culture of various regions.

Synopsis

1910, Mexico. As the country's revolution spreads, Dolores, the daughter of a wealthy banker, must flee her comfortable life in Durango or risk death. Her family settles in Mexico City, where, at sixteen, she marries the worldly Jaime del Río. But in a twist of fate, at a party she meets an influential American director who recognizes in her a natural performer. He invites her to Hollywood, and practically overnight, the famous Miss del Río is born. Dolores's star quickly rises, and her days become a whirlwind of moviemaking and glamorous events. Swept up in L.A.'s glitzy inner circle, she takes her place among film royalty such as Marlene Dietrich and Orson Welles. But as her career soars, her personal life becomes increasingly complicated, with family tragedy, divorce, and real heartache. And when she's labeled box office poison amid growing prejudice before WWII, Dolores must decide what price she's willing to pay to achieve her dreams and if her heart and future instead lie where it all began...in Mexico. Spanning half a century and narrated by Dolores's fictional hairdresser and longtime friend, Miss del Río traces the life of a trailblazing woman whose legacy in Hollywood and in Mexico still shines bright today.

Historical Timeline

The year 1910 was a pivotal time in Mexican history as it marked the beginning of the Mexican Revolution, a period of intense political and social upheaval. Here is a simplified timeline of key events in Mexico during the year 1910:

February 19, 1910:
- Francisco Madero, a wealthy landowner, issues the Plan of San Luis Potosí, calling for the overthrow of President Porfirio Díaz and fair elections.
May 25, 1910:
- Porfirio Díaz wins the presidential election amid allegations of fraud. Madero refuses to recognize the results.
November 20, 1910:
- The Mexican Revolution officially begins with the issuance of the Plan of San Luis Potosí. Madero leads an uprising against the government.
December 1910:
- Fighting intensifies as rebel forces, including those led by Madero and Pascual Orozco, engage government troops.
1910-1911:
- Various revolutionary leaders and groups emerge, each with distinct goals and ideologies.
May 1911:
- Madero's forces achieve significant victories, leading to negotiations with Díaz.
May 25, 1911:
- Porfirio Díaz resigns and goes into exile. Francisco Madero takes office as president.

While these events set the stage for significant changes in Mexico, it's important to note that the Mexican Revolution continued for several years, evolving with different factions, leaders, and conflicts. The timeline provided above focuses on the early stages of the revolution in 1910. The revolution ultimately resulted in a new political order in Mexico, with profound social and economic implications for the country.

MLN Materials

book
large print book
spoken CD

Ebook Versions

Libby

Find Me in Havana by Serena Burdick
Call Number: Fiction Burdick
Cuba, 1936: When Estelita Rodriguez sings in a hazy Havana nightclub for the very first time, she is nine years old. From then on, that spotlight of adoration--from Havana to New York's Copacabana and then Hollywood--becomes the one true accomplishment no one can take from her. Not the 1933 Cuban Revolution that drove her family into poverty. Not the revolving door of husbands or the fickle world of film. Thirty years later, her young adult daughter, Nina, is blindsided by her mother's mysterious death. Seeking answers, the grieving Nina navigates the troubling, opulent memories of their life together and discovers how much Estelita sacrificed to live the American dream on her own terms. Based on true events and exclusive interviews with Nina Lopez, Estelita's daughter, Find Me in Havana weaves two unforgettable voices into one extraordinary story that explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child, and the ever-changing landscape of self-discovery.
City of Flickering Light by Juliette Fay
Call Number: FICTION Fay
It's July 1921, "flickers" are all the rage, and Irene Van Beck has just declared her own independence by jumping off a moving train to escape her fate in a traveling burlesque show. When her friends, fellow dancer Millie Martin and comedian Henry Weiss, leap after her, the trio finds their way to the bright lights of Hollywood with hopes of making it big in the burgeoning silent film industry. At first glance, Hollywood in the 1920s is like no other place on earth--iridescent, scandalous, and utterly exhilarating--and the three friends yearn for a life they could only have dreamed of before. But despite the glamour and seduction of Tinseltown, success doesn't come easy, and nothing can prepare Irene, Millie, and Henry for the poverty, temptation, and heartbreak that lie ahead. With their ambitions challenged by both the men above them and the prejudice surrounding them, their friendship is the only constant through desperate times, as each struggles to find their true calling in an uncertain world. What begins as a quest for fame and fortune soon becomes a collective search for love, acceptance, and fulfillment as they navigate the backlots and stage sets where the illusions of the silver screen are brought to life. With her "trademark wit and grace" (Randy Susan Meyers, author of The Murderer's Daughters ), Juliette Fay crafts another radiant and fascinating historical novel as thrilling as the bygone era of Hollywood itself.
An American Immigrant by Johanna Rojas Vann
Call Number: FICTION ROJAS VANN
Twenty-five-year-old Melanie Carvajal, a hardworking but struggling journalist for a Miami newspaper, loves her Colombian mother but regularly ignores her phone calls, frustrated that she never quite takes the time to understand Melanie's life. When the opportunity arises for a big assignment that might save her flagging career, Melanie follows the story to the land of her mother's birth. She soon realizes Colombia has the potential to connect her, after all these years, to something she's long ignored: her heritage, the love of her mother, her family, and the richest parts of herself. Colombia offers more than a chance to make a name for herself as a writer. It is a place of untold stories. Inspired by real-life events, An American Immigrant is a story of culture and community, of abiding commitment to family, and of embracing our culture and the generations that have come before.
All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani
Call Number: FICTION Trigiani
The movie business is booming in 1935 when twenty-one-year-old Loretta Young meets thirty-four-year-old Clark Gable on the set of The Call of the Wild. Though he's already married, Gable falls for the stunning and vivacious young actress instantly. Far from the glittering lights of Hollywood, Sister Alda Ducci has been forced to leave her convent and begin a new journey that leads her to Loretta. Becoming Miss Young's secretary, the innocent and pious young Alda must navigate the wild terrain of Hollywood with fierce determination and a moral code that derives from her Italian roots. Over the course of decades, she and Loretta encounter scandal and adventure, choose love and passion, and forge an enduring bond of love and loyalty that will be put to the test when they eventually face the greatest obstacle of their lives.

*ebook & audiobook on Libby
*ebook & audiobook on hoopla
The Brightest Star by Gail Tsukiyama
Call Number: FICTION Tsukiyama
Arriving in Hollywood to become an actress, Anna May Wong discovers her beauty and talent aren't enough to overcome the racism that relegates her to supporting roles and, over the years, fights to win lead roles, accept risqué parts, and keep her illicit love affairs hidden-even as she finds global stardom.