Books · Entertainment
B.Y.O.Book Review: Dreaming — A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla-Perez
By Veronique Medrano · 4 min read
Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla-Perez is a compilation of poem and prose that expands on the impact of the iconic Mexican-American singer. This book is not a regurgitation of the story we’ve seen on film or in previous books. Instead, it provides a fresh perspective on Selena’s music and public persona’s effect on the fans who would “do anything for Salinas.”
A Space for Shared Experience
Dreaming is a beautifully crafted tribute in that each piece selected combines the duality of living as a Mexican and Latino in the United States. It creates a space in which fans can truly relate to the shared experience of watching Selena grow, the joy that her music embedded into the soul of its listener, and the loss that came with her death.
The blend of voices, per each literary piece, goes from English to Spanish and even includes pieces that blend both languages together. This adds an authenticity to the work as a whole, given Selena’s constant code-switching between the two languages throughout her career. Dreaming is made up of 28 pieces of prose and poetry.
Three Standout Pieces
Of the 28 pieces, the three that resonated most were: “Roses in My Throat,” “What Selena Means to Me,” and “Poemas Sin Titulo.” These personal accounts show the impact her music had on the everyday life and struggle of navigating both worlds.
“As soon as the beat starts on a Selena song, you know it. Every single mouth in the room starts mouthing and singing along.”
That feeling that wraps around you is joyous and bittersweet — when the song ends, you are left to reflect on a voice that touches your soul no matter how much time has passed. This book is a great one for fans.
Book Details
Edited By: Odilia Galvan Rodriguez
Language: English & Spanish
Published: August 2020
Page Count: 156
Genre: Poetry & Literary Fiction
Publisher: FlowerSong Press
ISBN: 978-1-7345617-7-7
Written By
Veronique Medrano
Singer-songwriter, writer, and archivist out of Brownsville, Texas.