Promesas de Oro

I recently got back from my trip, and by coincidence in that same week I borrowed Promises of Gold by Jose Olivarez on my library. The book was on my list for a while, and I got it as audiobook as it was the only option available on my library's Libby. Ten minutes into the book I had already messaged about 5 different people recommending it. That’s how good it is. 

Promises of Gold is a poetry book, and the audiobook was partially recorded live, which I had never seen before, and it was honestly such a surprise for me. A little skeptical about the live audio, I paid extra attention. The translation notes got me hooked. Olivarez writes about Mexican culture in a raw, beautifully written way. His poems celebrate the ordinary life while pointing out the effects of immigration in his culture. Being latina makes me connect to all latino culture, and it truly feels like one big country, as no experience is unique for us. Specially for those of us who have immigrated to the United States in search of the "American Dream". 

 Here is a part of Odes to Tortillas: 

"there's two ways to be a Mexican writer 
that we've discovered so far. 

you can be the Mexican writer who writes about tortillas
or you can be the Mexican writer who writes about croissants
instead of the tortillas on their plate. 

(can you be a Mexican writer if you're allergic to corn?) 

there's two ways to be a Mexican writer that are true
& tested. you can write about migration
or you can write about migration.
(can you be a Mexican writer if you never migrated?
if your family never migrated?) 

there's two ways to be a Mexican writer. you can translate
from Spanish. or you can translate to Spanish.
or you can refuse to translate altogether."

I started the post saying I recently got back from my trip, and I had been visiting Brazil by myself after 5 years living away, and one trip to the country in 2025 with my husband. Going back on my own has opened many wounds for me, at the same time this trip has healed them. I have lost many family members in the past 2 years and had to visit too many cemeteries in the few weeks I was there. Reading Promises of Gold made me feel hugged by the entire community of latino immigrants. 

Being latina, migrating, getting crushed by the dream this country made us all once dream about. When I say all latinos are connected through culture, this is what I mean - we are all living the same expectations, the same family left behind, the same abuela trying to understand our reasons for leaving, the same money being sent home to help the ones that stayed. 

On the author note, Olivarez explains the meaning of the books' name. He writes: "...a promise is an attempt. A promise made isn't always a promise kept. Promises of Gold also echoes the promises of the American Dream &, I hope, hints at some of the loss in the poems." 

Even if you are not a poetry person, please read or listen to this book. Jose Olivarez writing deserves to be celebrated. 

Promises of Gold by José Olivarez | Goodreads 

In connection to this book, I wanted to point out this post written by Ajla Civic about Bad Bunny's DeBí TiRaR MáS FOToS album cover, as it also translates to many of Jose Olivarez's poems.