Quotes from Helena María Viramontes

He had give this country his all, and in this land that used his bones for kindling, in this land that never once in the thirty years he lived and worked, never once said thank you, this young woman who could be his granddaughter had said the words with such honest gratitude, he was struck by how deeply these words touched him.

Estrella realized words could become as excruciating as rusted nails piercing the heels of her bare feet.

Soon she came to understand how essential it was to know these things. That was when she began to read.