Brownsville: Stories    by Oscar Casares Order:  USA  Can Little, Brown & Co., 2003 (2003) Softcover Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Sally Selvadurai Oscar Casares takes us into the heart of Brownsville, Texas through these disparate, but uncannily similar, stories. They conjure up a real community, with a plethora of individuals and personalities, but the thread that runs through this collection of nine short stories is the humanity of the individuals - they seem real, almost touchable, and certainly believable. The stories that Casares spins take shape in the minutiae of the detail, the linking of one tale to the next by the actual setting, the town of Brownsville itself. We get to envision its layout, can see and smell the fireworks stands on the edge of town in Mr. Z, and sense the omnipresent Border Patrol in each story. Oscar Casares' characters are mostly immigrants, and his tales showcase their unique cultural identities, fears and prejudices, their own hierarchies within the community, and the innate goodness of individuals. I found Brownsville to be a really enjoyable read, especially in its 'short story' format, which is ideal for the daily commute, but retaining a connectedness from one story to another. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews