Peel My Love Like an Onion A Novel

The seductive world of flamenco forms the backdrop for a classic tale of independence found, lost, and reclaimed. Like Bizet's legendary gypsy, Carmen "La Coja" (The Cripple) Santos is hilarious, passionate, triumphant, and mesmerizing. A renowned flamenco dancer in Chicago despite the legacy of childhood polio, Carmen has long enjoyed an affair with Agustin, the married director of her troupe--a romance that's now growing stale. When she begins a new, passionate liaison with Manolo, Agustin's grandson and a dancer of natural genius, an angry rivalry is sparked. Carmen finally makes her way back to happiness in this funny, fiery story that's equal parts soap opera, tragicomedy, and rhapsody.

Ana Castillo is the author of the novels <b>The Mixquiahuala Letters</b>, <b>Sapogonia</b>, and <b>So Far From God</b>; the story collection <b>Loverboys</b>; the critical study <b>Massacre of the Dreamers</b>; and several volumes of poetry.  She has received an American Book Award, a Carl Sandburg Prize, and a Southwestern Booksellers Award for her work.  She lives in Chicago.