Rain of Gold

By: Victor Villaseñor

Narrated by: Johnny Rey Diaz

Rain of Gold is a true-life saga of love, family and destiny that pulses with bold vitality, sweeping from the war-ravaged Mexican mountains of Pancho Villa's revolution to the days of Prohibition in California.

It all began when Villaseñor’s maternal grandmother sat him down in their little home in the barrio of Carlsbad, California, gave him sweet bread and told him the story of their past. Of his mother Lupe, the most beautiful girl in the whole village who was only a child when Villa's men came shooting into their canyon. And of his father Juan and his family, reduced to rags and starvation as they sought refuge across the border, where they believed that endless opportunity awaited.

Lupe and Juan met and fell in love in California, but they found that the doors to the Promised Land were often closed to those from south of the border. His father was forced to take the law into his own hands, in spite of his wife's objections. With love and humor, Villaseñor shares this passionate love story that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit.

An all-American story of struggle and success, Rain of Gold focuses on three generations of Villaseñor’s kin, their spiritual and cultural roots back in Mexico, their immigration to California and overcoming poverty, prejudice and economic exploitation. It is the warm-hearted and spirited account of the wily, wary and persevering forebears of Victor Villaseñor.

©1991 Victor Edmundo Villaseñor. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"...a grand and vivid history...[Villasenor's] characters are keenly drawn.... Often I felt like a family member quietly watching from a corner stool." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Villasenor is a born storyteller, and this Latino Roots...is a gripping inspirational epic full of wild adventure, bootlegging, young love, miracles, tragedies, murder and triumph over cultural barriers." (Publishers Weekly)

"The brisk, down-to-earth prose sweeps the reader through often fantastic events in a compelling narrative. This is a big book, but one that moves swiftly. It is a story that deserves to be told, bringing to life a cultural heritage of all Americans." (The Washington Post)

Touched the depths of my soul.

Muchas, muchas Gracias!! Your story made me laugh, cry and think of my grandparents and familia!!

holy sh*t

this is one of the most beautiful stories ive ever heard. speechless. this really should be required reading in the usa.

Excellent

I wish I would have read this book sooner... I wish everyone could read it. What a lovely story about life. So many life lessons, truly amazing book. I wish I could have written something like this about my grandparents. This is the type of book this generation needs, to understand where we came from. I am at a loss for words because I feel you have to read the book and experience it yourself. You will get what your soul needs out of it. Just perfect. Thank you

A fascinating family history.

Mr Villasenor is a gifted storyteller. He apparently inherited his gift from father and grandmother.

Excellent!

I love this book. I’ve read this multiple times over the years. This was my first time doing this, listening to an audiobook. The narrator did an excellent job differentiating between the characters and telling the story. My husband, who is not a reader and has never heard an audiobook either, loved it. He was on the edge of his seat listening to it. I will definitely listen to this again just as I will reread again.

One of my favorite books!

I read this over 15 years ago and recently found the audio version. Johnny Rey Diaz does an amazing job narrating this book. The story is full of life while giving the history of Mexico and the U.S. This is and will always be one of my favorite stories. It’s just a bonus that’s it’s true!

Colorful, descriptive, touching-magnificent!

Rain of Gold is a must-read! I have read this book hard copy three times and now have listened to the audio version. I loved it and plan to listen to it again and again. The family stories are full of love despite the difficult times during the early 1900s. It will have you laughing and crying, though it will also make you feel warm and hugged. It reminds me of my life in Mexico and my journey to California and beyond!

Generational Insight

So much of this novel parallels the stories shared with me by my parents. So much of their story is not just their story but the story of their generation.

Thank you Victor again!

I first read this book in 1994 and I was so moved and brought to tears and today I’m still moved to tears as I listened to this book. I thought of my own parents and grandparents and uncles and aunts from Mexico and all of the stories my father and mother would tell me of their childhood. I cried and cried thinking of my parents and the beautiful life they lived and gave me and my siblings. I would highly recommend this book to everyone especially those of you who love rich history of their families. Vallen con Dios- Cynthia Gandara

Loved it!!!

I read this book 20 years ago in high school and listening to it again felt like a renewal of spirit