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The Line Becomes a River
256 pages, 2018
biographies & memoirs
997 books
economics & politics
987 books
history
999 booksFor Francisco Cantú, the border is in the blood of his mama, a demesne ranger and son of a Mexican emigrant, who raised him in the scrublands of the Southwest. Haunted by the geography of his youth, Cantú joins the Border Patrol.
He and his mates are posted to remote regions crossed by medicine routes and smuggling corridors, where they learn to track other humans under blistering sun and through frigid nights. They haul in the dead and deliver to detention those they find alive. Cantú tries not to suppose where the stories go from there.
Agonized by agonies, he abandons the Patrol for mercenary life. But when an indigenous friend peregrination to Mexico to visit his dying mama and doesn't return, Cantú discovers that the border has migrated with him, and now he must know the whole story. Searing and indelible, The Line Becomes a Swash, makes critical and particular the violence our border wreaks on both sides of the line.
In 'The Line Becomes a River', Francisco Cantú takes us on a journey to explore the realities of the US-Mexico border. He shows us that the border is not just a line on a map, but a living, breathing entity with its own set of complex issues.
Cantú's book gives us a glimpse into the human side of immigration. It's not just about policies and politics, but about real people with real stories. It's a reminder that behind every statistic, there's a human being with a story to tell.
Cantú, a former Border Patrol agent himself, gives us an inside look into the life of those who guard the border. He shows us the emotional toll it takes on the agents and the often harsh realities they face.
The book also presents a moral dilemma. Cantú struggles with his role as a Border Patrol agent, often questioning the morality of his actions. It's a reminder that sometimes, the line between right and wrong can become blurred.
One of the most powerful aspects of 'The Line Becomes a River' is the personal stories Cantú shares. These stories bring the realities of the border to life and make the issues more relatable. They're a reminder of the power of storytelling in shedding light on complex issues.
Quotes 4
A must-read for anyone who thinks 'build a wall' is the answer to anything.
Dave Eggers - Author, EditorA beautiful, fiercely honest, and deeply empathetic look into the complexity of the borderlands.
Tommy Orange - Native American WriterA devastating narrative of the very real human effects of depersonalized policy.
Rachel Kushner - Novelist, WriterA necessary book, and a beautifully written one.
Luis Alberto Urrea - Mexican-American Poet