SANTA FE MI CASA opens with John Henry, a 19-year-old
boy who has just arrived with the army to tame the
Mexican's in Santa Fe. Most of the soldiers seem to take
what they want and expect the people of Santa Fe to learn
their ways, however John Henry is different. One chance
meeting with a beautiful girl, Morita, and he knows that
life will never be the same. As the army stays in Santa Fe,
John Henry and Morita grow closer and begin to learn
the language of each other and the language of love.
Customs are changed, views of the Santa Fe people are
slowly changing, and John Henry has learned that life, any
life is worth knowing and saving.
Life for John Henry remains the same until the day that the
army is set to move on to California. John Henry has
realized that life as a soldier fighting a war he does not
believe in is not going to happen. For John Henry his heart
and his life have been left in Santa Fe. Only the decision
to return has come too late, the desert lies before him and
Santa Fe is miles away. John Henry has changed; his life
has forever been impacted by the place he calls home now.
How can he uphold his duty and be loyal to America when his
heart knows that this war is wrong. Have the ideals of the
army been lost to him forever?
I struggled with this book in the beginning. The language
barriers were written true to life and I felt that I was
struggling with learning the language right beside John
Henry. Harlan Hague has written a wonderful story that
really let me know just how hard it was for our soldiers to
go into the savage lands and try to adapt to the changes
all around them. I really loved the contrast between Brad,
John Henry's army friend, and John Henry himself. While
Brad was just there for the thrill John Henry was there to
make something of himself. Brad represented what the
typical soldier for this time period was to the people he
had taken over: lazy, carefree, and controlling. The
differences between the two men made me realize how John
Henry was probably only one out of a few that cared enough
about people to learn their ways.
John Henry Harris is a dragoon in the United States Army of the West that invades northern Mexico in 1846. The young soldier is eager to wave the flag and fight for his country. But John Henry's world is soon turned upside down. In Santa Fé he meets Morita and falls in love. Finding no enemies in New Mexico, John Henry questions whether he can support this war against a people who have committed no wrong against him or the United States. He is torn between conflicting passions of loyalty, justice, duty and love. The idyll ends when the army leaves Santa Fé to carry the conquest to California. John Henry longs for Morita and a life with her in the little adobe house in Santa Fé.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy