Title: Bagels & Salsa
Author: Lara Reznik
Publisher: Enchanted Indie Press
ISBN: 9781938749383
Pages: 322
Genre: General Fiction
Reviewed by: Anita Lock
Pacific Book Review Star
Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
Exactly one year to the day in 1977 when twenty-eight-year-old Laila Levin said no to her ex’s idea of getting back together, she encounters the handsome Dr. Eduardo Quintana. Through a slightly out-of-the-ordinary circumstance, the thirty-five-year-old doc comes to the aide of the sexy sociologist. Their relationship turns hot and heavy from the get-go. A few weeks later, Laila leaves New York with Eduardo to Española, New Mexico.
Aside from the fact that Laila and Eduardo come from different ethnicities, Jewish and Hispanic respectively, the two lovers have more in common than they ever imagined. Both have highly opinionated, suffocating mothers, for starters. Laila is also familiar with at least Albuquerque, being a graduate of the University of New Mexico. Commonalities wear off quickly when she realizes that Española is in the middle of nowhere. On top of things, Eduardo’s mother hates her.
Just when Laila thinks that things can’t get any worse, Violet, Eduardo’s old girlfriend shows up. Not surprisingly, both Eduardo’s and Violet’s mothers push the idea of the two getting back together. Although Eduardo has no interest in Violet, family tension combined with lack of communication play a part when Laila decides to leave Eduardo. Amid a flurry of histrionics, including a Son-of-Sam copycat who is stalking her, Laila can’t get Eduardo out of her mind. Her thinking is this: if they are meant for one another, it will take a miracle for that to happen.
Inspired by Lara Reznik’s life and her marriage of thirty-plus years, Bagels & Salsa emerged as a result of a screenplay she wrote in 2001 “that was a finalist in a Writer’s Digest, Austin Heart of Film, and Southwest Writers screenwriting contests.” Unique to Reznik’s writing style is her presentation of both first and third person viewpoints. Alternating between Laila’s thoughts and the activities involving her supporting cast provides Reznik with the freedom to both develop her plot and her main character.
Reznik’s 1970s setting is a blast from the past for audiences who have lived through that time period. Replete with vintage material from that era, Reznik’s narrative incorporates examples such as phones, cars, movies, popular music, TV shows, and even the notorious serial killer, Son of Sam. One prevalent theme—also reminiscent of the 70s—is ethnic prejudice, which is displayed by Sylvia (Eduardo’s mother) and Eve (Laila’s mother).
Amid the constant string of ethnic slurs, Reznik balances the negativity with hilarious and light-hearted scenes—mainly centered on comfort food—that reflect the Hispanic and Yiddish cultures. Other nice additions are the Spanish and Yiddish comments and sayings that are heavily sprinkled throughout Reznik’s plot. An engrossing intercultural read, Bagels & Salsa is well suited for romance enthusiasts.
