Notitas: Select Columns from the Tucson Citizen by Alva B. Torres

I am not a Latina, nor from Tucson, but I found Notitas to be a tender, loving tribute to Alva Torres, one of our nation’s first Mexican American weekly newspaper columnists. This book features a curated collection of Torres’ popular pieces from the 1980s and 90s, each one offering readers personalized, accessible snapshots of life in Tucson I was very touched as I read each 2-3 page column—all filled with love, pride and respect for people making a quiet (and sometimes loud) difference in their community. Torres shines the spotlight on teachers, shopkeepers, community organizers, street cleaners, and even the Spanish-speaking Black dentist. She appreciatively features everyday acts of quiet heroism. While her columns start off featuring recipes for traditional home-cooked Mexican food, they evolve into bolder pieces advocating for the preservation and celebration of Tucson’s Mexican heritage and historic sites. This book is filled with warmth, passion, and dignity. An inspirational read for me.

An amazing collection of articles that Alva Torres wrote for the local newspaper, this book offers a rare glimpse into the resilient culture of the Mexican-American population of Tucson during the 1980s, as it continued to intersect with the ever-present forces of change and modernity.

I truly enjoyed reading these short but thoughtfully put together “notitas.”