For a dark literary stroll on the seedy sexy side of Mexico, one can hardly beat Rick Skwiot's novel Death In Mexico. Yet, this grave tale of grave digging digs even deeper. Nicholas Petrov's south-of-the-border quest for his dead father's body recalls a Maya myth about legendary hero twins who visit the underworld to steal their father's remains from the lords of the abyss. Of course, a father's funeral bell always tolls the son's mortality as well, so it's no surprise this book won the Hemingway First Novel Award. And the tale likewise tolls for thee.Like many boys becoming men, Nicholas Petrov was intimidated by his father's life force and annoyed by his old school ways. His old man was an archaeologist. So, the ancient mariner's boat was anchored on the bedrock of mystical Olmec art and classical Western civilization, while his son's life drifted from shore to shore on the winds of fashion and the whims of the moment. Still, death before dishonor. Dishonor is often defined by sons as having to admit the crusty old fart was often right.
"Fathers aren't really that important," says noone who had a good father ever. Visit impoverished barrios around the globe. You'll see tired stressed single moms, devoting their lives to give children love and self worth. What you won't see are fathers instilling tough love and self discipline in the teen years, which often allows a person to better themselves professionally then financially. Studies consistently indicate that children who see no functional marriages in their extended family or neighborhood community usually repeat the single parenthood cycle. Yet, politicos who falsely claim to care about the poor keep on lying they have a program to offset the devastating effects of dysfunctional broken families. Unfortunately, Nicholas Petrov only discovers how impactful his dad was in his life after his father's death.
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