Acclaim for Spirits of the Ordinary "A strong and finely rendered book in which passions both ordinary and extraordinary are made vivid and convincing." -Larry McMurtry "A poignant tale wrapped in magic... Swirling together themes of love, family, and spirituality. Alcalá echoes the style of Isabel Allende and Laura Esquivel." -The Washington Post Book World "It is a testimony to Ms. Alcalá's vivid talents as a storyteller, and to the mystical allure of the threads of magic realism that run through her narrative, that we come to care about many of her characters, and to wonder what destinies await them in her next book." -The New York Times Book Review View the Reading Guide for Kathleen Alcalá's new book, The Flower in the Skull

A Reading Guide Spirits of the Ordinary A Tale of Casas Grandes By Kathleen Alcalá Winner of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award, Spirits of the Ordinary, is the perfect book club book. Use this guide, created by Harvest Books and Chronicle Books, as a base for discussion about this "poignant tale wrapped in magic." (The Washington Post Book World) In a small village in northern Mexico, the Carabajuls have been practicing their Jewish faith in secret for generations. Julio spends his days dabbling with alchemy. His wife, Mariana, cannot speak but is clairvoyant. They are both distraught that their son, Zacarias, has abandoned their faith for a Catholic bride and an obsession with gold. This haunting story follows Zacarias' journey across the desert, sharing fires with generous Indians, absorbing the landscape, and culminating with his transformation in the sacred cliff dwellings of Casas Grandes, an ancient city nestled high in the mountains. This spectacular tapestry of folklore and spirituality includes androgynous twins with the remarkable ability to divine water, a lusty businesswoman launching a thriving chain of bakeries, and an even more lusty red-haired priest along with Indian mystics, wizened trappers, and a series of magical events. Blurring the boundaries between fantasy and reality, Spirits of the Ordinary explores one family's search for faith and meaning.

Discussion Questions:

1. Water is present throughout the novel. It provides the fountain pulse of the home of Julio and Mariana and the tableau for their visions of their son's journey. Bubbling streams carry the riches of gold and silver from deep in the earth, and a mountain waterfall sculpts the path of Zacarias' escape. In what other ways does water, or the lack of it, influence the events that unfold?

2. The only scene in a Catholic church features an impassive Virgin Mary statue. The votive candles before her illuminate the alarming amount of gold in the church. Yet for all the richness, Estela leaves feeling empty and without absolution. Father Newman proves to be the most fertile priest in all of Mexico, dishing out penances that often take nine months to complete. Does the Catholic church have any redeeming qualities in the lives of the Mexicans? What does this say about the perils of a religion wielding too much earthly power?

3. Gold serves as a powerful metaphor throughout the book. Though it is recognized as a barometer of wealth, the definition of that wealth varies widely - from the economic benefits of the mineral to the sustenance of sunlight. Why does it seem appropriate that an exhausted gold prospector emerges as a new messiah? How does his search for gold compare with other kinds of searches people make throughout their lives? What is the significance of Zacarias' use of a gold nugget as a healing totem?

4. Lizards and salamanders slither out from under rocks and across the pages of Spirits of the Ordinary. We hear of their remarkable ability to adapt to the desert and of theories that they may be the descendants of the fish that once swam in the ocean where there is now only desert. Matukami has a lizard tattooed on the back of his hand. Why do the Indians and even Zacarias identify so closely with the lizards?

5. Even when he experiences great pleasure, Zacarias suffers from intense headaches after making love. The post-coital headaches ensue regardless of his partner, either his wife, or his mistress and sexual tutor, Magdalena. What do you think causes these headaches?

6. Membrillo and Manzana are described as "an offense to God's natural order." People seem as drawn to them as they are perplexed. Yet the only thing Father Newman cites as a problem is that their behavior may encourage women to sit astride on their horses. What is it about the twins that so rivets and horrifies people? Do they see something in themselves that they fear? Why is it important that the androgynous twins draw equally on the powers of mysticism and science?

7. Mariana and Julio seek the same truths but take radically different paths. The mute Mariana sees the answers to her questions in the everyday things around her. Julio draws on the holy sorcery of the cabala. Does Julio's failure to see his God in the world around him condemn him to never find what he seeks? Is there something disturbing about Julio's activities with alchemy, as though he is trying to pry something out of God rather than pray to him?

8. The Indians, like the Jews, are forced to hide their faith and traditions from the punishing eyes of the Catholic church. Both groups wait for the return of their creator to free them from their oppressors. Does this liberation theology unite the two groups? Is it an important foundation for Zacarias' transformation and his acceptance by the Indians at Casas Grandes?

9. In his delirium after his illness, Zacarias says that he "remembers the future," yet another example of time twisting and turning over itself. He sees a vision of a woman at the piano, a sailor, a tiny yellow bird, and an old woman dressed like a gypsy bending over a strange shiny road. What is the meaning of this vision? Does everyone who receives a vision get the chance to learn its meaning? If not, what use do they make of these visions?

10. An important result of the strong community created by the Indians is the transmission of cultural heritage. Their history and tradition grows and is enhanced with each passing generation. Do we continue to do this today? If not, what are the consequences for the heritage of our civilization?