Review: IN SEARCH OF MY DESTINY by Irma Reyes Herrera

Heartwarming and inspiring, In Search of My Destiny tells a story about true family love. A wonderful tale that portrays the strength of the human spirit and proves that there is strength in unity, and highlights the special bond between parents and children. It is the story of a woman who lived her life in two different cultures. She lived her childhood and adolescence in a small Mayan village in Guatemala, Central America, where the customs were drastic and dramatic. When she became a single mother of three small children, she lived in California, where she faced a different culture, where she made a promise to herself that she would survive the struggle for those years ahead and achieve the triumph in the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of her and her children. Though she faced many challenges in life, she persevered in search of love, peace, happiness, and family union. Readers can witness her fascinating story unfold in In Search of My Destiny. Parents: Find very similar facts and renewed inspiration. Grandparents: Bring back memories of when you raised your children. Young People: You’ll have an understanding of the love that is felt for your children and what it takes to raise them. Children: Be inspired to embrace your family history and events.






Reviewed by: Sandra L.
Rating: 3 stars

Review: In the beginning, “he didn’t want to have daughters, and always said that women only bring problems.” (14) But then destiny brought him an unexpected joy….and her name was Luna.

In this memoir, we follow the life of Luna from her days of growing up in Central America to her transition to a new life in the United States. “I felt myself compelled to continue the long walk of life, and dreamed of how someday I would get rid of these invisible chains.” (57)

Her tale is raw, powerful, and full of honesty. In “Unpleasant Incidents,” we learn of the horrible trials in Luna’s young life and the hard lessons that come with them. The stories are outlined in pensive and thought-provoking vignettes.

This book is about a strong woman, weaving her destiny and surviving a complicated world, especially after leaving a bad marriage.  It was considered that “[women who left] were perceived as bad women, incapable of honoring the marriage ‘forever’ as it should be.” (103)

Towards the end, the author illustrated the life of a single, working mother—a concept she described as difficult and rewarding for “being a mother is the most sacred privilege of humanity and a role that never rests.” (159)

At times, I felt that the dialogue was a bit unrealistic.  “Come, my children” sounded more like something a preacher would say. It felt like I was reading an episode of The Brady Bunch, even though one can appreciate the effort behind Luna’s love for her children. As Herrera indicated, “people think that being a mother is a crazy job.” (159)