A Guide to The Smell of Old Lady Perfume
Mexican Culture, Catholicism and Spanish Vocabulary
Jan 27, 2009 Melissa Morelli Lacroix
Think “Mexican-American” and you will probably come up with a few stereotypes: immigrant history, working class, Catholic, Spanish speaking, tortillas and chiles. Claudia Guadalupe Martinez does nothing to dispel these stereotypes in her YA novel The Smell of Old Lady Perfume, but she does much to explain them and illustrate their truth.
The Gonzalez Experience
Chela Gonzalez, The Smell of Old Lady Perfume’s main character, comes from a Mexican-American immigrant family. Her father, moved to the U.S. as an orphaned teenager in order to live with his sister and find a better life. Chela’s mother joined him in Texas when they were married. They live "American lives" - work, speak English, become citizens - but they are proud of their heritage.
Questions / Activities:
- Throughout the novel, Chela tells stories about her father. Create a timeline and place each of these stories on it in chronological order beginning with Apá’s birth and ending with his death.
- What is an ethnic food that Chela and her family eat? Describe what it is, how it is made and when they eat it.
- What is an ethnic food that you and your family eat? Describe what it is, how it is made and when you eat it.
Please, God… Amen
Chela mentions prayer and religion a few times throughout the novel. She talks about her grandmother lighting candles and going to Mass. She recounts her visits to the church, her prayers, signing herself and attending a series of services during the month of May.
In addition to the narrative, the cover is used to help portray Chela and her family’s Catholicism. The most striking example is the heart-shaped perfume bottle, which, with its protruding flames and fronds and crown-like decoration, is very reminiscent of the Catholic Sacred Heart image. The roses and stars on the cover are suggestive of Mary, who is honoured during the Mary Services. The dove is often used to represent the Holy Spirit.
Questions / Activities
- What are the Mary Services? When do they occur? Who participates in them? What are some of the customs or practices of the Services?
- Draw a picture with religious connotations that would represent your family’s faith, culture and experience.
- Chose one of the following Catholic references from the book and explain it:
- To sign or cross one’s self (p. 47)
- Mass (p.45)
- Hail Mary (p.50)
- Confession (p.50)
- Nun (p.48)
Hablo español
The Smell of Old Lady Perfume is narrated in English, but Chela mentions a few times that she speaks Spanish and that she sometimes translates English words into Spanish in order to find their meaning. She uses Spanish words liberally throughout her story, but she always puts them into context or repeats them in English.
Questions / Activities:
- Are there some words or expressions that you, your family or friends use that come from a language other than English? What are they? What do they mean?
- Write a story in English about a school, familial or cultural event that took place in another language. Use at least 5 words from that language in the story, but give clues in English as to what the words mean.
- Chela uses the following words in her story. What do they mean?
- Chicharrones (p.49)
- Pueblitos (p.83)
- Tapicería (p.109)
- Champurrado (p.151)
- Gusanitos (p.248)
Book Information
The Smell of Old Lady Perfume by: Claudia Guadalupe Martinez
Cinco Puntos Press
ISBN: 978-1-933693-18-7
Front cover of The Smell of Old Lady Perfume
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