A Lifelong Journey Through Literature and Heritage

In 1937, my mother purchased a set of books from a traveling salesperson in a small town in California, where she was raising her family. Those books were passed from brother to brother and sister to sister over the years, and each of us eventually found our way into their pages. This was long before the internet, long before iPhones, and long before the modern technology we take for granted today.
For me, those books became more valuable than gold. They introduced me to literature I would never have encountered otherwise. The set contained ten volumes—fairy tales, classical stories, and imaginative worlds that became my television and my internet. They sparked my curiosity, stirred my imagination, and planted the seeds of a lifelong love of learning. I still have four of those original volumes today.
As I grew older, that early exposure expanded into a deep desire to explore literature more broadly. My reading journey carried me into philosophy, Greek and Roman history, Western civilization, geography, Spanish history, and eventually into a profound longing to understand my own Indigenous heritage.
Unlike the Greeks, who developed the written alphabet, my Indigenous ancestors left no books behind. What survives today are translations of hieroglyphic codices interpreted by Spanish friars who struggled to understand a culture entirely new to them. I was raised within an Indigenous oral tradition—rich, meaningful, and powerful—but without written records to cross-reference with other Indigenous societies, my search for my roots has been long and challenging.
This continent existed in cultural and intellectual isolation for thousands of years, developing its own systems of knowledge, symbols, and stories. That history continues to inspire me. Today, I am an avid reader who seeks out books from cultures across the world, always striving to understand this complex experience we call the human condition. That passion has taught me much about our Hispanic heritage and how it connects to Western civilization—how our Spanish ancestors were shaped by the Greeks, the Romans, and the many peoples of Iberia.
Because of this lifelong journey, I am deeply honored and excited to serve as the Vice President of Programs and Education in 2026. I look forward to bringing our members meaningful dialogue on literature—fiction, nonfiction, and historical fiction—through our book club and through this blog, where I hope to share reflections and reviews throughout the year.
I also look forward to our monthly gatherings with book club participants, where we can explore ideas old and new, discover works that enrich our understanding, and build community through shared reading. It will be a joy to introduce you to the books that have shaped me, and to learn from the books that inspire you.


--Cynthia Rodriguez, V.P. Programs and Education