Bernardo and the Virgin is a gargantuan book, full of beauty and wonder, by a newcomer I think will garner lots of attention. Of course, the comparisons will fly between Mr. Sirias and some of his fellow Latin American writers like García Márquez, Alejo Carpentier, Alvaro Mutis, Jorge Amado—all great company, I say, if one is to keep such company, though this book is not fitting so quickly into the magical realism school. There’s much more at work here, including a mysticism that is reminiscent of Paulo Coelho and Rudolfo Anaya... I think Bernardo and the Virgin will join the ranks of other memorable books written by folks like Francisco Goldman, Jaime Manrique, Mayra Montero, and others who are getting noticed... This book has a strong literary backbone, but it is highly entertaining as well. It is an adventure of the first order, a journey that will appeal to a wide range of reader. Virgil Suárez Do you believe in miracles? I mean miracles of the religious variety. Never mind—it’s not a prerequisite for reading this book, Bernardo and the Virgin by Silvio Sirias, but if you have a tendency to believe, particularly if you happen to be Catholic, this story may send a holy shiver down your spine... (Sirias) turns out to be a great storyteller with a knack for creating characters. Bookslut-- Online Review of Books What Sirias had before him was the challenge to accurately describe the events in Cuapa while still being true to the transcendent quality of Bernardo’s experience. He does so to great effect... This is a sweeping novel. It tells numerous delightful and emotional stories involving other appealing characters in Bernardo's world... The details of Bernardo's Nicaragua are wholly entertaining and enticing, with images of Catholic mysticism juxtaposed against the particulars of life in the dusty village of Cuapa. Sirias' prose is lovely. San Antonio Express News	Welcome to the website of Silvio Sirias, author of Bernardo and the Virgin and of other books on U.S. Latino and Latina literature. Bernardo and the Virgin Contact Silvio Sirias at silvio@silviosirias.com Any comments on this website? Please contact the Webmistress.