Discover Octavio Solis’ memoir “Retablos” – El Paso Matters Book Club selection

In Retablos: Stories from a Life on the Border, Octavio Solis paints a complex mosaic of his childhood, similar to the devotional retablos that decorate homes along the Texas-Mexico border. Rooted in traditional Catholic iconography, these small, vibrant paintings reflect the colorful but challenging realities of border life that Solis experienced as a “skinny brown boy” in El Paso.

Solis recounts his experiences as a child in a border town, capturing the essence of life shaped by both religious tradition and the ever-present tension of immigration. In an interview with PBS, Solis spoke about how, despite his U.S. citizenship, he was often questioned by U.S. Border Patrol agents, which greatly influenced his perspective and writing.

Solis has been collecting retablos for years, describing them as “flash fiction stories” summarized in a single image with a bit of text. His memoir reflects this style, offering vivid snapshots of his past.

In the book, Solis revisits El Paso, describing it as “entering an altarpiece with a rusty surface as heaven and misremembered family members and friends as saints and supplicants.” The book is full of “lost, distilled moments” of his frontier past, brought to life through his mix of reality and fiction.

Solis is an acclaimed playwright with over 20 plays to his credit and is one of the leading Latino voices in American theater. His works often explore themes of frontier life and immigration, as seen in his modern retelling of “Don Quixote” and his role as cultural consultant for the Disney film “Coco,” in which he was also credited for a small speaking role.

“Retablos: Stories from a Life on the Border” is the latest selection from the El Paso Matters Book Club, which introduces readers to local authors. The club presents bimonthly selected books, book reviews and Q&As with the authors, as well as one-on-one conversations with the authors.

You can join the bi-monthly club by clicking here.

Reading plan

• 2-9 July: Pages 1-23
• 10-16 July: pp. 24-45
• 17-23 July: pp. 46-67
• 24-30 July: pp. 68-88
• 31 July – 6 August: pages 89–109
• 7-13 August: pp. 110-129
• 14-20 August: pages 130-150
• 21-27 August: p. 151 – END

How to get the book

• Shop locally at Literarity Book Shop, 5411 N. Mesa St. in Pepper Tree Square and 100% of profits will be donated to El Paso Matters.
• Check out a copy at your local El Paso Public Library branch. If it’s unavailable, reserve it.