Episode 1

Ana Castillo's So Far From God is written in a structure similar to a tele-novella, the Latino version of a soap opera, in that the novel is a series of "episodes." The first episode introduces the six major characters: Sofi, her daughters, and her husband. Sofi is introduced by describing her function within her society. Her daughter, Loca, dies at age three and the community helps Sofi mourn. Everyone comes to the wake except Sofi's husband, Domingo. None of Sofi's family had approved of their marriage and even the local priest had refused to perform the wedding ceremony. Domingo had left Sofi soon after Loca's conception.

At the baby's funeral, all of Sofi's neighbors are astonished when the seemingly dead child pushes open the lid of her coffin and flies onto the roof of the church. She argues with the priest and claims to have gone to...