A reaction by Bernard Greenberg, 7 March 2012

We are not entitled to say that we like or dislike this book, proclaim it a good book or a poor one (although I think it beautifully and powerfully written) but obliged to offer our gratitude and support and appreciation to Chris Perez for sharing his feelings and reminisces with us 20 years removed from his and Selena's impromptu wedding. We are all fortunate to be able to read the bittersweet story of the evolution of his romance and marriage to Selena, and privileged to share in his retrospection to the whole saga in its full tragedy. The word “enjoy” is not appropriate here. His feelings are as they are, and his telling a gift to the memory of Selena, and to us, for us to share in and honor.

Chris (I feel justified in referring to him by his given name, as the beautiful then incomparably tragic saga by which we know him, and its personages, are, to those of us to whom Selena remains a beacon of human goodness and greatness, now as familiar as classic narratives of film, prose, or verse) reveals in the introduction that after keeping his feelings and memories private, “bottled up,” all this time (during which he has remarried and become a parent), a recent dream of the late star, his once-wife, inspired him to record and publish them. Although the Grammy-winning guitarist and songwriter, widower of an icon, need not aspire to further renown by so doing, one can hope that publicity for this unique volume will bring more renown and fanship to Selena, who is no longer here to tour the book circuit.

There are few eyebrow-raising revelations in To Selena, with Love. Its greatest “revelation” is that the “official story,” as set down by Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla, in the 1997 movie, is by and large accurate; Selena really was all that incredibly special, which he proves, in part, by revealing incidents of her weakness, irrationality, or imperiousness, as if to say, “Yes, she was fully extraordinary, but also fully ordinary.” I will not list them here; read the book.

We learn some surprising things about Chris, such as his exposure to classical music as a child, and playing the French horn in School, and the fact that it was not the incomparable vocalist which attracted him to her group, but their musicianship and their forward-looking rock-tinged approach to Tejano music. We learn of his huge admiration for Selena's brother, A.B., particularly his technical wizardry. As represented unmistakably in the movie, everyone in the group “knew” that a romance between Selena and Chris would destroy the group (clearly, it didn't), and Mr. Quintanilla was indeed no fan of the pony-tailed rocker; I was shocked by the acerbity of some of the verbal blows the older musician leveled at the young virtuoso, and equally shocked that Chris would repeat them (but in so doing proving that his tale was not vetted by the producer). The disquieting hotel room trashing incident in the film is explained.  At other times, Chris is lavish with praise for Abraham's business acumen and worldliness, as well as his love for Selena and concern for her welfare and future. He toed a difficult line between his deep respect for Selena's father and the latter's frequent animosity (even a bit after the marriage) towards him.

We learn some surprising things about Selena: her self-indulgence once she had achieved financial success, her impulse-buying, especially her unbridled acquisition of pets, whom she adored, and vehicles, and risk-taking (cf., the bungee-jumping scene in the movie which segues to the elopement. Not only was that incident factual, we learn, but there Selena injured her muscles.), while at times unattractive, reveal the power of a woman who worked her way to a summit where anything was possible, and having arrived, delighted in exercising that power. I was extremely surprised (as was Chris) to discover that she could tolerate the feeding of (live mammalian food to) his pet snake.

We read more of the expected miracles on the road, the doting on a wheelchair-bound child, the homilies against drugs, the incident (so beautifully portrayed in the movie) in Monterrey when Selena patches over imperfect Spanish with sweetness (and, apparently, once having crossed the border, her Spanish improved by the minute.) We read how she gave time and special words to each who bade her signature. Those who wish to quaff a draft of further beautiful stories (and never-seen-before photos) of Selena, her goodness, her dedication, her humor, her strength, her beauty, and so on ... will not thirst here.

The core of the account is Chris' supremely romantic telling of how he met the Dinos, met Selena, and, driven by his professionalism and desire to stay employed, stayed his distance from her, yet how their love subsequently blossomed mutually and uncontrollably despite that, and how their life together, almost all work and travelling, played out. In that course we encounter fascinating detail about the music and other musicians with whom Chris and the Dinos interacted, and how the Tejano music of the Quintanillas fit into Chris' own musical life (which were not the same!) Remarkably, it was neither her astounding talent nor luminous beauty which attracted Chris to Selena, but her humor, sincerity, girl-next-door qualities, intelligence, and drive. And it did not hurt that she was enamored of him, too.

The final chapters deal not only with the most horrific assassination of Selena, but how, over many years, Chris recovered, finding that the wake of that indescribably cruel blow has deepened his appreciation for people and places here and now, one day at a time---for tomorrow is no certainty. The final chapters also speak at some length about the patent “unhinging” of the perpetrator in the final weeks, and Chris faults himself on not “seeing the signs” in time. Giving the benefit of the doubt beyond the call of wisdom to a being as twisted, evil, and cynical as Selena was upright, good, and trusting, by that thief at her left hand she was taken from this earth.

In the final chapter, Chris speaks some of his post-Selena career, including his 1999 album Resurrection, which featured many songs written to or inspired by Selena, and from which he chose one such lyric to open the book. He reveals little of his new personal life but his undying love for Selena.