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Are you tired of reading about desert sunsets, the Mexican Revolution and assorted species of cacti? Are you wondering who Ray Gonzalez is, and how he became the Stephen King of Chicano literature anthologies?? Try some of these books:
City of God, Gil Cuadros Chicana/o literature suffered a tremendous loss last fall when poet and fiction writer Gil Cuadros passed. away. His only published book, City of God, is available through City Lights Press. A mix of poetry and fiction, Cuadros chronicles a very different vision of Los Angeles during the Reagan and Bush years.
The Latin Satins, Terri de la Pena Meanwhile, across town, we find the fictional tale of an all latina band playing on the Santa Monica boardwalk. We learn about their lives, their families, their relationships, and the way their art reflects their experiences as chicanas breaking trying to break into the music business. I won't tell you any more or you probably won't buy it. I was participating in a latino liturature forum on America Online, and attempted to encourage readers on the forum to investiagate these books. One gentleman challenged me on them. He told me he worked in the publishing field, and that his firm kept on top of all latino releases. I got the feeling he was telling me they didn't exist, especially if he hadn't heard of them. Well, my testosterone pumping a gallon a minute, I took great pains to accurately document these books, their publishers and printing dates. For some reason, he never wrote to me again. Can you guess why? Available through Seal Press. But really, shouldn't it have been Thee Latin Satins?
Spidertown, Abraham Rodriguez Since the early 90s, the drug seller on the street has become the latest ethnic stereotype. The poor guy, he really doesn't make as much money as you think. Not when you consider how many hours he has to spend out their in the cold. And anyway, he's the first poor guy to get arrested, and the first to serve time. Meanwhile, the head honcho, his supplier of drugs and clients, used to be a father figure, but now he's kind of scaring him. Darn, if only he had a decent role model to look up to during those years when it would have made a difference. You get the picture. Abraham Rodriguez' story rises above this through his crisp, tight prose, and a wonderful use of 90s urbanspeak to tell this story of a teenage Puerto Rican drug dealer considering a career change. There's one amazing scene of a drunken drive through New York that blew me away.
Forty Ouncer, Kurt Zapata Who is Kurt Zapata, and is he a chicano? Does it matter, really, as long as he drinks like one? This hilarious collection of short stories documents a young man's growth from teenage years to twentysomethinghood. Published by Manic D Press.
Selected Stories from Chicana Falsa, Michele Serros Although I haven't been able to find her book in the Bay Area, I was fortunate enough to find this wonderful (used) compact disc at a music store under the "International Music" section. Great spoken word performances by Ms. Serros, including a chicana rebellion at a SuperMarket's frozen food section. Available through Mercury Records. Get it whlie you can! Last updated on March 7, 1998.
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