Rating: 
Summary: Why read Richard Rodriguez?
Review: Richard Rodriguez is a Californian in the best sense of the word, and his book, Days of Obligation: An Argument with My Mexican Father rises to writing's challenge of explaining the inexplicable-- describing the indescribable. What does it mean to be of two worlds...or three, or four, or several? Rodriguez in a dialogue with his father-self struggles with the dualism/duelism of being someone who lives between/among several worlds/states of mind /socio-economic srata/cultures/etc. He does this with prose which incorporates enough historic detail and insight to make even the most miserly readers feel that their time with this book was well spent. If you haven't read Rodriguez before I'd describe his writing as that of an intellecutal Caen, a non-fiction Tan/Allende, or a less profane Capote/Sedaris. You can catch Rodriguez on the The News Hour where his essays and commentary are a cut above the ususal beltway banter. Although his contributions to The News Hour are substantial, I wish he'd set aside the time to write another book as good as this one.
Rating:
Summary: Coming To Terrms With Self and Heritage
Review: Richard Rodriguez is a gifted writer. He words are almost lyrical at times and at points, Days of Obligation is simply a beautiful experience to read. In Days of Obligation, Rodriguez struggles with so many facets of himself -- notably, his ethnic heritage, his sexuality, his sense of guilt at the chasm between who he is and who he has been told to be by parents and his church. I believe there is a universal element to Rodriguez' struggles. They are the challenges that all human beings encounter in becoming their own unique selves. The added dimension of Rodriguez' Mexican heritage, makes this story all the more fascinating. A wonderful book to have us think about being ourselves in a world full of others expectations as well as an opportunity to get a closer view of Mexican ethnic influences and the related struggles in a United States where far too many people forget they themselves are immigrants or children of immigrants. A highly enjoyable book from many perspectives.
Rating:
Summary: The Juicy Apple
Review: Rodriguez sinks his teeth into the juicy apple of race and somehow pulls off enlightening concrete distinctions between the single extant species of Homo sapiens remaining on earth. Essentially (and we allow here for the purposes of discussion some generalities) Rodriguez asserts that Americans/Northern Europeans are divorced psychologically from their historically inseparable neighbors, the Mexicans/Indians, because the Americans/Northern Europeans represent masculine, aggressive, individualistic, Protestant, optimistic, or "comic" values. The passive, Catholic, communal, familial, feminine value systems of the Mexicans/Indians he terms "tragic." (The tragic race, incidentally, is much happier and less medicated, etc., it's so substantially less destructive and selfish.) I grew up in Southern California, lived in Mexico for a few years, and three years ago married a Mexican woman, so I epitomize the fabulous collision of opposite worlds that this book describes (and really helped me to understand). Gorgeously composed, arrogantly honest, and a whole lot more. Intellectually one of the ten most important books of the last two decades. When I admire a book I immediately read it again. I read this one three times.
Rating:
Summary: The Juicy Apple
Review: Rodriguez sinks his teeth into the juicy apple of race and somehow pulls off enlightening concrete distinctions between the single extant species of Homo sapiens remaining on earth. Essentially (and we allow here for the purposes of discussion some generalities) Rodriguez asserts that Americans/Northern Europeans are divorced psychologically from their historically inseparable neighbors, the Mexicans/Indians, because the Americans/Northern Europeans represent masculine, aggressive, individualistic, Protestant, optimistic, or "comic" values. The passive, Catholic, communal, familial, feminine value systems of the Mexicans/Indians he terms "tragic." (The tragic race, incidentally, is much happier and less medicated, etc., it's so substantially less destructive and selfish.) I grew up in Southern California, lived in Mexico for a few years, and three years ago married a Mexican woman, so I epitomize the fabulous collision of opposite worlds that this book describes (and really helped me to understand). Gorgeously composed, arrogantly honest, and a whole lot more. Intellectually one of the ten most important books of the last two decades. When I admire a book I immediately read it again. I read this one three times.
Rating: 
Summary: Hit and Miss
Review: Rodriguez' previous book, Hunger of Memory, was a valuable account of the cultural schizophrenia many Latinos go through--i.e., Spanish vs English, Catholic vs Protestant, Old World vs New World. What was so damn infuriating about that book was Rodriguez' closeted, timid tone. Every word was carefully weighed, the tone as dead, as academic as the world he kissed up to and was, hence, rewarded by. He was so careful not to be vulgar or hasty in his judgments that he came off stiff and ponderous. Anyone put off by his arguments could have rejected them on the basis of his style alone. If this is what kowtowing to the Protestant academic establishment does to you, I'll gladly remain a backward, brash Latino any day. In Days of Obligation, Rodriguez has loosened up considerably but not always with the best of results. His fondness for colorful adjectives and adverbs makes his writing here frequently dense and knotty. One thinks, "Hmmm, what a beautiful description--what it means, I haven't the vaguest idea." He amplifies his cultural survey here with mixed results: his description of Mexican society is rich and meaty; however, I could have done without yet another breezy dismissal of superficial L.A. in a subsequent chapter. And his unwillingness in the chapter on San Francisco to address his own sexuality is rather tiresome; he seems rather an old-fashioned nelly in his reluctance to state the obvious. And the book's organization is a mess--nothing holds together; it all seems rather disconnected. And what exactly the argument with his father is is unclear since he ends up coming to the same conclusions. He's an odd mixture of a writer: raised with the progressive optimism of the U.S. but by temperament more attuned to the cynicism and resignation of Latin culture. Still, this book shows him to be far more human and interesting a writer than the dry, careful prose of Hunger of Memory suggests. In Days of Obligation, the hunger is at least partially sated.
Rating:
Summary: Hit and Miss
Review: Rodriguez' previous book, Hunger of Memory, was a valuable account of the cultural schizophrenia many Latinos go through--i.e., Spanish vs English, Catholic vs Protestant, Old World vs New World. What was so damn infuriating about that book was Rodriguez' closeted, timid tone. Every word was carefully weighed, the tone as dead, as academic as the world he kissed up to and was, hence, rewarded by. He was so careful not to be vulgar or hasty in his judgments that he came off stiff and ponderous. Anyone put off by his arguments could have rejected them on the basis of his style alone. If this is what kowtowing to the Protestant academic establishment does to you, I'll gladly remain a backward, brash Latino any day. In Days of Obligation, Rodriguez has loosened up considerably but not always with the best of results. His fondness for colorful adjectives and adverbs makes his writing here frequently dense and knotty. One thinks, "Hmmm, what a beautiful description--what it means, I haven't the vaguest idea." He amplifies his cultural survey here with mixed results: his description of Mexican society is rich and meaty; however, I could have done without yet another breezy dismissal of superficial L.A. in a subsequent chapter. And his unwillingness in the chapter on San Francisco to address his own sexuality is rather tiresome; he seems rather an old-fashioned nelly in his reluctance to state the obvious. And the book's organization is a mess--nothing holds together; it all seems rather disconnected. And what exactly the argument with his father is is unclear since he ends up coming to the same conclusions. He's an odd mixture of a writer: raised with the progressive optimism of the U.S. but by temperament more attuned to the cynicism and resignation of Latin culture. Still, this book shows him to be far more human and interesting a writer than the dry, careful prose of Hunger of Memory suggests. In Days of Obligation, the hunger is at least partially sated.
Rating: 
Summary: A MESMERIZING PASSIONATE DIALOGUE
Review: This book is more of a dialogue rather than an argument. A passionate mesmerizing dialogue with the past and present perceived realities of the author's cultural heritage. I saw Richard Rodriguez at a televised University presentation. His ability to respond to questions from the students and faculty with relaxed patience and stunning oratory was impressive. That is why I purchased this book. A man of knowledge and accomplishment, who has something to say, and knows how to say it. I wanted to learn more from him. That same quality of knowledge permeates this book which is filled with unsurpassed images of Mexico, Spain and California. Mr Rodriguez revisits this historical blend of cultures that produced him and invites us to also participate in this dialogue of perceptions. He bares his inner most thoughts, his agony and his pride. Well worth reading. Take your time, and savor the sights, sounds and existence of a beautiful people; then and now.
Rating:
Summary: A MESMERIZING PASSIONATE DIALOGUE
Review: This book is more of a dialogue rather than an argument. A passionate mesmerizing dialogue with the past and present perceived realities of the author's cultural heritage. I saw Richard Rodriguez at a televised University presentation. His ability to respond to questions from the students and faculty with relaxed patience and stunning oratory was impressive. That is why I purchased this book. A man of knowledge and accomplishment, who has something to say, and knows how to say it. I wanted to learn more from him. That same quality of knowledge permeates this book which is filled with unsurpassed images of Mexico, Spain and California. Mr Rodriguez revisits this historical blend of cultures that produced him and invites us to also participate in this dialogue of perceptions. He bares his inner most thoughts, his agony and his pride. Well worth reading. Take your time, and savor the sights, sounds and existence of a beautiful people; then and now.
Rating:
Summary: Good sense of californian and mexican history/culture
Review: This has a lot of good insights if you plan on visting san fran, tijuana or sacramento. it seems the writer is really caught up california's history and looks out for the readers interest as a side note. good book to borrow from someone. a lot of controversial commentary on gays and asians i liked.
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