Rating: 
Summary: OSCAR AND FLANNERY
Review: Flannery O'Connor and Oscar Casares have more in common than being great artists. Both of them came through the prestigious Iowa Writer's Workshop. Both of them would be labeled regional writers. Flannery's characters inhabit the white southern Bible belt. Oscar's people, Anglos and Mexicans alike, live in the city of Brownsville, Texas, on the border, Oscar's home town. Their resemblance to each other continues all the way through to the fact that I read their stories over and over and see something new and wonderful every time I do. In his "Acknowledgements," Mr. Casares says, "And Cristal showed me the good that comes from love and patience." And Oscar, in his stories, shows us the good that comes from love and patience. Love and patience are what Flannery O'Connor shows us. In her case, the love and patience comes always from God. Grace is everywhere in her stories and so, too, is grace everywhere in "Brownsville." What Richard Giannone says of Flannery O'Connor can also be said of Casares: "The yearning for ultimate meaning always runs beneath the surface, erupting in ways unbelievers do not or cannot acknowledge." Of course neither of these authors preach about grace. They invent authentic characters and sit back and watch. We watch with them. And listen with them. Both have uncanny ears for dialogue and the sharpest eyes around for the telling detail. In one story, "Mrs. Perez," "[the new bride on her honeymoon in the photo] wore the nervous smile of a young woman who has just realized that she's boarded the wrong train." His stories take us to a fireworks stand just outside Brownsville, the front yards of an Anglo and a Mexican-American across from each other, a bridge over a Brownsville resaca where "letting go" takes on several different meanings, a back yard on a dark night where an old man from "the other side" confronts one tall tree after another, noisy carnival rides past a boy's bedtime, the sneaky burial of a dog, the homecoming of a young husband full of beer, the warm bed of a yearning adolescent with Dallas Cowboy pillows and covers, and in the last story, believe it or not, a black bowling ball speeding down the aisle of a Jiffy-Mart. In each story he affirms the pull of divine grace. Without Flannery O'Connor I might not have spotted this, but I still would have enjoyed the stories. Enjoying his stories, I am sure, was Mr. Caceres' intention, but I wouldn't put it past him to have the same vision as Flannery O'Connor's. I can hardly wait for his next book.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you for introducing my neighbors Mr. Casares
Review: Frequently, when I mention that I used to live in Brownsville a member of the group listening takes me aside with a smile. We establish that they once lived there as well. We start relating stories about so and so Flores or Mr. Bahi who worked at "The Bridge". Being from this "Valley" border town is like being a member of a fraternity. We lived in a city with more personality than any other place I can think of. There is poverty, crime, danger and dirt. But the people are as colorful and charming as Mexicanamerican culture can produce. A family may be fresh from "across", starting to live the American dream next door to a family with a local history going back to the 1600's living next to a family of "Anglos" from Houston. I know all the people in Mr. Casares' short stories and plenty more with wacky or sad or funny or loving tales to tell. They are not always nice and far from perfect but they are fascinating and they are real.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you for introducing my neighbors Mr. Casares
Review: Frequently, when I mention that I used to live in Brownsville a member of the group listening takes me aside with a smile. We establish that they once lived there as well. We start relating stories about so and so Flores or Mr. Bahi who worked at "The Bridge". Being from this "Valley" border town is like being a member of a fraternity. We lived in a city with more personality than any other place I can think of. There is poverty, crime, danger and dirt. But the people are as colorful and charming as Mexicanamerican culture can produce. A family may be fresh from "across", starting to live the American dream next door to a family with a local history going back to the 1600's living next to a family of "Anglos" from Houston. I know all the people in Mr. Casares' short stories and plenty more with wacky or sad or funny or loving tales to tell. They are not always nice and far from perfect but they are fascinating and they are real.
Rating: 
Summary: stephanie's sister
Review: great book osker. i love short stories. you have been to many places in this world, how about a book full of true stories? or maybe steph and noel could write a booke about you. iv'e heard about some of your pranks, such as when you were looking for a cofin for your horse. too funny. good luck to you. stephanie's sister, renie
Rating:
Summary: Latina Celosa
Review: I am a Latina of Mexican descent and was excited when I heard of this book because I am from the Rio Grande Valley. I first saw Oscar Casares in Houston. I was excited that a book from my region was being published. I had never seen so much publicity about a book and it was a book of short stories no less. When I heard him read, at a Nuestra Palabra, I hated it. I am sorry, but I thought he was so full of himself, because he is soooooo Mr Handsome and you could tell he thought he was soooooo talented and important while he read. I tried to get over that, and recently, in Houston again at the Edward Olmos book festival, I bought Brownsville. I listened to him read again and even then and once more, much as I tried, I was the opposite of impressed. Now I have read his book anyway, I am very discouraged. Apparently, if you are a handsome male whose Ego is so important to itself, everyone believes it. A couple of the stories in it I liked okay, but most in it are slow and even boring, and not up to to the advertised hype he is given because he is tall and handsome (and because he went to Iowa, as one of the readers here says?) If you want to read great short stories by a Mexican-American male writer, read the "The Magic of Blood", by Dagoberto Gilb, Casare's mentor. Those stories are strong (and he is even a handsome man too, if that's what readers want.) So, much as I am happy that someone has published a work about the Valley, this book and the hype around the author is too disappointing. Read it yourself. I can only hope that the promotion it is given can help other Latina/os, and for that I am giving it an extra star.
Rating: 
Summary: Hype and More Hype
Review: I am a Latina of Mexican descent and was excited when I heard of this book because I am from the Rio Grande Valley. I first saw Oscar Casares in Houston. I was excited that a book from my region was being published. I had never seen so much publicity about a book and it was a book of short stories no less. When I heard him read, at a Nuestra Palabra, I hated it. I am sorry, but I thought he was so full of himself, because he is soooooo Mr Handsome and you could tell he thought he was soooooo talented and important while he read. I tried to get over that, and recently, in Houston again at the Edward Olmos book festival, I bought Brownsville. I listened to him read again and even then and once more, much as I tried, I was the opposite of impressed. Now I have read his book anyway, I am very discouraged. Apparently, if you are a handsome male whose Ego is so important to itself, everyone believes it. A couple of the stories in it I liked okay, but most in it are slow and even boring, and not up to to the advertised hype he is given because he is tall and handsome (and because he went to Iowa, as one of the readers here says?) If you want to read great short stories by a Mexican-American male writer, read the "The Magic of Blood", by Dagoberto Gilb, Casare's mentor. Those stories are strong (and he is even a handsome man too, if that's what readers want.) So, much as I am happy that someone has published a work about the Valley, this book and the hype around the author is too disappointing. Read it yourself. I can only hope that the promotion it is given can help other Latina/os, and for that I am giving it an extra star.
Rating:
Summary: Kept me reading...
Review: I loved how easily Casares expressed the thoughts of his characters. I felt like I was there in many of the stories, feeling all of the character's emotions. Regardless of culture, many of the emotions exhibitied in the book can be felt and are relateable. There was a story about an annoying dog, I laughed so hard because I've been there. And what about the annoying salesman (worse being a family member), been there too.
It was a quick, fun read and was left ready for more Oscar Casares.
Rating:
Summary: All About Brownsville
Review: I picked up the book at the Austin airport on a trip to visit my family in Brownsville and was immediately drawn in and could not put the book down. I thought the book was fantastic for its storytelling, its variety of characters and the 'complex simplicity' of its writing. I grew up in the same neighborhood as the writer, though I do not know him personally and can relate to many of the places he mentions such as the Lopez Supermarket where we bought our menudo from. I'm sure not everyone who is from Brownsville will be able to relate with his stories, but I did. I wish there was a spanish version for me to give to my family. I am a painter and my work is greatly influenced by having lived my first 19 years in Brownsville, much like the author with his writing. I'm excited to read his next book.
Rating:
Summary: Looks were not Deceiving!
Review: If the cover design of this book was supposed to capture this authors style, then looks were not deceiving!The monkey's tail captures the eye,and the brown ink reminds us that the author hails from Brownsville.He has lent a fresh new look into his hometown.Being from Corpus Christi,I can relate to his charachters with my South texas perspectives,but I belive the author has provided the out-of-townwers with enough clues into human nature combined with the flavor and charm of his culture,to alow them to take the journey into Brownsville and become a part of it.I can't wait for his particular take on
Southtexans and how we are unique to the rest of the world,yet are the same.
Rating:
Summary: Latina Celosa
Review: Isabel in Houston is obviously jealous of this talented writer. If this writer were unattractive would she be able to focus more on his work? She wrote such a tacky review. Shame on her for trying to tear down a Latino writer while at the same time pretending to support Latino writers.
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