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Summary: Parrot in the Oven: Mi vida by Victor Martinez
Review: Parrot in the Oven was reviewed as a luminous, humorous journal of a Mexican-American teens. This novel is divided into eleven short chapters where Victor narrates stories. It is written in a form that can be read by a wide range of ages, but the story is truly genuine. Its emphasis is on the life of Manuel Hernandez and his family struggling with problems such as a racism, poverty, and violence. Fourteen-year-old Manuel, called "Manny", has an older brother, Bernardo, often referred to as "Nardo", an older sister, Magda, and a younger sister Pedi. The Hernandez family continuously avoids people such as the Garcia's family, who are almost always doing something no good. Manuel's father can't maintain a job, like his son Bernardo. His father spends the majority of his free time at Rico's Pool Hall drinking and getting angry just to return to his home, occasionally resulting in offensive actions and we can see this in chapter 2 "Rico's Pool Hal."
Manuel's mother tries so hard to preserve a clean, and socially adequate home, but her constant arguments with her husband, as well as Magda's behavior for lack of respect and dependability, manage to maintain her tension level high, and the contemplation of true joy unthinkable. Manuel wants to be valued, but what he in truth wants is to be loved, particularly by a girl like in chapter 9, " Dying of Love".
In chapter 10 "A Test of Courage" said, "Just thinking about telling a girl I liked her clamped the muscles on my chest and made my lungs pull hard to catch a breath." sooner or later, Manuel gave up the initiative that he would ever be "nice" to young girls and Manny decides to join a gang to see if he is permitted to kiss a girl. He kisses the girl, but later on Manuel realizes that he doesn't really need to belong to a gang to kiss a girl, he can do that whenever he is allowed.
From the beginning to the end of the novel, we get to know Nardo as Manny's strong older brother who knows how to have a good time, but he doesn't essentially knows how to keep a job. Manny and Nardo are evidently unlike, and Manny rarely points these out. At the end we can see in chapter 11 "Going Home" that Manuel realized that he had the whole time a real home. He sits in his house, watching his sisters sleep on the sofa and he knows, for the first time, that this is where he is supposed to be, at home not his house but his home with his family.
Rating: 
Summary: Parrot in the Oven
Review: This book is from th view of a young teenager known as Manny. This story is about him and the moments he goes through, while dealing with family and firends. These moments help him figure out what is important in his life. In addition, this story also involves Manny's Mexican-Amercan family that tells their ups and downs and how they pull through, despite the financial and social problems that come from living in a complicated family. They try to overcome obstacles in a tough neighborhood in California.
In my opinion,"Parrot in the Oven" was not the type of book I would usually read. However it was interesting and it focused on everyday challenges such as teen pregnancy, alcohol abuse, gangs, poverty, and dysfunctional families, issues faced by teens everywhere. The author mixed true experiences from him and his sibling lives. Although, some events were not necessarily the truth the character known as Manny, was very much how the author felt between the ages of fourteen to sixteen years old. Therfore, the reader can only imagine what parts of the story consist of fiction and non-fiction. So, if teen pregnancy, alcohol abuse, gangs, poverty, and dysfuctional families interest any reader, this is the book for them.
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Summary: Review of Parrot In the Oven
Review: Review of Parrot in the Oven Title- Parrot in the Oven. By Victor Martinez.
This story takes place just outside of L.A., in the Mexican projects, around the 1960's towards modern day. The story is about a boy named Manuel, but everybody calls him Manny. The book is about the hard times he and his family go through, when living in the projects.
The main characters are Manny, his brother Bernardo, "Nardo", his two sisters Magda she's 19. Pedi is the youngest one, and his mother and farther.
Manny's farther is an alcoholic. His mother stays at home with Pedi. His sister Magda works at a laundry Mat, Nardo is never home and Manny is still in high school.
In the story many events happen. When the book starts Manny and his brother Nardo go looking for work. They come across people working in the fields, when all of the sudden the Immigration police come and take all the field workers away. Manny and Nardo are stunned. Later Manny and Nardo come home to find that there dad is at Rico's. Rico's is a bar that their father goes to get drunk. Manny's mother finds out he's there and embarrasses the father in front of all of his friends.
School starts up and Manny's mother wants him to go to a better school across town. Manny is waiting for the bus one day after school when one of his teachers asks if he needs a ride. Manny tells him that his mother wants him to go to another school. The teacher gives him 20 dollars for books and supplies. When Manny's father finds out about this he takes the money and uses it for beer money.
During one time at home Manny's mother went to her friends house and his father thought she was leaving him. So he took his rifle and went after her. A neighbor then called the cops on him and the police took his gun away. His father didn't want them to take his gun away so they arrested him. After he got out of jail he promised to get a job and change his attitude. He then puts Manny and Nardo to work at their grandmother's house. They clean the place up and make a patio for her. A few weeks later the grandmother dies.
A lot more exciting events happen in this book. I liked this book a lot. One example of why I liked it was because the main character had such a good heart, even though his family wasn't the best. Another reason is because there were many exciting events that happened and the reader never knows what's going to happen next. The characters all play very good parts in the story.
I would defiantly recommend this book to people. I would recommend it to 14 year olds, and up. Anybody could read this book. It's an all around good book for any kind of person.
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Summary: Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martinez
Review: Victor Martinez's Parrot in the Oven, was in my opinion, one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. Its not a book that demands a great amount of intelligence from the reader because it is written in a form that can be read by a wide range of ages, but the story is truly genuine. It focuses on the life of Manuel Hernandez and his family's struggle with problems such as a racism, poverty, and violence. Forteen year old Manuel, often called "Manny", has an older brother, Bernardo, often referred to as "Nardo", an older sister, Magda, and a younger sister Pedi. They live in the projects, constantly avoiding people such as the Garcia family, who are almost always up-to-no-good. Manuel's father can't keep a job, much like his son Bernardo. His father spends most of his free time at Rico's Pool Hall intoxicating himself into an angry stooper, only to return to his home, occasionally reulting in abusive behavior. Manuel's mother tries so hard to maintain a clean, and socially acceptable home, but her continuous arguments with her husband, as well as Magda's lack for respect and responsibility, manage to keep her stress level high, and the thought of true happiness inconceivable. Manuel desperately wants to be respected, but what he really wants is to be loved, especially by a girl. He once said, "Just thinking about telling a girl I liked her clamped the muscles on my chest and made my lungs pull hard to catch a breath." Eventually, Manuel gave up the idea that he would ever be "smooth" with girls and decides to join a gang in hopes of being allowed to kiss a girl in the gang. He kisses the girl, but later realizes that he doesn't really need to belong to a gang. In the end, Manuel realized what he has had the entire time, a home. He sits in his house, watching his sisters sleep peacefully on the couch and he knows, for the first time, that his is where he is supposed to be. He is at home. This book made me realize how much I personally, neglect the things and people that I love. I realize now, how much I take for granted. I not too, walk into my house and feel like it is where I belong more than any other place in the world. There, I have a family that I love and that loves me in return. I knew that before I read this book, but Parrot in the Oven made me appreciate my home and the fact that I am loved even more than in the past. I would recommend this book to anyone who occationally takes their life for granted.
Rating:
Summary: Parrot in the Oven
Review: This book is from the view of a young teenager known as Manny.This story is about him and the moments he goes through, while dealing with family and friends. These moments help him figure out what is important in his life. In addition, this story also involves Manny's Mexican-American family that tells their ups and downs and how they pull through, despite the financial and social problems that come from living in a complicated family. They try to overcome obstacles in a tough neighborhood in California.
In my opinion,"Parrot in the Oven" was not the type of book I would usually read. However it was interesting and it focused on everday challenges such as teen preganancy, alcohol abuse, racism, gangs, poverty,and dysfunctional families, issues faced by teens everywhere. The author mixed true experiences from him and his sibling lives. Although, some events were not necessarily the truth,the character known as Manny, was very much how the author felt between the ages of fourteen to sixteen years old. Therefore, the reader can only imagine what parts of the story consist of fiction and non-fiction. So,if the topics of teen pregnancy, alcohol abuse, gangs, poverty, and dysfunctional families interest a reader, this is the book for them.
Rating:
Summary: Parrot in the Oven
Review: A drunken, unemployed father, a submissive mother, and a journey to finding himself in a world still so mysterious to him: this is the life of Manuel Hernandez, a fourteen year old boy in Victor Martinez National Book Award winning novel, "Parrot in the Oven". This novel awoke something inside me and enlightens me to the real troubles this young boy experiences on his path on becoming a man.
This incredible story takes place in the projects where poverty is not abnormal. Manuel and his family live the established "accepted" Chicano life in which the macho father controls the subservient wife, who in turn supports her husband blindly. Manuel experiences domestic violence, racism, and is made an outcast among others. These events generates the dramatic and powerful novel into a must read for any. When Manny's father crosses the line by trying to kill his wife, Manuel must decide what path he will take, the path on which his father travels, or his own path that will lead him to become a better man than his father.
This novel is perhaps one of the most powerful and heart felt novels I have read. I witnessed, the life of a young adolescent Chicano mature throughout the novel into a more strong, confident, and inspirational character, which motivated me to read more into the novel just to see how this young boy Manuel will overcome all of life's challenges. Parrot in the Oven is the perfect novel for anyone wanting to read something inspiring or for anyone looking for a good novel.
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Summary: HARDSHIPS
Review: I really enjoyed Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martinez. This book is about a boy named Monolo Hernandez, who lives a difficult life. His father is a drug addict and a drunk. His mother cheats on his father, and his father tried killing her for that. His brothers are mean to him. He thinks the only way of getting over all of this is by joining a gang. The only problem is that Manny doesn't know if that is what he wants to do. He doesn't know if he wants to get into that kind of life. If you want to know what happens to Manny you should read this book. I really enjoyed this book because the author really gets into detail about how gangs really are and how they steal and kill. He goes into detail about all the hardships Manny goes through, you can really feel.
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Summary: Great story
Review: Parrot in the Oven: mi vida, which won the National Book Award, is Victor Martinez's first novel. Set in the 70s, it follows fourteen year old Manny Hernandez through a series of defining conflicts. In the tradition of the best tales, this beautifully written story gives not just an engrossing narrative but also metaphors a reader can use to make sense of his or her own experiences. At the end Manny can say, "I'd finally seen my own face and recognized myself; recognized who I really should be."
The novel begins with a series of unresolved vignettes that illustrate Manny's alienation from some traditional sources of comfort: work, neighborhood, school and family. He is a hard worker but feels inferior as he watches a field worker's hands: "His were wings in a blur of wonder; mine stirred a warm pot of honey." He wants to be un vato firme but is easily intimidated by neighborhood bullies. He is intelligent but holds no hope of attending a challenging school. Most tragic of all, his abusive father is not merely content to destroy the home Manny's mother labors for; he even tries to destroy her. Then as Manny works in his maternal grandmother's garden, he sees the cherry tree his grandfather planted long ago, grafting the branches of many other trees onto it and creating a center for the oasis that was his home. The memories of his grandmother fix the garden home as a beautiful ideal in the middle of a thriving neighborhood. After she dies, the story arches over another set of painful experiences; in these, however, Manny grows wiser. He is less passive. He will neither hurt the women of his family, nor be disloyal to friends in defeat, nor lose his dignity at work, nor be a destructive force in his neighborhood.
Manny's longing to be loved, to belong, to be worthy is finally satisfied when he rejects his father's idea that "people were like money" and that "we were pennies." He returns to the "room...my mother spent so much energy cleaning and keeping together, and [that] my father spent so much energy tearing apart," and sees the value in small community of the home. The arc from the disappearing garden of Manny's grandfather to his own "wondrous home," the "place [he] was meant to be" suggests the strength he can find in past and present. Martinez uses a sensitive touch to depict Manny's troubles, touching on issues of class, ethnicity, sex, and race in a principled, honest way that is still free of dogma. An adolescent reader will find his or her concerns validated in a novel that does not trivialize the place of early choices in one's destiny.
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Summary: It's life
Review: I accept that at first I don't like this book because I think it is boring. But after I had read it for 4-5 chapter I knew that I am wrong. This book is interesting because it contained many interesting issues such as family problem, social life, and teenager problems. I like the title of this book, " Parrot in the Oven". Although I had already read it, I still don't understand its meaning, if there is no explanation in the book. Parrot or Perico, which is the name, his father called Mannny, sometime. It was from American saying about a parrot that complains how hot it is in the shade, while all along he's sitting inside an oven. People usually say this when talking about ignorant people who don't know where they are at in the world. However Manny does not care it so much because at the end he can find himself. He knows that he belong to his family. So he has to satisfy it and try his best for his family.
" Parrot in the Oven" is a good children book that everyone should read it. It is good at represent the hard life of people. We can see other lives, which are worse than our lives. It could courage us to live in this world because at least we are luckier than they are. The story shows the difficult life of a Mexican- American family. The main character is a boy named Manny. He is poor but lived in the rich White society. Therefore, he is different from other children. So he has to fight to find out who he is which is a main conflict in the character of the story. A I really pity on Manny because his parents, siblings and friends often abused him. I wonder why they like to abuse Manny despite he never annoy them. However I appreciate the way Manny deals with those abusive people by trying to get along with the gangs and observe his own family and friends. In my opinion, Manny can be a good example of many children because he can live in the tough family and society by doing trouble. As we see, there are many children in our society that cannot deal with the problem and become social troublemakers. Besides, I like Manny's mother because she plays the leader role of the family quite well. As we usually think that men are belong to this role but for this family, Manny' father can not be that role because he is a drunkard and can not afford the family. Therefore, his wife has to take this responsibility instead of him, although it is a very hard role to her. After I had read this book twice time, I missed my family very much because it made me think that family is the most important thing to me. Although my family is not rich and provide many facility things to me as other families, when I am sad or have some problem, I can talk to them and making solutions together.
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Summary: Parrot in the Oven
Review: I have barly finished reading Parrot In the Oven, to tell you the truth that book was a good book because I had never read a book like that. This book tells the feelings and how he felt and it also made me feel what he was feeling because I understand how it feels. I gave this book 4 stars because it was good but not that because in some parts I got confuced like in the part where the migra comes thin it jumps to a defrent story, but it was still good my best part was when the daa goes looking for Nardos mom but Mr. Hernandez cant find her so he tells his son that were did your mom go and he told him that she went over to sofes to get her hair done but he thought that she was going to leave him so he does looking for his gun he finds it and he over to sofes all drunk when he got ther he tried to shoot her but he does not shoot her and sofe calls thye police and they arest him for atempting murder so yes it was a very good book and what im going to do next is probley one of Victor Martinez Im not shure yet. My family whent through the same thing like them because my dad had to work for his dad because he was sick and he could hardley walk and just to get 300 peso he had to get one tone of pasture in the treilor so I think that my family and his family whent through the same thing so the book was good.
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