Caramba! : A Tale Told in Turns of the Card

Rating:
Summary: I wish I had written this book!!!
Review: Oh! How wonderful it must be to have your head filled with such amazing adventures and lucious characters. It has been such a long time since I've read a book where the characters just leap from the pages and invite you into their world.
The artwork is enchanting and adds so much to the story. It gives the feeling that you are a part of the book & the exploits of the characters. The people populating this book have stayed with me ~ I miss them & want MORE!

Rating:
Summary: AS ZESTY AS SALSA, AS MELLOW AS A MARGARITA
Review: "Caramba!" bursts upon the literary scene as zesty as salsa, as mellow as a margarita, and as much fun as a Mexican hat dance.

Before turning to page 1, there are a few things this author would have you know:
"I believe that English and Spanish are live languages, hence they're always changin'."
"People say that my book is very funny, but I am dead serious."
"The characters come to me first as quirks, then as dilemmas: A Born Again Christian Mariachi, an ugly beauty queen, a girl who's afraid of public transportation and long car rides....."
"Many books begin with a disclaimer that says that the events therein described are fiction. If my book gets one of those, then it will speak the truth. I made everything up, except for the Javier Solis death-by-taco story."

There, now that you're prepared, turn to page 1 of "Caramba!"and meet Natalie and Consuelo, known as Nat and Sway. As Sandra Cisneros is wont to say, these two are "Thelma and Louise on the border."

Home to this twenty-something pair is Lava Landing, California. Now, while Nat and Sway are aching to break free and see the world, there's also something waiting to burst forth in Lava Landing - a dormant volcano.

Lava Landing is close to the Mexican border and home to the Miss Magma beauty contest. Swaying hips and mariachi music are hallmarks of this community, as are some of the most outrageous characters ever imagined - Javier, a born-again mariachi who falls for a drug dealer; Lulabell, an honest-to-goodness witch; and True-Dee, a drag queen hair dresser.

Until Nat and Sway can determine how they can hit the road to adventure in Nat's 1963 Cadillac convertible the girls work days at the Big Cheese Factory, and spend their nights at The Big Five-Four. Here, seated in their favorite booth they sip tequila floats, dance, and check the action.

And there's activity aplenty in this brightly presented book spiced with illustrations captioned in both English and Spanish. As we follow the lives of Shay, Nat, and their friends we're reminded of how very much alike we all are - it's just that these two have a heck of a lot more fun than most of us.

As defined by the author "Caramba" is what you say when you don't know what to say. I know what to say about this book: it's an antic read, terrific, surprising fun. It's as intoxicating as a Tequila Sunrise. Don't miss it.

- Gail Cooke

Rating:
Summary: AS ZESTY AS SALSA, AS MELLOW AS A MARGARITA
Review: "Caramba!" bursts upon the literary scene as zesty as salsa, as mellow as a margarita, and as much fun as a Mexican hat dance.

Before turning to page 1, there are a few things this author would have you know:
"I believe that English and Spanish are live languages, hence they're always changin'."
"People say that my book is very funny, but I am dead serious."
"The characters come to me first as quirks, then as dilemmas: A Born Again Christian Mariachi, an ugly beauty queen, a girl who's afraid of public transportation and long car rides....."
"Many books begin with a disclaimer that says that the events therein described are fiction. If my book gets one of those, then it will speak the truth. I made everything up, except for the Javier Solis death-by-taco story."

There, now that you're prepared, turn to page 1 of "Caramba!"and meet Natalie and Consuelo, known as Nat and Sway. As Sandra Cisneros is wont to say, these two are "Thelma and Louise on the border."

Home to this twenty-something pair is Lava Landing, California. Now, while Nat and Sway are aching to break free and see the world, there's also something waiting to burst forth in Lava Landing - a dormant volcano.

Lava Landing is close to the Mexican border and home to the Miss Magma beauty contest. Swaying hips and mariachi music are hallmarks of this community, as are some of the most outrageous characters ever imagined - Javier, a born-again mariachi who falls for a drug dealer; Lulabell, an honest-to-goodness witch; and True-Dee, a drag queen hair dresser.

Until Nat and Sway can determine how they can hit the road to adventure in Nat's 1963 Cadillac convertible the girls work days at the Big Cheese Factory, and spend their nights at The Big Five-Four. Here, seated in their favorite booth they sip tequila floats, dance, and check the action.

And there's activity aplenty in this brightly presented book spiced with illustrations captioned in both English and Spanish. As we follow the lives of Shay, Nat, and their friends we're reminded of how very much alike we all are - it's just that these two have a heck of a lot more fun than most of us.

As defined by the author "Caramba" is what you say when you don't know what to say. I know what to say about this book: it's an antic read, terrific, surprising fun. It's as intoxicating as a Tequila Sunrise. Don't miss it.

- Gail Cooke

Rating:
Summary: Hola amigos!
Review: Don't miss the point that this book bridges English and Espanol. <And don't forget that tilda over the 'n.' Martinez knows her Mexican-Americans intimately. If you're a novice in the southwest you'll definitely come away wearing more silver jewelry and belt buckles. The style is all-consuming and plunges you deep in the Cali-Mex culture. So that's what my hermanos to the south (and north, and everywhere) are doing. And thinking about, and playing, and writing, and, um, what their trying to get out of purgatory--which, by the way, is all done in white. Heaven has deep, rich colors. With all your favorite things, like in a Mexican Western.
This chica has a clever, refined sense of humor--in two languages. Check it out. Improve your Spanish. Learn about lonchera crime; two-faced, paroled mujeres; and born-again mariachi frustrations. Try not to steal any dress designs--cut on the bias. Me gusto mucho. Deserves a place on the bookshelf of gringo's with even the smallest Spanish vocabulario.

Rating:
Summary: Hola amigos!
Review: Don't miss the point that this book bridges English and Espanol. This chica has a clever, refined sense of humor--in two languages. Check it out. Improve your Spanish. Learn about lonchera crime; two-faced, paroled mujeres; and born-again mariachi frustrations. Try not to steal any dress designs--cut on the bias. Me gusto mucho. Deserves a place on the bookshelf of gringo's with even the smallest Spanish vocabulario.

Rating:
Summary: Love this book!
Review: I picked up a copy of Caramba! while stuck in a little suburb of St. Louis for an insurance class. Admittedly, I was desparate for a good read. First I was drawn to the cover of the book - vibrant and kitschy it practically jumped off the shelf at first glance.

Then, opening the book to a random page, I was immediately hooked.

This really is an exciting adventure with mysterious elements. The characters are vividly drawn and engaging.

At first, I was a bit concerned with the Spanglish. I was afraid that I would lose interest because I would constantly have to stop to translate. Not so! The dialogue is very funny and won't stump the Spanish-challenged among us.

Forget trading on E-Bay. This book has found a permanent home on my bookshelves.

Rating:
Summary: AMAZING
Review: If you have any interest in Spanish language and/or chicano culture, this is an amazing book!! You will love the crazy fun story, and feel like you're in southern California with the incredibly written Spanglish. It's super.