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Rating: 
Summary: A Toda Madre
Review: This story started out at the Orange Show in the 1960's. That caught my attention right away. I remember the Orange Show in the 1960's quite well. That is where all the ruca's went either with their boy friend or to find a boy friend. This book is somewhat poetic, somewhat nostalgic. The life and times of the Rivera family bring so many memories flooding back about the way we were in the Mt. Vernon barrio. This story really hit home. The places Pimentel mentions in the book such as Esperanza Tienda and The Mitla Cafe are places I frequented in the 1960's. I've read other reviews and they all seem to focus on machismo or feminism. I focus on the realism and familiarity. Hats off to Pimentel and his simple writing style. I was really drawn into this story and it's characters, especially Soledad and Gabby. My heart went out to Gabby. I know he had it rough being the youngest child and watching the infidelity of his parents and the only other male figure in his home life (Bert) going off to war. Bert was the emotionally stronger, older brother. I have seen many vatos from the barrio who have that same feeling that they have to get out of the rut that the barrio brings. A friend of mine used to say, "I feel like the world is passing me by." This book is "a toda madre." I highly recommend it. I've already told others about it.
Rating:
Summary: A Toda Madre
Review: This story started out at the Orange Show in the 1960's. That caught my attention right away. I remember the Orange Show in the 1960's quite well. That is where all the ruca's went either with their boy friend or to find a boy friend. This book is somewhat poetic, somewhat nostalgic. The life and times of the Rivera family bring so many memories flooding back about the way we were in the Mt. Vernon barrio. This story really hit home. The places Pimentel mentions in the book such as Esperanza Tienda and The Mitla Cafe are places I frequented in the 1960's. I've read other reviews and they all seem to focus on machismo or feminism. I focus on the realism and familiarity. Hats off to Pimentel and his simple writing style. I was really drawn into this story and it's characters, especially Soledad and Gabby. My heart went out to Gabby. I know he had it rough being the youngest child and watching the infidelity of his parents and the only other male figure in his home life (Bert) going off to war. Bert was the emotionally stronger, older brother. I have seen many vatos from the barrio who have that same feeling that they have to get out of the rut that the barrio brings. A friend of mine used to say, "I feel like the world is passing me by." This book is "a toda madre." I highly recommend it. I've already told others about it.
Rating:
Summary: A great book that deserves a wider audience
Review: We need more fiction like this. Ricardo Pimentel's ear for dialogue is pitch perfect and the novel is a beautiful evocation of a place and time. I hope this is not his last work of fiction.
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