Suarez, Mario. Chicano sketches; short stories.SUAREZ, Mario. Chicano sketches; short stories. Univ. of Arizona Press. 186p. c2004. 0-8165-2404-1, $17.95. SA A colorful and quirky cast of characters peppers the barrio bar·ri·o n. pl. bar·ri·os 1. An urban district or quarter in a Spanish-speaking country. 2. A chiefly Spanish-speaking community or neighborhood in a U.S. city. world of El Hoyo, Arizona. Garza's barbershop is the starting place for the after-hours action, where a group of locals drink, fight, and carouse nightly. There is Cuco, who simulates bullfighting bullfighting, national sport and spectacle of Spain. Called the corrida de toros in Spanish, the bullfight takes place in a large outdoor arena known as the plaza de toros. with young Procuna; Lily-Boy, who calls to tell his wife he will be home soon and sober, only to drink some more; Kid "Zopilote," slovenly slov·en·ly adj. 1. Untidy, as in dress or appearance. 2. Marked by negligence; slipshod. See Synonyms at sloppy. slov , unlikable, and a self-described womanizer wom·an·ize v. woman·ized, woman·iz·ing, woman·iz·es v.intr. To pursue women lecherously. v.tr. To give female characteristics to; feminize. ; and Loco-Chu, an indigent indigent 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she cannot provide the necessities of life (food, clothing, decent shelter) for himself/herself. 2) n. one without sufficient income to afford a lawyer for defense in a criminal case. with a strange obsession for nickels, who is fed nightly by the owner of the Canton Cafe. These local-color stories with their references to "DA" haircuts, "zoot suits zoot suits bizarre outfits with the “reet pleats” (1940s). [Am. Hist.: Sann, 275] See : Fads " and jukeboxes belong to a '50s or '60s timeframe. Nevertheless, the human-interest themes transcend time and place, and readers will chuckle over the eccentricities of fully dimensional characters whose experiences and escapades are often comical. The reader senses a kinship with people who are totally human and similar to all of us in their foibles and frailties. Treating his characters with dignity and compassion, the author aligns them with all of us on the spectrum of humanity. Chicano Sketches demonstrates a high degree of literacy, and the world of the Chicano people, a hitherto neglected area, should be given due recognition in the general body of modern American literature. Phyllis LaMontagne, Spencer, MA S--Recommended for senior high school students. A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries. |
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