sriano's review against another edition
5.0
One of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Piri Thomas is a gifted writer.
drbex's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
A bit dated but an important book for Latino studies students.
sylvianyc's review against another edition
5.0
I could kick myself a million times over for not reading this book sooner. What a wonderfully mesmerizing story of a boy trying to make his way through the poverty stricken streets of the barrio. All the while fighting against socities racism and hatred, mixed with self- hatred and feelings of inferiority. Piri Thomas' journey from the streets of Harlem, from behind prison walls, and back to freedom is heart- wrenching.
Sadly, many of the conditions Piri sounds off on in his memoir still exist today. A reality that helps place much of what Piri writes in the book into perspective.
Sadly, many of the conditions Piri sounds off on in his memoir still exist today. A reality that helps place much of what Piri writes in the book into perspective.
sarabz's review against another edition
4.0
This memoir of growing up as a black puerto rican in spanish harlem in the 50's was very well written. He maintains a very approachable style while at the same time achieving a poetry to his prose.
This book made me think about what i'll call "memoirs of the dispossesed" as a genre (anyone know a more legit title for this genre?). Each decade since the 50's seems to have published a few of these. I wonder about how they are marketed and what the audience ends up being and who the authors are writing for and how that has changed over the years. Reviews often focus on the "read this and learn about the seedy underbelly of life among the oppressed" aspect (probably because the reviewers tend to come from priviledge) but there is also the place of validation and self-assessment that is there for people who don't often see themselves reflected realistically in popular literature (especially in the 50's and 60's).
I would love to read an analysis of this. I'll have to do some searching...
This book made me think about what i'll call "memoirs of the dispossesed" as a genre (anyone know a more legit title for this genre?). Each decade since the 50's seems to have published a few of these. I wonder about how they are marketed and what the audience ends up being and who the authors are writing for and how that has changed over the years. Reviews often focus on the "read this and learn about the seedy underbelly of life among the oppressed" aspect (probably because the reviewers tend to come from priviledge) but there is also the place of validation and self-assessment that is there for people who don't often see themselves reflected realistically in popular literature (especially in the 50's and 60's).
I would love to read an analysis of this. I'll have to do some searching...
bekkabergamot's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so striking in the lyrical and poetic way Piri Thomas uses language clashing with the harsh and vulgar depiction of growing up in the ghetto. Piri Thomas reflected within the afterword to the 30th anniversary addition that he had hoped the portrayal of poverty in the U.S. would have helped bring attention and aid to the neighborhoods he described. But he laments that was not the case... the streets are meaner these days. Nevertheless, this is a book that touches on racial/ transnational identity, sexuality, language oppression, and culture within El Barrio. A great read.