jennyshank's review
3.0
http://www.hcn.org/issues/45.11/acting-the-part-a-review-of-the-five-acts-of-diego-leon
from High Country News
Diego León, the protagonist of Alex Espinoza's second novel, makes his way to the U.S. during the turmoil of the Mexican revolution, hoping to achieve stardom at a time when Hollywood's major studios each "had a Latin actor under contract." Espinoza, who was born in Tijuana and now lives in California, vividly evokes a series of worlds, from the prosaic realities of rural Mexico in 1911 to the merciless studio system behind the glamour of Hollywood's 1930s golden age.
The Five Acts of Diego León begins with Diego's childhood in a poor village in Michoacán, Mexico, where he lives with his mother, who grew up privileged in the province's capital before eloping with Diego's half-P'urhépecha father. Diego discovers his own love for performing during a dance for the feast day of the town's patron saint. "The more he moved, the louder the crowd cheered him on, the more they applauded, and the happier he felt."
Tragedy forces Diego to join his wealthy grandparents in the capital, and they educate him and give him music lessons while grooming him to take over the family business and get married. But Diego has realized he is gay, a secret he shares with no one. As plans for his future become fixed, he flees Mexico for Hollywood to pursue his show-business dreams.
Diego evolves from a sweet and sensitive boy into a dashing but calculating man who will do anything to achieve his goals. A secretary at the central casting office tells him, "Don't be so honest. In this town, people get rich by fibbing and go nowhere fast when they tell the truth."
Espinoza shows how every gay man in this closeted era was a kind of actor, whether they worked in movies or not, and how ethnic performers concealed their origins to project the aura approved by Hollywood. As Diego's career rises, he becomes increasingly entangled in lies, performing stock roles in stereotype-filled movies. He wonders if it's even possible for a gay Mexican to establish a settled and happy existence in Depression-era America.
In telling the story of one fictional character, The Five Acts of Diego León invites readers to ponder the many real people in the past -- and even the present -- who have been forced to conceal their true identities, keeping secrets but sometimes channeling their hidden angst into art.
from High Country News
Diego León, the protagonist of Alex Espinoza's second novel, makes his way to the U.S. during the turmoil of the Mexican revolution, hoping to achieve stardom at a time when Hollywood's major studios each "had a Latin actor under contract." Espinoza, who was born in Tijuana and now lives in California, vividly evokes a series of worlds, from the prosaic realities of rural Mexico in 1911 to the merciless studio system behind the glamour of Hollywood's 1930s golden age.
The Five Acts of Diego León begins with Diego's childhood in a poor village in Michoacán, Mexico, where he lives with his mother, who grew up privileged in the province's capital before eloping with Diego's half-P'urhépecha father. Diego discovers his own love for performing during a dance for the feast day of the town's patron saint. "The more he moved, the louder the crowd cheered him on, the more they applauded, and the happier he felt."
Tragedy forces Diego to join his wealthy grandparents in the capital, and they educate him and give him music lessons while grooming him to take over the family business and get married. But Diego has realized he is gay, a secret he shares with no one. As plans for his future become fixed, he flees Mexico for Hollywood to pursue his show-business dreams.
Diego evolves from a sweet and sensitive boy into a dashing but calculating man who will do anything to achieve his goals. A secretary at the central casting office tells him, "Don't be so honest. In this town, people get rich by fibbing and go nowhere fast when they tell the truth."
Espinoza shows how every gay man in this closeted era was a kind of actor, whether they worked in movies or not, and how ethnic performers concealed their origins to project the aura approved by Hollywood. As Diego's career rises, he becomes increasingly entangled in lies, performing stock roles in stereotype-filled movies. He wonders if it's even possible for a gay Mexican to establish a settled and happy existence in Depression-era America.
In telling the story of one fictional character, The Five Acts of Diego León invites readers to ponder the many real people in the past -- and even the present -- who have been forced to conceal their true identities, keeping secrets but sometimes channeling their hidden angst into art.
julieh46's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hobbitony's review
2.0
Alex Espinoza is an incredibly talented and interesting writer. This book feels like it had a lot of great ideas but just wasn't able to stick.
I absolutely loved the entire premise of this story. Mexicans in Hollywood. A completely unheard and forgotten past in the industry. Espinoza is clearly researched in his craft and he has the background to support this.
Diego Leon begins with Diego in Mexico, living during the time of the Mexican Revolution. To be quite honest, that is an entire aspect of history that hasn't been written enough about on its own. Espinoza uses this as a catalyst for Diego to run to America. He deals with themes of sexuality, the brutality of the industry and finding yourself.
The book touches on this concepts but sadly it feels like we can never get the full force for some reason. I look forward to reading Espinoza's other works as I'm absolutely rooting for this fantastic writer.
I absolutely loved the entire premise of this story. Mexicans in Hollywood. A completely unheard and forgotten past in the industry. Espinoza is clearly researched in his craft and he has the background to support this.
Diego Leon begins with Diego in Mexico, living during the time of the Mexican Revolution. To be quite honest, that is an entire aspect of history that hasn't been written enough about on its own. Espinoza uses this as a catalyst for Diego to run to America. He deals with themes of sexuality, the brutality of the industry and finding yourself.
The book touches on this concepts but sadly it feels like we can never get the full force for some reason. I look forward to reading Espinoza's other works as I'm absolutely rooting for this fantastic writer.
eriknoteric's review
2.0
A book that will keep you on the precipice of boredom, Alex Espinoza's "The Five Acts of Diego Leon" recounts the childhood and early life of Mexican-born actor Diego Leon as he traverses growing up in rural Mexico, crossing the border, and fighting to be on screen in Los Angeles.
Diego moves through life determined to make something of himself; to escape his droll upbringing and to be a star. The plot of the book is often built ready to explode, waiting for something to happen to propel the narrative forward. Will Diego finally fall in love with Javier? What is actually happening in the relationship between Bill and Diego? And what of these various women - Fiona, Paloma, and Alicia?
It seems as though Espinoza too often gets muddled in the weeds of setting and time and fails to really build the relationships between his characters; he fails to tell their stories of meeting, of loving, of hurting, and of longing, and this leaves much of the book feeling empty. So often Diego builds connections with other characters, but the reader is left with radio silence. This character silence means "The Five Acts of Diego Leon" will leave you sadly disappointed.
Diego moves through life determined to make something of himself; to escape his droll upbringing and to be a star. The plot of the book is often built ready to explode, waiting for something to happen to propel the narrative forward. Will Diego finally fall in love with Javier? What is actually happening in the relationship between Bill and Diego? And what of these various women - Fiona, Paloma, and Alicia?
It seems as though Espinoza too often gets muddled in the weeds of setting and time and fails to really build the relationships between his characters; he fails to tell their stories of meeting, of loving, of hurting, and of longing, and this leaves much of the book feeling empty. So often Diego builds connections with other characters, but the reader is left with radio silence. This character silence means "The Five Acts of Diego Leon" will leave you sadly disappointed.
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