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16th out of 63 books
—
43 voters
Flaming Iguanas: An Illustrated All-Girl Road Novel Thing
by
Erika Lopez
Tomato Rodriguez hops on her motorcycle and embarks on the ultimate sea-to-shining-sea all-girl adventure -- a story in that combines all the best parts of Alice in Wonderland and Easy Rider as Tomato crosses the country in search of the meaning of life, love, and the perfect post office. Flaming Iguanas is a hilarious novel that combines text, line drawings, rubber stamp...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
November 17th 1998
by Simon & Schuster
(first published 1997)
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this book made me fall in love with everything including stamps, motorcycles, inky pens that blot when you use them, illustrated novels and erika lopez. i was so enamored that i emailed her a fan letter when i first read this in 1998 or so and we corresponded for about 6 months and i fantasized about going to san fran and meeting her and becoming her friend for real. real in a way where maybe we could go out dancing with a bunch of people and we'd get real drunk and make out in the bathroom.
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Jun 25, 2007
Tina
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
feminists with bawdy senses of humor
Shelves:
fiction
I really loved this book. It's a fast, fun read, and it's not really like anything I've read before. Very fresh and hilarious, but also poignant in a very straightforward, non-sappy way. Lopez really takes what is often a kind of stereotypically brassy, sassy, tough character and makes her really interesting, likable, and totally not obnoxious at all. And I think that's really part of her magic: this book does all kinds of things that other books try to do, in terms of being quirky and knowing a...more
The protagonist/narrator's name is Tomato Rodriguez! I first enjoyed this book as required reading in a feminist theory class I was taking—the professor said we needed some fun fiction to mix up the syllabus.
I started flipping through this book again recently, intending just to check out the cool illustrations made from stamps. Instead, I wound up staying up all night, reading the entire book straight through! As another Good Reads reviewer pointed out, the author took what is often a stereotyp...more
I started flipping through this book again recently, intending just to check out the cool illustrations made from stamps. Instead, I wound up staying up all night, reading the entire book straight through! As another Good Reads reviewer pointed out, the author took what is often a stereotyp...more
"No one has any pull, and I realize no one's opinion of anything really matters more than your until they figure out how to stay alive forever. A snotty, condescending attitude- like the kind in expensive hair salons or clothing stores- might simply be an attempt by people who probably don't even have health insurance to fake you out so you think they know all the songs in The Key of Life by heart."
This book is a super fast read and also super fun with all the artwork Lopez includes. The story f...more
This book is a super fast read and also super fun with all the artwork Lopez includes. The story f...more
Erika Lopez takes the reader on her motorcycle trip cross-country. Instead of a linear telling, the reader gets a hefty helping of stories and anecdotes interspersed with hilarious, equal parts relevant and random illustrations. What makes this a good read is Erika herself. She is a woman, a Latina, a lesbian, and an inexperienced biker; brash, raunchy, honest, self-effacing, and charming. I loved her similes and metaphors- she writes in world where vets are "already somewhere new whispering eup...more
This book was alright. I really like the care-free, artsy layout of the book itself. It reads really quickly, and the images really break it up and make it feel less intimidating as a book to read. However, not sure if I'm "alternative" enough to truly appreciate this kind of writing ... I must admit, there are some cringe-worthy descriptions of sex with guys that I really could've done without. I am, however, glad to have experienced it, and I'm certainly working my way through her next one as...more
Erika Lopez really deserves more credit for her literary contributions. I completely relate to her oft ADHD-style flow of thought, and what sticks out the most for me is her hilariously spot on insights into relationships, art and culture. You can pick this book up at any page and get sucked into the crazy, fastly-alienated, ever-gentrifying world of Lopez. Makes me wanna visit SF!
My guardian angel's new nickname is Tomato Rodriguez. I am glad I read "They Call Me Mad Dog" before I read this one, because I might not have bothered. "Flaming Iguanas" is still full of good laughs, just that it was not as fun or intense as the second novel. So I think this is kind of a prequel. But all the same, I like to think of Erika Lopez as one of my new favorite writers.
I enjoyed this book! Erika Lopez has a style of writing that I both relate to and greatly admire: clever, outspoken and real. I appreciated her honest nature at exposing depths of herself many of us would be reluctant to share. The story she shares of aspiring to be in a lesbian bike gang is fabulous! I would encourage everyone to read this!
At first glance, considering the unconventional size and font of this effort, one is likely to mistake the book for some sort of novelty or parlor coffee table item. It is neither of those, but more of a "coming of age" novel in which Tomato, twenty-something, part Puerto Rican, Jersey girl decides to buy a motorcycle (not a Harley, mind you, but a previosly-owned rice burner) and travel cross-country to the west coast. During this not exactly Easyrider adventure, Tomato learns more about hersel...more
For thesis research...
An entertaining read - definitely a quick one. It definitely attempts to turn the American road novel on it's head - by following two bisexual women as they cross the country on motorcycles, getting into crazy adventures, etc. It's also a "coming-of-age" story - as the narrative grows, so does the protagonist. It's reminiscent of On the Road as the story follows Tomato on her misadventures, with no purpose for hitting the road other than it's there to be hit, and life lesso...more
An entertaining read - definitely a quick one. It definitely attempts to turn the American road novel on it's head - by following two bisexual women as they cross the country on motorcycles, getting into crazy adventures, etc. It's also a "coming-of-age" story - as the narrative grows, so does the protagonist. It's reminiscent of On the Road as the story follows Tomato on her misadventures, with no purpose for hitting the road other than it's there to be hit, and life lesso...more
A rather off tale of a motorcycle journey from a Puerto Rican woman's point of view. She has some weirdo views and ideas/dreams.
I'm also wondering if this was written as one of those lesbian/feminsto books. Not sure how I feel about that, actually.
I'm also wondering if this was written as one of those lesbian/feminsto books. Not sure how I feel about that, actually.
a girl i dated in college was reading this and i borrowed it and read it because she liked it so much. i liked it to. it's funny, filled with quirky art, has entertaining lay-out and a fun, meandering story.
i re-read it because i borrowed it and the other two in the trilogy from eli and he's about to cut them up and make them into art, himself.
i enjoyed it but wasn't as into it the second time. that doesn't mean i don't recommend it, cuz i do. it just means it's not Great Everlasting Literature...more
i re-read it because i borrowed it and the other two in the trilogy from eli and he's about to cut them up and make them into art, himself.
i enjoyed it but wasn't as into it the second time. that doesn't mean i don't recommend it, cuz i do. it just means it's not Great Everlasting Literature...more
Jun 11, 2007
Snarky's
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
pretty much anyone with a fucked up sense of humor.
I don't even know where to start! This is probably my favorite book ever. It's sexy, sassy, bitchy and fucking ridiculous. Every page is filled with the kind of writing that looks really easy to do but in fact it's difficult to pull off. It's hard to be funny and true and poignant in fiction without it looking obvious and embarrassing. Lopez knows how to do it. It's her use of language that is so intoxicating. I think my favorite phrase is "Trapped and fearful vaginas." I use it all the time eve...more
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This book reminded me SO much of a wonderful girlfriend I had in high school that I read it cover-to-cover in an all-nite reading marathon; I've since bought the other 2 books in the series.
Lopez rocks, and so does her artistic vision!
Lopez rocks, and so does her artistic vision!
Some very fun personal insights, and some seriously raunchy but entertaining thoughts. The illustrations add to the ironic humor.
It's a quick fun read, probably of more interest to us females. But it might surprise any boys who pick it up.
She does ramble and digress, but I liked that. It added to its narrative.
It's a quick fun read, probably of more interest to us females. But it might surprise any boys who pick it up.
She does ramble and digress, but I liked that. It added to its narrative.
ONE WOMAN MOTORCYCLE GANG TAKES ON AMERICA, WINS. Read this book. It's probably the best of the trilogy, and I still regret it being stolen in the divorce. Tomato Rodriguez is my rock-star awesome breakdown hero.
I couldn't stop trying to get my friends to read this book after I finished it for the first time. And then I found it again a couple of years later and went through the same experience. When you choose books purely on their cover and physical presence, it makes you feel all that much better when their insides deliver. And that, my friends, is what this book does. If you've ever dreamed of getting a motorcycle and riding across the country, read this book to keep the dream alive. She's real and...more
What an amazing book. I'm always quite happy when the text on the back of a book promises exactly what the book contains. Flaming Iguanas really felt like a punk rock song, raw and dirty. It's very well written, extremely witty and just feels like freedom. Great read.
May 14, 2009
Darla
marked it as to-read
I bought this book when it was first published and I still haven't read it. I need to have a "Read Your Own Damn Books" month.
This was a book my daughter brought home and not something I would normally have picked out, but it kept me reading.
Very funny story of cross country motorcycle trip. main character struggles to find the meaning of life.
This is very fun and has a lot of nice phrases. I like the art and the font very much. I'm glad I read it but doubt I will read it again.
I love this book. The story is awesome, it's funny and it's got excellent illustrations.
Fun and beyond gorgeous to read if you get the illustrated hard cover.
This was cute. It made me nostalgic for my 21 year old self. It was quirky and adorable. It's nothing earth shaking or terribly insightful but I could definitely identify with the author from a hindsight point of view. I got this book because I want to read her newest book 'The Girl Must Die' so I figured I should read this one first.
Hilarious!
I'd add another star if only the ending wasn't so abrupt. :D
I'd add another star if only the ending wasn't so abrupt. :D
I'd give this 4.5. This story was so fun and fresh. I loved the narrator, the lack of pretension, and the beautiful language, which was full of unexpected, original analogies and metaphors. And funny! I laughed out loud many times, loved all the characters she encountered along the way. It would be too graphic sexually for many readers--I could have probably lived with a lighter touch in that department (no pun intended). However, since it was an important part of her journey, both literally and...more
dykes on bikes kickin ass and takin names
An absolute, all time favorite.
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Sep 15, 2008 06:30pm
Oct 10, 2009 10:01am