Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
344th out of 548 books
—
381 voters
Gringo: A Coming of Age in Latin America
by
Chesa Boudin
Gringo charts two journeys, both of which began a decade ago. The first is the sweeping transformation of Latin American politics that started with Hugo Chávez's inauguration as president of Venezuela in 1999. In that same year, an eighteen-year-old Chesa Boudin leaves his middle-class Chicago life -- which is punctuated by prison visits to his parents, who were incarcerat...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
April 14th 2009
by Scribner
(first published 2009)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
172)
After reading a review of this book on The Tenured Radical, I was excited to receive it as a graduation gift from family friends. The book offers a rundown on the contemporary politics of Latin America in the guise of a travel narrative.
There is an earnest tone to this book. The author is willing to admit his faults, and be upfront about the contradictions about his privileged traveling through Latin America where he happened to be just about every place that made headlines in the U.S. at the ti...more
There is an earnest tone to this book. The author is willing to admit his faults, and be upfront about the contradictions about his privileged traveling through Latin America where he happened to be just about every place that made headlines in the U.S. at the ti...more
This was a very interesting book about a young man's travels in Latin America (beginning as a foreign exchange student in high school), and how his worldview changed as he lived outside the United States. Chesa becomes interested in politics, and as he graduates from high school and then college, he takes different jobs in Latin American countries that help him understand the politics and culture. Like most Americans, I'm fairly ignorant about what goes on outside my country's borders (seriously...more
Boudin is truly fascinated with Latin America, & it was fun to accompany him on his journeys by reading this book.
As an editor, I would have liked not having to notice quite so many dangling modifiers--they became more common toward the end of the book. And there were a few errors of fact that I noticed in the chapter on Colombia. The most glaring one: regarding "the people of Cacarica," "many of their ancestors had settled the Chocó well before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers." Not po...more
As an editor, I would have liked not having to notice quite so many dangling modifiers--they became more common toward the end of the book. And there were a few errors of fact that I noticed in the chapter on Colombia. The most glaring one: regarding "the people of Cacarica," "many of their ancestors had settled the Chocó well before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers." Not po...more
I really enjoyed this book. One of the quotes in this book did such an excellent job at describing how I feel about traveling that I kept it.
"somewhere along the dust-chocked Guatemalan road between...and ...was where I confirmed that I preferred traveling around the slow, bone-rattling way: by bus,with ordinary people. The bus we were riding in had been repainted in bright reds. The inside was colorful too: the seats had springs popping out of the upholstery, and the floor was caked with dirt a...more
"somewhere along the dust-chocked Guatemalan road between...and ...was where I confirmed that I preferred traveling around the slow, bone-rattling way: by bus,with ordinary people. The bus we were riding in had been repainted in bright reds. The inside was colorful too: the seats had springs popping out of the upholstery, and the floor was caked with dirt a...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I give it a 2.5.
Chesa came of age with a backdrop of Latina America to guide him but I don't think he tells a story very well.
I thought his attempt to engage indigenous people about the government and their educating him on what aspect of politics they know and what they feel actually affects their livelihood was the most interesting part but he didn't explore that enough. He also didn't give enough credit to the history of all of his parents, their views and the privileges he received both due...more
Chesa came of age with a backdrop of Latina America to guide him but I don't think he tells a story very well.
I thought his attempt to engage indigenous people about the government and their educating him on what aspect of politics they know and what they feel actually affects their livelihood was the most interesting part but he didn't explore that enough. He also didn't give enough credit to the history of all of his parents, their views and the privileges he received both due...more
Boudin is a pretty good writer and this book went faster than I expected. From the description I read of the book before picking it up, I thought it would be a more personal account -- although the whole thing is indeed personal, it's very heavy on the politics. This book will probably fascinate those already interested in human rights politics in Latin America, and maybe bore those who were looking for more of a travel story. I expect Boudin will continue writing through out his life, and it wi...more
this is an extraordinary book because it allows you to see and feel that other world that is latinamerica. Chesa Boudin's clear language and keen observation are a window into an inspiring time in south america. As a latinamerican I have tried to explain my culture to my US friends and know I wasn't getting through, here is someone who explains it wonderfully.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
Boudin had my ear for the first couple chapters...I love food, chicken buses, and language faux pas. I even wanted to meet this author and swap stories. However, when Boudin tried to get serious about the struggles of life and politics in Latin America, he came out sounding repetitive at best, disingenuous at worst. He did not delve deep enough into the root issues; rather, he followed the party line and spouted leftist political theory with few words used for reflection. Latin America is far to...more
Chesa's a buddy of mine, so I was excited to read his book - a travelogue / coming of age story about his many trips throughout South/Central America. The book was easy to read, and the stories were unique and filled with interesting personal details. The writing is thoughtful, and you can feel the author's love of his subject(s). Chesa clearly knows a lot about the history and politics of the region, and has thought a lot about his [very radical:] views on U.S.-Latin American relations. And whi...more
I enjoyed the book and found it engrossing, though perhaps a bit too simplistic in its political views. The author is earnest and transparent about conflicts in his philosophy and his travels. A good travel book for the left side of South America.
I loved this book, I found it really interesting especially after I visited Guatemala. He shows you a whole new side of South American and a new perspective on their government and politics.
Chesa Boudin is very reflexive. He thinks deeply about his actions and their consequences. Very interesting book to get a sense of how recent events have shaped Latin America.
Apr 23, 2009
Danielle
marked it as to-read
Based on a review from the Tenured Radical: http://tenured-radical.blogspot.com/2...
Sophomoric Latin America 101.
From the cover and the blurbs I had no idea this was going to be a political essay. The history on the Latin American countries was useful and sometimes interesting, but the politics were far too slanted for my tastes.
Wasn't super keen on the writing style, but I'm a sucker for Latin American travelogues. The political history combined with the perspective on present day leftist revolutions on the continent more or less overshadowed the less than stellar writing.
I picked up this book because of the title; I’m a big fan of the word “Gringo”.
Read more at;
http://www.bilinguallibrarian.com/201...
Read more at;
http://www.bilinguallibrarian.com/201...
Not very well written, this guy thinks he's the first one to notice the nuances of Latin America. Overly leftist and cannot see that everything is not black and white.
if you are into latin american politics or want to lear more about L.A./S.A. politics......some juicy travel stories.
Sort of a snore fest.
Stay away from this mundanely written snoozefest.
I am boy. I travel Latin America.
Jan 10, 2013
Vinessa
marked it as to-read
Dec 25, 2012
Believe Chop
marked it as to-read
Dec 14, 2012
Noel Sandoval
marked it as to-read
Dec 12, 2012
Shay
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
