Delano

by John Orozco

Eddie Delano is an underachieving, recalcitrant young man desperate to avoid life's absurdities and cursed to experience them in total. His sidesplitting quest begins in war-torn Vietnam but moves quickly to rural California and a circus-like college campus filled with oddball professors, rabid women's libbers and misguided leaders of the social revolution. His helpers and guides include the ultimate con man, a stoned-out hippie, and the wicked woman of his dark desires. Despite their shenanigans and the obstacles provided by the comically inept sheriff's detectives and the maniacal vegetarians of Baba Rama, Eddie finds his treasure. Or does he?

170 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Ralph Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eddie Delano and his world are a stitch! And like surgical stitches, Orozco's satirical needlings of domestic and college life sting as well as correct social and psychological deformities that characterized the surreal sixties. No target, large or small, eludes the author's jaundiced eye (check out the back cover art) or his sharp-honed pen--you'll feel its prick on every page. One asks no more of good satire. Combining the complete arsenal of satirical, humorous, comedic, slapstick, and burlesque techniques, this novel starts you laughing and wincing on page one, with Eddie's admission that he shot off his big toe to avoid Viet Nam, and sustains it through the hilariously implausible and implosive self-destruction of the whole sick crew. And they are legion: hustlers, cheaters, political poseurs, worm farmers, gender freaks, and doobie brothers (all of whom inhale). If you participated, especially as a student, in those hallucinogenic days, had children who did, taught that generation, or just nostalgically miss those sweet, sweaty summers of love, this is the book for you. Almost forgot. There's some interesting sex, too.

Ralph La Rosa

[Gretchen Oligee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by my 10th grade English teacher. It was hard to read it and not imagine Eddie Delano was really Mr. Orozco. Such a fun read. Full of humor. I can't wait for the sequel "Eddie and the Inmates" to arrive in my mailbox!

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this book, it had tons of laugh out loud moments and made me wish I could have gone to school with Eddie. We would have had such a blast together! This book was an absolute joy to read. 5/5 from me!

[Art Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! Orozco is a satirical genius!

[Cynthia]

Very funny. Easy to read. Very entertaining.

[Davis Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely funny, well written, totally unpredictable, acidic, dark and ridiculous.

[Martha Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book. Very funny and entertaining.