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Dodger Blue Will Fill Your Soul
Two brothers bury a statue of Saint Jude for their grieving nana. A Griffith Park astronomer makes his own discovery at an East L.A. wedding. A young man springs his Cherokee-obsessed grandfather from the confines of senility. The common thread? Each is weaving their way through the challenging field of play that is living and loving in Los Angeles.
In Dodger Blue Will Fill Your Soul, Bryan Allen Fierro brings to life the people and places that form the fragile heart of the East Los Angeles community. In the title story, a father’s love of Dodger baseball is matched only by the disconnect he must bridge with his young son. In another story, a young widower remembers his wedding day with his father-in-law. The boys and men in this collection challenge masculine stereotypes, while the girls and women defy gender roles. Hope and faith in their own community defines the characters, and propels them toward an awareness of their own personal responsibility to themselves and to their families, even as they eschew those closest to them in pursuit of a different future.
Dodger Blue Will Fill Your Soul is a tour de force—the first collection of an authentic new voice examining community with humor, hope, and brutal honesty.
In Dodger Blue Will Fill Your Soul, Bryan Allen Fierro brings to life the people and places that form the fragile heart of the East Los Angeles community. In the title story, a father’s love of Dodger baseball is matched only by the disconnect he must bridge with his young son. In another story, a young widower remembers his wedding day with his father-in-law. The boys and men in this collection challenge masculine stereotypes, while the girls and women defy gender roles. Hope and faith in their own community defines the characters, and propels them toward an awareness of their own personal responsibility to themselves and to their families, even as they eschew those closest to them in pursuit of a different future.
Dodger Blue Will Fill Your Soul is a tour de force—the first collection of an authentic new voice examining community with humor, hope, and brutal honesty.
- GenresShort Stories
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 17, 2026
Reading the Western Landcape Community Book discussion:
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May 18, 2017
It was a fine read of heartfelt vignettes from East LA. I particularly enjoyed that the author strayed away from stereotypes and humanized the characters by highlighting their struggles with the choices they make. It made for a compelling reading experience and I found myself relating to a lot of the characters even if we don't really have much in common.
However, one thing I wasn't a huge fan of was how sad some of stories could be. I think this could have been a perfect opportunity to further explore topics that really affect the Latino community, such as poverty and raising children. These "sad" stories just felt so unresolved and left me feeling really down afterwards!
Nonetheless, on the whole this is a very refreshing perspective. It provides great insight on the Latino community; whether first-generation or second, these stories show that Latinos face their own set of inner struggles, and that they just want to live freely as any other person.
However, one thing I wasn't a huge fan of was how sad some of stories could be. I think this could have been a perfect opportunity to further explore topics that really affect the Latino community, such as poverty and raising children. These "sad" stories just felt so unresolved and left me feeling really down afterwards!
Nonetheless, on the whole this is a very refreshing perspective. It provides great insight on the Latino community; whether first-generation or second, these stories show that Latinos face their own set of inner struggles, and that they just want to live freely as any other person.
February 15, 2022
A compilation of gems!
October 11, 2016
This title piqued my interest as someone who is fascinated with the Los Angeles area and what life is like there. I was also drawn in by the fact that these stories focus on a part of the city (east L.A.) and culture that doesn't get a lot of exposure in mainstream literature. There is an interesting variety of characters in these stories, some of which I wouldn't mind reading more about. I liked that these stories were about ordinary people and didn't portray the characters as the kinds of cultural stereotypes that are all-too-common in this country.
I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews