A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

by Dito Montiel

Book Overview

Orlandito "Dito" Montiel, son of Orlando, a Nicaraguan immigrant, and an Irish mother, grew wild in the streets of Astoria, Queens, pulling pranks for Greek and Italian gangsters and confessing at the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560259604
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.6" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Neo-Beat Redux

Montiel's memoir brought back so many amazing memories of a time in New York that simply no longer exists. The kind of man Dito was also no longer exists, making us girls shudder at the types we are left with (i.e. stock-market mongering, CNN watching, Sex-in-the-City obsessed, Cappucinoists). Montiel's coming-of-age is so engrossing that it left me yearning for a more interesting, diverse and, well, fun New York. His prose is as honest as it gets and his stories startling in its violence and courage. And yet, the tender tone in his nostalgic love of New York brought it home. Brilliant!

Raised under the RR

I hope the author of this fine piece of literature knows that there are people out here in the world who still yearn to hear more of the music that made Gutterboy semi-famous. As a book, this insightful guide stands on it's own since you can open up to ANY page and find something of interest, be it historical narrative written from the restless heart of Dito or a simple little anectdote that may arouse laughter or simply warmth. I see that the author has had to change names to protect the guilty sinners but when he does this it doesn't matter because the stories are so visceral in their retelling that nothing essential is lost. Dito, this is no Buck Darma solo, more like a haemorrhage of memories that were written to remind you about those times in your life when the world was so perfect in it's beautiful, dirty, truthful way. I thank you for capturing and keeping those times alive forever.

an old and new fan

I was a big fan of the writers original work with his band Gutterboy. When I first heard about the book i was very excited to get it. I had criticisms all throughout reading it. All until i came onto one chapter in particular. Since that chapter I've changed my tone and can honestly say i haven't read a more beautifully simple, easy to read book that has inspired me more than this one. It seems you have taken your advice from Allen Ginsberg and taken it well. "Most information-Least Syllables." Thank you for this book Dito. Put out more MUSIC!!!!!

inspirational

I was originally told this was a self help book . It's not but it is but it's not but it is and i feel great after reading it. To my surprise i guess it is!

my new guide

i just finished A guide To Recognizing your saints. It's early in the morning and I'm starting it all over again. When I finish I'm headed to New York. This book may have changed my life. :)