Famous All Over Town

by Danny Santiago

Book Overview

The scene is Los Angeles--but not the LA of sun-drenched beaches or glamorous Hollywood. This is the Los Angeles of the Chicano barrio, where everything in life is stacked against the teenaged hero,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452259746
• Release Date: April 1984
• Publisher: Plume
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.8" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

A realistic window into the Chicano way of life

This book is a page turner! I could not put it down or stop laughing and crying as the wonderful, realistic chicanos fought to stay sane one day at a time. I loved the characters; they're people that I encounter everyday,they make terrible mistakes, (over and over and over...), but somehow never give up the struggle to survive. Although this book does not paint a pretty picture of the Mexican-American family it does give us a realistic one, one in which racism is a powerful threat to the evergrowing Mexican pride. I also love the language that the author uses. I'm not disappointed to learn the Danny Santiago is really Danny James. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that a Caucasian can capture the Chicano way of life so realistically. I laughed, I cried, I loved it!

Deep novel that doesn't glorify the East LA communities

In a world where every other rap song tries to glorify the gangster lifestyle, here comes a book that shows how normal people who have no business in hurting others get caught in the web. But this book is even more important then that. It's about what it is to be an immigrant. It doesn't matter where you're from, if you are a second generation immigrant you will relate to this book. The Chicano community has had very controversial outlooks regarding this book, due to it's author. Surprisingly enough, his name isn't Danny Santiago at all but rather Danny James. He is actually caucasian. As such, many who innitially praised it as THE book on the Chicano experience in the USA have now shunned it. But in my opinion it's strength still stands. It's deep, non-dramatic, and pure. It's easily as good as "The Catcher in the Rye" in terms of language, but due to it's negative press has been forgotten. If you are looking for a book that you will finish before you know it (and not soon forget), I highly recommend it.

I definitely recommend this book.

I enjoyed reading this novel because it reflects the mexican lifestyle. I use the term mexican because "Chato" feels more mexican than chicano. During the novel "Chato" goes through many struggles, In which he learns that society keeps him from succeeding. He is a very intelligent boy but his surroundings do not allow him to expand his horizons. It is a great novel and I recommend it to all.

This is a great book that I couldn't put down!

At a crossroads in his life, Rodolfo ("Chato") Medina remembers the year he was 14, a time of turmoil and change, not only for him but also for his family and friends. A Los Angeles barrio is the setting for this witty, poignant novel about people caught between two cultures, neither of which offers welcome.

This is an outstanding book that I couldn't put down!

At a crossroads in his life, Rodolfo Medina remembers the year he was 14, a time of turmoil and change, not only for him but also for his family and friends. A Los Angeles barrio is the people caught between two cultures, neither of setting for this witty novel about which offers welcome.