The Republic Of East La: Stories [Paperback]

From the award-winning author of Always Running comes a brilliant collection of short stories about life in East Los Angeles. Whether hilariously capturing the voice of a philosophizing limo driver whose dream is to make the most of his rap-metal garage band in My Ride, My Revolution, or the monologue-styled rant of a tes-ti-fy-ing! tent revivalist named Ysela in Oiga, Rodriguez squeezes humor from the lives of people who are not ready to sacrifice their dreams due to circumstance.

In these stories, Luis J. Rodriguez gives eloquent voice to the neighborhood where he spent many years as a resident, a father, an organizer, and, finally, a writer: a neighborhood that offers more to the world than its appearance allows.

From the award-winning author ofAlways Runningcomes a brilliant collection of short stories about life in East Los Angeles. Whether hilariously capturing the voice of a philosophizing limo driver whose dream is to make the most of his rap-metal garage band in My Ride, My Revolution, or the monologue-styled rant of a tes-ti-fy-ing! tent revivalist named Ysela in Oiga, Rodriguez squeezes humor from the lives of people who are not ready to sacrifice their dreams due to circumstance.

In these stories, Luis J. Rodriguez gives eloquent voice to the neighborhood where he spent many years as a resident, a father, an organizer, and, finally, a writer: a neighborhood that offers more to the world than its appearance allows.

a flashy take on the vital Spanglish-Speaking culture of East Los Angeles. -Body & Soul

Rodriguez is skillful at rendering the aura of East L.A. -Kirkus Reviews