Francisco Goldman
Author of Say Her Name
About the Author
Works by Francisco Goldman
Associated Works
McSweeney's Issue 46 (McSweeney's Quarterly Concern): Thirteen Crime Stories From Latin America (2014) — Contributor — 89 copies
How I Learned English: 55 Accomplished Latinos Recall Lessons in Language and Life (2007) — Contributor — 53 copies
Finding Oscar: Massacre, Memory, and Justice in Guatemala (Kindle Single) (2012) — Afterword, some editions — 9 copies
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Reviews
Monkey Boy by Francisco Goldman
A densely packed and wonderful family story of a complex group of people over three generations. The main character (Francisco) comes from a Jewish father and a Guatemalan mother who becomes a writer and he struggles to make sense of his complex background. As a youth he is called Monkey Boy by bullies and eventually overcomes this stigma. He has a complicated abusive father and his kind mother also tries to get past dad's abuse. Grandma and other relatives are major players in the book book set in the United Atates and Guatemala. The novel deserves all of it's plaudets.… (more)
Compelling enough, but didn't quite have the bite or the romance of Oscar Wao, for all the similarities. Others may have better luck, though. It may be the story of a troubled relationship with Judaism and ageing parents was a bit close to home for some wintry escapism.
I want to accuse this book of not rising above being a ridiculously sentimental love note to/about a dead wife, and it doesn't, but it doesn't try to. In that definition, it is a success, it is beautiful and it is worth reading. It's sad without being dark. I have to admit it's too depressing for me.
Picked this up because of his interview with NPR, which was interesting. His story seemed to be engaging as he overcame a dysfunctional childhood and an abusive parent. I am also interested in stories of "hybrid" households, of people from very different cultures. But I found the book rambling and self-indulgent and a difficult book with which to stay engaged.
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Statistics
- Works
- 14
- Also by
- 10
- Members
- 1,271
- Popularity
- #20,174
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 36
- ISBNs
- 85
- Languages
- 8
