Aquaboogie (edition 1993)

by Susan Straight

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42	1	595,454	(3.56)	2
Full of defiance and tenderness,Aquaboogie chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of the residents of Rio Seco. In "Aquaboogie," art student Nacho finances his class out East by working as a janitor, subject to torment by his white coworkers. In "Back," elderly Pashion sleeps wrapped around the body of her dying husband L. C., all the while recalling their 49 years of marriage and thinking about the sleeping pills she has secreted away for when life becomes unbearable. In "The Box," Shawan carries herradio everywhere; since her best friend was gunned down, music is the only thing that can get her through the day. In these and other stories in this powerful collection, the author gives voice to those on the margins while demonstrating her great affection for her characters.… (more)

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Member:	t-rocc
Title:	Aquaboogie
Authors:	Susan Straight
Info:	Milkweed Editions (1993), Edition: First Edition, Paperback, 196 pages
Collections:	Your library
Rating:
Tags:	library copy, finished reading, read in 2013

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Aquaboogie by Susan Straight

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jmdunc54, tasslyn, trevor68, kittylafong, UpperGreyLibrary, Lahoori, m.belljackson, William_Wright, hmwlibrary

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AQUABOOGIE delivers a diverse collection of Los Angeles stories.

With the first Janitor tale, we are right there on the job with him as he stays fully alert to all nuances,
from white men's racism to enriching his daily routine with beauty.

Other stories, like "Kiss the Train" are confusing - did he jump on or get hit?
or Sad, as in February's offering, "Off Season."

August's Pig butchering was too hard to read - why do so many writers feel that they have to include
at least one episode of animal cruelty in order to be valid?

"Buddha" showed insight into character ... and yet, he removed the snail from the ocean and did not give it another safe habitat...
Not what The Buddha would want...

Editing for consistent quality would be welcome. I will miss the Forest Ranger and his Words. (

)

m.belljackson | Jun 12, 2021 |

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GLCA New Writers Award (Fiction – 1991)

The Milkweed National Fiction Prize (1990)

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Full of defiance and tenderness,Aquaboogie chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of the residents of Rio Seco. In "Aquaboogie," art student Nacho finances his class out East by working as a janitor, subject to torment by his white coworkers. In "Back," elderly Pashion sleeps wrapped around the body of her dying husband L. C., all the while recalling their 49 years of marriage and thinking about the sleeping pills she has secreted away for when life becomes unbearable. In "The Box," Shawan carries herradio everywhere; since her best friend was gunned down, music is the only thing that can get her through the day. In these and other stories in this powerful collection, the author gives voice to those on the margins while demonstrating her great affection for her characters.

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