What It Takes to Get to Vegas

by Yxta Maya Murray

What It Takes to Get to Vegas has been described by The Arizona Republic as "a juicy tale of ambition, passion and grit that is as much fun to read as a good trash talk session with your best friend." Growing up among the championship hopefuls and alleyway gladiators of East L.A., Rita Zapata sees in boxing a ticket to something better. At eighteen, she's earned the title "Queen of the Streetfighters." Then she meets Billy, an enigmatic, intense fighter from Mexico, who begins systematically clawing his way to the top. Their passionate connection gives Rita two things she's never had: real love, and respect in the neighborhood. From the alleys off Cesar Chavez Avenue to the carpeted suites of Caesars Palace, Rita learns exactly what it takes to get to Vegas, as Billy turns out to be the best thing that has ever happened to her -- and the worst. In exuberant prose sparkling with wicked wit, Yxta Maya Murray has given us a sass-talking, big-hearted heroine with a story we will not soon forget. "Frenetic, bittersweet, and often hilarious ... Rita Zapata is who Holden Caulfield would want to be if he were alive in 1999." -- The Boston Globe; "From the get-go, [Yxta Maya Murray] pulls you into her latest book with its flowing Spanglish and bittersweet observations." -- Seventeen; "Somewhere between a telenovela and the passion of St. Theresa de Avila ... precise, hilarious, and swinging ... Rita's world dance[s] around beside us after we put the book down." -- New Times LA; "Murray's elegant prose beckons those who fear this land of urban blight to venture into it, to stay a while and meet its citizens ... Stellar." -- Los Angeles Times Book Review

Genres: Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Yxta Maya Murray is a professor at Loyola Law School.

Reviews

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kind of see this as a companion piece to Yxta Maya Murray's first book Locas. Both books are great books in their own right and you can easily read one without reading the other, but reading both of them is something special. I love both books and their characters equally and I will always have a soft spot for these books. I see people are kind of down on this book which is a shame. I get it's probably not considered serious literature but that's exactly why I enjoyed this and Locas...a straight up entertaining read with a cast of engaging characters (who are all good and bad in their own ways) and fast paced, easy to read stories set in East LA in the 80's & 90's. As with Locas, a little piece of my heart broke at the end of this book too.

[Booker]

Well, attracted by the school girl charm, again I tried to read this little lacey loo, "Hey, Adrienne !!" - Rocky Balboa II a tale of a young latino Mexicali girl who sleeps between the cracks, or maybe in the cracks and tells a lot of who did what to who.. it's boring as hell and only maybe if you were there could you cut the tension with a knife. I think Yxta Maya Murray thinks this shit is romantic, hangin' with the tough guys, it's like a circus arena with a lot of tough talk, but when you get behind the curtain you find out it's just the guy's younger sister. It's like a Jane Austen etiquette for gangland Sense and Sensibility, "Gee should I keep the ring after he quaffs me or should I give it back and end up with a baby?" And who wants to get to Vegas anyway, except a bunch of losers? I'd rather much be "Leaving Las Vegas" any whore. Sick sucks. I expected more from a broad named Yxta, but the Murray should have given me a clue. If you read this, you will puke.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class I took. It was not nearly as wonderful as I would have expected. I had trouble following parts. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have to read it for a class. :D

[Eduardo Coronel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story gave me an insight into womans sexuality. the girl in the story embraced her legacy that dates back to her mother and her mothers mother.