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Gringo: A Coming of Age in Latin America
Gringo charts two journeys, both of which began a decade ago. The first is the sweeping transformation of Latin American politics that started with Hugo Chávez's inauguration as president of Venezuela in 1999. In that same year, an eighteen-year-old Chesa Boudin leaves his middle-class Chicago life -- which is punctuated by prison visits to his parents, who were incarcerated when he was fourteen months old for their role in a politically motivated bank truck robbery -- and arrives in Guatemala. He finds a world where disparities of wealth are even more pronounced and where social change is not confined to classroom or dinner-table conversations, but instead takes place in the streets. While a new generation of progress-ive Latin American leaders rises to power, Boudin crisscrosses twenty-seven countries throughout the Americas. He witnesses the economic crisis in Buenos Aires; works inside Chávez's Miraflores palace in Caracas; watches protestors battling police on September 11, 2001, in Santiago; descends into ancient silver mines in Potosí; and travels steerage on a riverboat along the length of the Amazon. He rarely takes a plane when a fifteen-hour bus ride in the company of unfettered chickens is available. Including incisive analysis, brilliant reportage, and deep humanity, Boudin's account of this historic period is revelatory. It weaves together the voices of Latin Americans, some rich, most poor, and the endeavors of a young traveler to understand the world around him while coming to terms with his own complicated past. The result is a marvelous mixture of coming-of-age memoir and travelogue.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 20, 2009
Sophomoric Latin America 101.
July 8, 2009
Boudin had my ear for the first couple chapters...I love food, chicken buses, and language faux pas. I even wanted to meet this author and swap stories. However, when Boudin tried to get serious about the struggles of life and politics in Latin America, he came out sounding repetitive at best, disingenuous at worst. He did not delve deep enough into the root issues; rather, he followed the party line and spouted leftist political theory with few words used for reflection. Latin America is far too complicated for outsiders, or gringos (which we will forever be), to promote one viewpoint without acknowledging that the citizens of the region are divided in their opinions.
June 19, 2017
This is a very important book because it gives a first hand view in multiple countries of the destructive effects of the neoliberal policies effects on the countries he visited and writes about including Guatemala, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chili, Argentina. The fact that none other than Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky and Greg Grandin wrote notes goes to illustrate the importance of this book.
May 12, 2009
Stay away from this mundanely written snoozefest.
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June 23, 2020Gringo: A Coming of Age in Latin America by Chesa Boudin is a book that combines two stories. One is a first person narrative about the author's experience as a young man from the United States living and traveling in Latin America. The other is a third person historical account of Latin American history since World War II, with special attention to the political and economic influence of the United States as well as the Latin American reaction to that influence in the last two decades. I decided to read first of all because I came across it in the library and it looked interesting, and also as a way to learn more about Latin America, since many of my service site's clients are immigrants from Latin America, particularly from Mexico, Ecuador, and Brazil.
Gringo starts with Boudin spending a few months after high school learning Spanish in Guatemala, but it quickly moves to his experiences as a college student in Santiago, Chile. There the book begins in earnest; recounting the student protests against US imperialism he witnessed in Santiago on September 11, 2001 demands an explanation of the context of those protests, which in turn demands a summary of US foreign policy in Chile. (On September 11, 1973, the US-backed right wing dictator Augusto Pinochet staged a military coup against the democratically elected leftist leader Salvador Allende. Pinochet's 17-year regime was marked by both staunch economic neoliberalism along with the repression of human rights.) This sets the pattern for the rest of the book, in which he interacts local activists in different countries and describes the way in which US imperialism or neoliberalism have motivated those activists. Beyond this, Boudin pays close attention to the steep inequality of race class that shape Latin American culture and its social institutions.
I have already spent a lot of time reading about the actions of the US government in Latin America, and as a result I did not learn as much with Gringo I had hoped I would about that topic. (I would probably be better served on that front with history monographs than memoirs.) However, I did learn a lot more about the beliefs and techniques of Latin American anti-imperialist activists, as well as the attitudes of Latin Americans further right on the political spectrum. Most informative for me, though, was Boudin's discussion of the way that his own class, nationality, and race privileged him in innumerable ways and influenced his every interaction. Because of this, I can think a little more carefully about the privileges that I hold as a white American that my students of Latin American origin may not, in their own country or in this one. I would like to read more about US-Latin American interaction from the personal perspective of Latin Americans, however, which this book was of course unable to provide.
Gringo starts with Boudin spending a few months after high school learning Spanish in Guatemala, but it quickly moves to his experiences as a college student in Santiago, Chile. There the book begins in earnest; recounting the student protests against US imperialism he witnessed in Santiago on September 11, 2001 demands an explanation of the context of those protests, which in turn demands a summary of US foreign policy in Chile. (On September 11, 1973, the US-backed right wing dictator Augusto Pinochet staged a military coup against the democratically elected leftist leader Salvador Allende. Pinochet's 17-year regime was marked by both staunch economic neoliberalism along with the repression of human rights.) This sets the pattern for the rest of the book, in which he interacts local activists in different countries and describes the way in which US imperialism or neoliberalism have motivated those activists. Beyond this, Boudin pays close attention to the steep inequality of race class that shape Latin American culture and its social institutions.
I have already spent a lot of time reading about the actions of the US government in Latin America, and as a result I did not learn as much with Gringo I had hoped I would about that topic. (I would probably be better served on that front with history monographs than memoirs.) However, I did learn a lot more about the beliefs and techniques of Latin American anti-imperialist activists, as well as the attitudes of Latin Americans further right on the political spectrum. Most informative for me, though, was Boudin's discussion of the way that his own class, nationality, and race privileged him in innumerable ways and influenced his every interaction. Because of this, I can think a little more carefully about the privileges that I hold as a white American that my students of Latin American origin may not, in their own country or in this one. I would like to read more about US-Latin American interaction from the personal perspective of Latin Americans, however, which this book was of course unable to provide.
March 21, 2024
2.5 Stars. This is not a bad book per se, there are some interesting travalogue aspects and historical discussion in Latin America but the book doesn't really strike a balance between these two topics and muddles through with inconsistent voice and tone.
Chesa seems like his heart is mostly in the right place when writing about some of his time in Latin America but his personality colors his writing in strange ways.
He very early on and repeatedly emphasizes that he is a "radical leftist" and that in his time in Latin America he has tried to live in solidarity and "authentically" with poor and marginalized people, but at a certain point it feels like how much is he trying to convine the reader or himself? Especially when he seems to follow a similar pattern, aside from Chile and Venezuela, in his travels of showing up for a few days or weeks and then leaving somewhere else after that. For example, he lives very modestly in Chile but uses the modest living to save and spend money traveling across South America, which only is briefly acknowledged as something that the poor cannot really do.
He does try to discuss in nuance and acknowledge his privileges as a wealthy foreigner in Latin America, the power of his passport, etc. but it also comes off in a bit of a strange way, more like "I'm one of thr good guys" but is belied by some incidents, such as how he feels the need to describe his more or less casual pursuit of at least two poor single mothers in poor communities, in my opinion, an inherently exploitative relationship as a wealthy foreigner.
In trying to be both a history and personal coming of age story and memoir, the book falls short of being particularly good at any of these things. It's interesting and engaging at times, and as I said not a bad book per se, but I think it could have been better organized and written thematically.
Chesa seems like his heart is mostly in the right place when writing about some of his time in Latin America but his personality colors his writing in strange ways.
He very early on and repeatedly emphasizes that he is a "radical leftist" and that in his time in Latin America he has tried to live in solidarity and "authentically" with poor and marginalized people, but at a certain point it feels like how much is he trying to convine the reader or himself? Especially when he seems to follow a similar pattern, aside from Chile and Venezuela, in his travels of showing up for a few days or weeks and then leaving somewhere else after that. For example, he lives very modestly in Chile but uses the modest living to save and spend money traveling across South America, which only is briefly acknowledged as something that the poor cannot really do.
He does try to discuss in nuance and acknowledge his privileges as a wealthy foreigner in Latin America, the power of his passport, etc. but it also comes off in a bit of a strange way, more like "I'm one of thr good guys" but is belied by some incidents, such as how he feels the need to describe his more or less casual pursuit of at least two poor single mothers in poor communities, in my opinion, an inherently exploitative relationship as a wealthy foreigner.
In trying to be both a history and personal coming of age story and memoir, the book falls short of being particularly good at any of these things. It's interesting and engaging at times, and as I said not a bad book per se, but I think it could have been better organized and written thematically.
October 13, 2019
The premise of this book was enticing - a middle-class, college-age student from Chicago travels around Latin America and documents the people and politics of the countries. The author does indeed travel through many countries and spends time in each one - Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Colombia to name a few. He wants to learn about the people and their cultures so he travels and lives as they do - traveling on dusty, crowded buses, sometimes living in small shacks.
The story though is way too political for me. The author talks about the leaders and politics of the countries and also their relationship with the US. He discusses neoliberalism and how the countries are moving towards democracy. I did not understand a lot of the politics.
The book does give US citizens a new perspective on their own country. The US often acts in ways that are harmful to the citizens of foreign countries - especially to poor people. There are many, many poor people that live in Latin America. The US is just one of the many superpowers that take advantage of these people by bringing in large corporations that destroy the ways of life for many indigenous people. The wealthy countries also abuse and damage natural habitats all in the name of profits.
The story though is way too political for me. The author talks about the leaders and politics of the countries and also their relationship with the US. He discusses neoliberalism and how the countries are moving towards democracy. I did not understand a lot of the politics.
The book does give US citizens a new perspective on their own country. The US often acts in ways that are harmful to the citizens of foreign countries - especially to poor people. There are many, many poor people that live in Latin America. The US is just one of the many superpowers that take advantage of these people by bringing in large corporations that destroy the ways of life for many indigenous people. The wealthy countries also abuse and damage natural habitats all in the name of profits.
March 4, 2019
This book is about the indigenous peoples of South America along with the Spanish common people and the obstacles that they both face with globalization and industrialization of their country without regard to the environment or the wishes of the people who have lived there for centuries without the modern trappings of civilization of mega tv’s . It is a sad story of the common man exploited by the rich men in power without regard to what is happening to the poor. Exploitation only benefits the people at the top . He addresses the demise of the rain forests in favor of African Palm oil and the growing of bananas without regard to the ancestral lands of the Cofan. His chapter on the conditions of the miners of Bolivia is sad. This book is the story of the underbelly of South America and the false political promises of the rich few with no real hope for the poor.
February 13, 2019
I liked this book because it was like a lighter and more contextual version of Maximum City, which I read immediately prior. The author takes lots of buses, somehow abandons the crippling sense of not-belonging that I feel in places where I'm richer than everyone else, and talks to people, mostly poor, all around Latin America. The book casually chronicles his travels and contextualizes them with descriptions of the political and social climates of each country. I wish I knew what "neoliberal" policies were, though. He references them a lot and they are apparently bad.
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June 22, 2023To: Chesa Boudin
From: Barbara Andrew
barbara.andrew1@gmail.com
Dear Chesa,
We are Australian authors from Perth, Western Australia who have written a book called 'Forgive'. We’ve come across a marvellous quote from you. We wish to ask for your blessing to use it, and also want to make sure that you’re happy with the attribution.
Could you please provide us with your email address so that we can explain more.
Thank you!
With kind regards,
Barbara and Roger Andrew
barbara.andrew1@gmail.com
From: Barbara Andrew
barbara.andrew1@gmail.com
Dear Chesa,
We are Australian authors from Perth, Western Australia who have written a book called 'Forgive'. We’ve come across a marvellous quote from you. We wish to ask for your blessing to use it, and also want to make sure that you’re happy with the attribution.
Could you please provide us with your email address so that we can explain more.
Thank you!
With kind regards,
Barbara and Roger Andrew
barbara.andrew1@gmail.com
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December 3, 2019Okay, I didn't actually finish this.
August 23, 2021
I learned a lot about the situation in Latin America and gained a lot of respect for the author.
July 11, 2009
After reading a review of this book on The Tenured Radical, I was excited to receive it as a graduation gift from family friends. The book offers a rundown on the contemporary politics of Latin America in the guise of a travel narrative.
There is an earnest tone to this book. The author is willing to admit his faults, and be upfront about the contradictions about his privileged traveling through Latin America where he happened to be just about every place that made headlines in the U.S. at the time of the headline making. He comes across a likeable sort of fellow. The character he narrates is supposed to be one we can relate to, even across political differences as he struggles with his Spanish phrase book and gains a variety of girlfriends. He draws attentions to his contradictions rather than hiding them, justifying them, or apologizing for them.
I was disappointed by how much I didn’t learn about Latin America in this book. I have what I consider basic knowledge of Latin America. I was prepared to be enlightened. Instead, I felt I was gaining more of a refresher of events I had already heard about than learning something new. This book too often read as a hit list of the past decade's headlines.
If you don’t know much about contemporary Latin America, or you just want to be reminded of what you should be expected to know, you’ll probably enjoy this book. The author knows his subject and is able to write about it in a simple and engaging manner.
Of course, these days, the headline behind the book is probably the author’s parents. His biological parents are political prisoners involved with the Weather Underground: his father still in jail. He was raised by Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. The author touches upon this heritage as well, perhaps just enough to buoy sales of the book? That may not be fair though. He also ponders in print the way his claim to a family fighting U.S. imperialism changes his avenues of access in the U.S. and shapes the way he thinks about the oppression faced by others.
There is an earnest tone to this book. The author is willing to admit his faults, and be upfront about the contradictions about his privileged traveling through Latin America where he happened to be just about every place that made headlines in the U.S. at the time of the headline making. He comes across a likeable sort of fellow. The character he narrates is supposed to be one we can relate to, even across political differences as he struggles with his Spanish phrase book and gains a variety of girlfriends. He draws attentions to his contradictions rather than hiding them, justifying them, or apologizing for them.
I was disappointed by how much I didn’t learn about Latin America in this book. I have what I consider basic knowledge of Latin America. I was prepared to be enlightened. Instead, I felt I was gaining more of a refresher of events I had already heard about than learning something new. This book too often read as a hit list of the past decade's headlines.
If you don’t know much about contemporary Latin America, or you just want to be reminded of what you should be expected to know, you’ll probably enjoy this book. The author knows his subject and is able to write about it in a simple and engaging manner.
Of course, these days, the headline behind the book is probably the author’s parents. His biological parents are political prisoners involved with the Weather Underground: his father still in jail. He was raised by Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. The author touches upon this heritage as well, perhaps just enough to buoy sales of the book? That may not be fair though. He also ponders in print the way his claim to a family fighting U.S. imperialism changes his avenues of access in the U.S. and shapes the way he thinks about the oppression faced by others.
December 1, 2013
Another serendipitous find when picking up River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana's Legendary Voyage of Death and Discovery Down the Amazon another book from the shelves.
This subject of this book is actually much more interesting than he seems. Normally these are fairly well-off white kids bumming around. (I have no quarrel with that; it's just standard in the genre.) This guy is the son of two of the jailed members of the Weather Underground, raised by Bill Ayres & family. As such, his perspective is a very refreshing take on what's going on - he makes an effort to connect with people of all classes.
It actually starts fairly conventionally - he goes off to studying Spanish in central America, and can't really communicate concepts to his host family because his Spanish isn't very good. But he then gets to more political things - his experience being a study abroad student in Chile during 9/11 was quite interesting. He also eventually works in the Chavez administration as a translator and travels to displaced communities in Colombia with his adopted mother and other social justice workers.
It was fascinating stuff. I did my own Latin American stint, but things have clearly changed since I was there, and that was great. His first-hand reports on the things he did were so different from the established narrative it makes me even more skeptical of American media than I was.
After all that, I only gave it three stars, mostly because while the bits are individually interesting, it doesn't ever quite cohere. He's not quite as personal as, say Ayun Halliday, but doesn't quite get into factual historical things he sometimes alludes to to make it hang together that way, either. Overall, worth reading, despite its flaws.
This subject of this book is actually much more interesting than he seems. Normally these are fairly well-off white kids bumming around. (I have no quarrel with that; it's just standard in the genre.) This guy is the son of two of the jailed members of the Weather Underground, raised by Bill Ayres & family. As such, his perspective is a very refreshing take on what's going on - he makes an effort to connect with people of all classes.
It actually starts fairly conventionally - he goes off to studying Spanish in central America, and can't really communicate concepts to his host family because his Spanish isn't very good. But he then gets to more political things - his experience being a study abroad student in Chile during 9/11 was quite interesting. He also eventually works in the Chavez administration as a translator and travels to displaced communities in Colombia with his adopted mother and other social justice workers.
It was fascinating stuff. I did my own Latin American stint, but things have clearly changed since I was there, and that was great. His first-hand reports on the things he did were so different from the established narrative it makes me even more skeptical of American media than I was.
After all that, I only gave it three stars, mostly because while the bits are individually interesting, it doesn't ever quite cohere. He's not quite as personal as, say Ayun Halliday, but doesn't quite get into factual historical things he sometimes alludes to to make it hang together that way, either. Overall, worth reading, despite its flaws.
September 26, 2009
Boudin is truly fascinated with Latin America, & it was fun to accompany him on his journeys by reading this book.
As an editor, I would have liked not having to notice quite so many dangling modifiers--they became more common toward the end of the book. And there were a few errors of fact that I noticed in the chapter on Colombia. The most glaring one: regarding "the people of Cacarica," "many of their ancestors had settled the Chocó well before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers." Not possible, since the Cacarica community is mostly Afro-Colombian. Mejor dicho, it's true only in the measure that it's true of Colombia's people overall, as most have some indigenous ancestry. It's not surprising that such mistakes were crop up in that chapter, though, as it (as opposed to others) is based on just one short trip with an international delegation.
Latin America gets short shrift in our news & our thinking, which is a shame because some historic shifts are taking place there these days. Boudin's book points toward those changes & takes note of the perils involved as well as the promise. Rooted in narratives of personal experience, it's readable & thought-provoking.
As an editor, I would have liked not having to notice quite so many dangling modifiers--they became more common toward the end of the book. And there were a few errors of fact that I noticed in the chapter on Colombia. The most glaring one: regarding "the people of Cacarica," "many of their ancestors had settled the Chocó well before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers." Not possible, since the Cacarica community is mostly Afro-Colombian. Mejor dicho, it's true only in the measure that it's true of Colombia's people overall, as most have some indigenous ancestry. It's not surprising that such mistakes were crop up in that chapter, though, as it (as opposed to others) is based on just one short trip with an international delegation.
Latin America gets short shrift in our news & our thinking, which is a shame because some historic shifts are taking place there these days. Boudin's book points toward those changes & takes note of the perils involved as well as the promise. Rooted in narratives of personal experience, it's readable & thought-provoking.
March 18, 2010
This was a very interesting book about a young man's travels in Latin America (beginning as a foreign exchange student in high school), and how his worldview changed as he lived outside the United States. Chesa becomes interested in politics, and as he graduates from high school and then college, he takes different jobs in Latin American countries that help him understand the politics and culture. Like most Americans, I'm fairly ignorant about what goes on outside my country's borders (seriously, when was the last time you heard a news story on CNN about anything outside the United States, except for natural disasters?) so this was very eye-opening for me.
Conservatives will probably be put off by Chesa's liberal slant. He's not a fan of the IMF, he's appalled at the way the United States government topples democratically-elected leaders in Latin America to install dictators with pro-US ideas, and he feels that big business has a lot to answer for. I, however, felt that he had plenty of facts to support his conclusions, and the fact that he actually lived in Latin America for several years gives him credibility.
Conservatives will probably be put off by Chesa's liberal slant. He's not a fan of the IMF, he's appalled at the way the United States government topples democratically-elected leaders in Latin America to install dictators with pro-US ideas, and he feels that big business has a lot to answer for. I, however, felt that he had plenty of facts to support his conclusions, and the fact that he actually lived in Latin America for several years gives him credibility.
June 13, 2009
Chesa's a buddy of mine, so I was excited to read his book - a travelogue / coming of age story about his many trips throughout South/Central America. The book was easy to read, and the stories were unique and filled with interesting personal details. The writing is thoughtful, and you can feel the author's love of his subject(s). Chesa clearly knows a lot about the history and politics of the region, and has thought a lot about his [very radical:] views on U.S.-Latin American relations. And while I'm not sure I agree with them, it was refreshing to get a very different viewpoint.
My favorite part was probably reading about the foods he ate while on his journeys. Yum. Oh, and the various Spanish phrases scattered throughout the book.
My favorite part was probably reading about the foods he ate while on his journeys. Yum. Oh, and the various Spanish phrases scattered throughout the book.
September 9, 2009
I give it a 2.5.
Chesa came of age with a backdrop of Latina America to guide him but I don't think he tells a story very well.
I thought his attempt to engage indigenous people about the government and their educating him on what aspect of politics they know and what they feel actually affects their livelihood was the most interesting part but he didn't explore that enough. He also didn't give enough credit to the history of all of his parents, their views and the privileges he received both due to who they are as well as his being white and the situations that afforded him. (Nobody just gets a position at the presidential palace in Venezeula.)
Very interesting story and life, just not well written or exciting to read.
Chesa came of age with a backdrop of Latina America to guide him but I don't think he tells a story very well.
I thought his attempt to engage indigenous people about the government and their educating him on what aspect of politics they know and what they feel actually affects their livelihood was the most interesting part but he didn't explore that enough. He also didn't give enough credit to the history of all of his parents, their views and the privileges he received both due to who they are as well as his being white and the situations that afforded him. (Nobody just gets a position at the presidential palace in Venezeula.)
Very interesting story and life, just not well written or exciting to read.
April 27, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. One of the quotes in this book did such an excellent job at describing how I feel about traveling that I kept it.
"somewhere along the dust-chocked Guatemalan road between...and ...was where I confirmed that I preferred traveling around the slow, bone-rattling way: by bus,with ordinary people. The bus we were riding in had been repainted in bright reds. The inside was colorful too: the seats had springs popping out of the upholstery, and the floor was caked with dirt and garbage. Chickens, some tied in bunches and others wandering loose, squawked noisily. Bouncing along a road to a place I had never been, and would never go back to, suddenly felt exciting, liberating even"
"somewhere along the dust-chocked Guatemalan road between...and ...was where I confirmed that I preferred traveling around the slow, bone-rattling way: by bus,with ordinary people. The bus we were riding in had been repainted in bright reds. The inside was colorful too: the seats had springs popping out of the upholstery, and the floor was caked with dirt and garbage. Chickens, some tied in bunches and others wandering loose, squawked noisily. Bouncing along a road to a place I had never been, and would never go back to, suddenly felt exciting, liberating even"
December 17, 2009
Boudin is a pretty good writer and this book went faster than I expected. From the description I read of the book before picking it up, I thought it would be a more personal account -- although the whole thing is indeed personal, it's very heavy on the politics. This book will probably fascinate those already interested in human rights politics in Latin America, and maybe bore those who were looking for more of a travel story. I expect Boudin will continue writing through out his life, and it will probably improve -- this is a good start.
January 30, 2010
this is an extraordinary book because it allows you to see and feel that other world that is latinamerica. Chesa Boudin's clear language and keen observation are a window into an inspiring time in south america. As a latinamerican I have tried to explain my culture to my US friends and know I wasn't getting through, here is someone who explains it wonderfully.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
July 2, 2014
I really liked this book. Though it was a 'hard' read because of all the facts and political jargon, I found it insanely interesting. Having traveled through some of Latin America myself it helped me to put a lot of the recent history into context. Loved reading about his opinion on Venezuela. Wish there were more thought-provoking, truthful books out there like this one.
August 5, 2009
From the cover and the blurbs I had no idea this was going to be a political essay. The history on the Latin American countries was useful and sometimes interesting, but the politics were far too slanted for my tastes.
December 2, 2011
Wasn't super keen on the writing style, but I'm a sucker for Latin American travelogues. The political history combined with the perspective on present day leftist revolutions on the continent more or less overshadowed the less than stellar writing.
June 3, 2012
I enjoyed the book and found it engrossing, though perhaps a bit too simplistic in its political views. The author is earnest and transparent about conflicts in his philosophy and his travels. A good travel book for the left side of South America.
Want to read
April 24, 2009Based on a review from the Tenured Radical: http://tenured-radical.blogspot.com/2...
March 6, 2010
Not very well written, this guy thinks he's the first one to notice the nuances of Latin America. Overly leftist and cannot see that everything is not black and white.
October 21, 2009
if you are into latin american politics or want to lear more about L.A./S.A. politics......some juicy travel stories.
February 9, 2010
I picked up this book because of the title; I’m a big fan of the word “Gringo”.
Read more at;
http://www.bilinguallibrarian.com/201...
Read more at;
http://www.bilinguallibrarian.com/201...
March 7, 2010
Chesa Boudin is very reflexive. He thinks deeply about his actions and their consequences. Very interesting book to get a sense of how recent events have shaped Latin America.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews