An exciting romp through the poverty neighborhoods of Santurce, Puerto Rico.The precocious voice of a boy urchin introduces you to a spiritual struggle as he fends for survival. His complicated family includes the very best and worst characters imaginable. His violent and loving father, papi Guelo, ; his introverted egotistical mother, mami Letty; his macho amoral gang-chief uncle, Freddy; and his despot criolla grandmother, mami Provi. This story captures accurately the essence of an era through his eyes as he overcomes formidable odds in the 1940's and 1950's. From the ghetto to suburbia he resists all evil with the help of his magical dark and gifted step-sister, Paula, whose deep religious faith encompasses Christianity and the seven African Powers. Paula and Hector will keep you engrossed through culinary and musical descriptions and mesmerize you with their magical rituals, culture and beliefs.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I went back to Puerto Rico in Valera's Affinity for Trouble...,
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This review is from: Affinity for Trouble- A Puerto Rican Story (Paperback)
This book is absolutely fabulous! Valera makes you feel as if you're living the character. You can smell the aroma of the food and remember the tastes; hear the melodic sounds of the "musica romantica"; and, feel as if you were part of this beautiful family with all its ups and downs. It's a must read for those of us who want to remember our past and culture and for those who want to learn more about the Puerto Rican people and their culture. Loved it and can't wait for the sequel...thank you Mr. Valera.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My journey with Hector.,
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This review is from: Affinity for Trouble- A Puerto Rican Story (Paperback)
Hector's description of the surroundings, food and characters are so to the point that it takes you back to that time. His language is easy to comprehend and, thus, immerses you in the story, taking you through the life of this boy and his family, as if you were right there. Please continue the story going with a sequel. Thanks for a great book.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bittersweet memoirs of a young rascal,
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This review is from: Affinity for Trouble- A Puerto Rican Story (Paperback)
Although the author of Affinity for Trouble, a fictionalized autobiography by Héctor Varela, and I hail from Santurce, Puerto Rico, he has the distinction of possessing memories that I, having been raised from age two in New York, can only imagine. Sensing that his story might confuse readers who cannot distinguish fact from fiction, Valera informs us from the start that his story is real but the dialogue is, for the most part, invented. This, one can surmise, is to avoid the kind of controversy that Piri Thomas faced when his memorable book Down These Mean Streets was promoted first as a memoir and later, because of its allegedly spurious dialogue, declared a novel. But this is a minor point; once we enter little Héctor's world of late 1940s Santurce we're in for a treat. He is a poor but proud boy struggling with life's pains and joys amid a circle of family and friends with slightly Dickensian qualities. But Affinity for Trouble is an episodic novel, thus void of anything resembling a plot. And Hector's thoughts, fears, emotions and daily routine convincingly takes us to a particular time and place; its sights, sounds and rich food. Of specific interest are his step-sister Paula, a Creole who rectifies Héctor's spiritual ambiguities; his father Guelo, tough soldier, but loving father; his mother Letty, devoted cornerstone of the family; then there's Héctor's sickly younger brother Vitín, some shady relatives and a few tough street urchins.
However, Affinity for Trouble may be cumbersome to readers who aren't bilingual. The author's overwhelming use of Spanish words and phrases throughout the book is at times irksome. After all, too much spice can ruin any good meal. And there are expressions here and there that lose their meaning when translated into English. But he does provide a good glossary. Also confusing is that one doesn't know whether the narrator is a child, when he repeatedly says, "my papi Guelo," "my mami Letty," "my titi Chele," or a mature man reflecting and expressing himself as an adult when he delves into politics or spiritual matters. Although Mr. Varela possesses talent for narration and, I dare say, dialogue, some serious editing may've raised this book to a higher level. But it's still a fine read. The most poignant scene occurs when his father and the all Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment sail off San Juan harbor to fight in the Korean War. It is night, family and friends stand along the ancient ramparts of El Morro fortress, wave as the sad soldiers wave back, strum guitars and sing, "Adios, adios, adios... Borinquen querido..." Wish I'd been there.
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