Freak [Hardcover]

John Leguizamo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 29, 1997

Freak: a Semi-Demi-Quasi-Pseudo Autobiography is John Leguizamo's hilarious coming-of-age story. Set in various neighborhoods of Queens, New York, in the eras of disco and break-dancing, Freak recounts the turmoil and eccentricities within a Latino family struggling to make it. A domineering father, frustrated by his rocky quest for the American dream; a mother who finds feminism and the club scene when she tires of Pop's tight control; a pudgy, eager-to-please, easily manipulated younger brother; and John - who doesn't spare himself in telling the gory details of his teen years. Freak is the book adaptation of Leguizamo's comical and critically acclaimed one-man Broadway show. But Freak, the book, contains narrative that had to be cut from the show because of time restraints.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is the narrative of an upcoming Broadway show by and about popular Latin American actor and comedian Leguizamo, who has had a successful career as a playwright (Mambo Mouth: A Savage Comedy, Bantam, 1993), starred in the groundbreaking variety show House of Buggin', and appeared in a variety of notable film roles. Written with close friend and fellow comedy writer Bar Katz, it covers Leguizamo's childhood and young adulthood before his first theatrical successes. Setting his story in various ethnic neighborhoods in Queens, the author uses street slang and Spanglish to recount humorous and poignant family anecdotes, always emphasizing the struggles and emotions of an immigrant Latino family. The result is both entertaining and poignant. Recommended for libraries with theater and Latin American Studies collections.?Lisa N. Johnston, Sweet Briar Coll. Lib., Va.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 125 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover; First Printing edition (September 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573220922
• ISBN-13: 978-1573220927
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why is the show not out on DVD?, November 9, 2006

By 

E. Vives Cadevall (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freak: a semi-demi-quasi-pseudo autobiography (Paperback)

"Freak" is a fantastic piece of writing and an amazing performance by its writer, in his HBO one-man show. What I don't understand is why HBO wouldn't put it out on DVD. They've done it with Chris Rock's shows... If you can get your hands on a tape, watch it. It's funny and heartbreaking.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, September 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Freak: a semi-demi-quasi-pseudo autobiography (Paperback)

Though nothing could be as good as Leguizamo's performance in his one-man Broadway show Freak, this short book comes close. If you've seen Freak, you will definitely want to own this print version. It is not exactly the same, but it is very similiar. Outstanding!

5.0 out of 5 stars Verbal Auto Bio on Paper, December 6, 2006

By 

Hank Luttrell (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freak: a semi-demi-quasi-pseudo autobiography (Paperback)

Freak was a one-man show in San Francisco and off-Broadway, then moved to
Broadway, gathering Tony nominations. In October 1998 it was an HBO special. For most performers, comedians, it would be just another stand-up concert, a type of program common to HBO. But this is Leguizamo's "Semi-Demi-Quasi-Pseudo Autobiography" and he brings to it such intensity, such a variety of personalities -- as he remembers his family and friends -- that it transcends this description and becomes like, well, a Broadway play.

John Leguizamo has had a remarkably varied career. Fans of the Spawn movie will recall his huge, even monstrous role there. His character and costume was very different in the oddly titled move To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar. He probably reached one of his largest audiences early in his career in the usually pasteurized television mass market, briefly enlivened, energized and diversified by his "Latino variety show" "House of Buggin'."

This is a book based on the one man show and HBO special, edited to be
read, so it of course differs from the performances, which would include some ad lib. One might have expected to save the experience of this show with a tape, or a spoken-word recording, but this paperback is an inexpensive, permanent way to revisit and savor Leguizamo's work again and again, at your pleasure and convenience.