Customer Reviews

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints: A Memoir

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I was a big fan of the writers original work with his band Gutterboy. When I first heard about the book i was very excited to get it. I had criticisms all throughout reading it. All until i came onto one chapter in particular. Since that chapter I've changed my tone and can honestly say i haven't read a more beautifully simple, easy to read book that has inspired me more than this one. It seems you have taken your advice from Allen Ginsberg and taken it well. "Most information-Least Syllables." Thank you for this book Dito. Put out more MUSIC!!!!!

i just finished A guide To Recognizing your saints. It's early in the morning and I'm starting it all over again. When I finish I'm headed to New York. This book may have changed my life. :)

Sure there are some "moments" in this book, but it contradicts itself so often that I was left wondering if Mr. Montiel originally wrote this piece as a fan/love letter to himself. The author spends the majority of his time trying to convice us what a tough but tender guy he is who has suffered through some tough breaks. Why did the record company drop him anyway? And those sad girlfriends he portrays...why did they leave him and why were they sad? He reminded me of the Tom character from Robert Altman's "Nashville"....a sick but poetic fellow who says (or writes) whatever he needs to in order to feed his insatiable ego.

Montiel's memoir brought back so many amazing memories of a time in New York that simply no longer exists. The kind of man Dito was also no longer exists, making us girls shudder at the types we are left with (i.e. stock-market mongering, CNN watching, Sex-in-the-City obsessed, Cappucinoists). Montiel's coming-of-age is so engrossing that it left me yearning for a more interesting, diverse and, well, fun New York. His prose is as honest as it gets and his stories startling in its violence and courage. And yet, the tender tone in his nostalgic love of New York brought it home. Brilliant!

I never write these and it is a pain to do so. But for the ex-punk rockers and all Hard core scenes of all types. For the true holy person that doesn't walk around being full of lost traditions that make people kill each other. For anyone that loves to laugh at the magic of the pleasant-absurd. For people that love the heart of true N.Y. For party people new and reformed. For these people: READ THIS NOW!!! I know I sound like a ad but it was a blast. I expected nothing and hopefully didn't ruin it for you by raising your expectations. FUN and ALIVE. The End. K

I hope the author of this fine piece of literature knows that there are people out here in the world who still yearn to hear more of the music that made Gutterboy semi-famous. As a book, this insightful guide stands on it's own since you can open up to ANY page and find something of interest, be it historical narrative written from the restless heart of Dito or a simple little anectdote that may arouse laughter or simply warmth. I see that the author has had to change names to protect the guilty sinners but when he does this it doesn't matter because the stories are so visceral in their retelling that nothing essential is lost. Dito, this is no Buck Darma solo, more like a haemorrhage of memories that were written to remind you about those times in your life when the world was so perfect in it's beautiful, dirty, truthful way. I thank you for capturing and keeping those times alive forever.

I was originally told this was a self help book . It's not but it is but it's not but it is and i feel great after reading it. To my surprise i guess it is!

This book is for you, this book is for everyone.It is from the heart and about the heart. If you are young, if you ever were young, if you want to feel young read this book. This is a true journey through life, this is a book of faces not just pages. I strongly recommend this book, you will recognize your saints.

i do not no your language so good, but i like the saints book by the dito person. i drive a cab and like the funny white people like in this book.

As a born and bred New Yorker(also as a fellow Astoria,Queens kid) this book made me laugh,cry,get angry and yada yada yada.
In a nutshell,this is a truly honest book that everyone can and will appreciate.(Unless of course,your tastes are based on some professor's prententious reading list).Dito purged himself on paper and what's fallen on these pages is pure heart.Just read it folks and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about...