Customer Reviews

Ni chicha, Ni limonada (Cuentos).

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Decirle a alguien en el maldito trópico que no es "ni chicha, ni limonada" equivale a una condena con cierto aire de reproche gélido. Para decírselo a sí mismo, en las orillas sesenteras del quinto infierno John Lennon compuso "Nowhere Man". Para transmitírselo a quien corresponda, ahora viene David Unger con esta especie de Variaciones Goldberg en las que incluyó doce daguerrotipos y una epifanía.

Entre otros hechos literarios, en las placas color sepia hay un niño que suspira, sobre todo, por una langosta llamada Gengis Kan, el tiro al blanco y la ruleta de las ferias aldeanas, un caracol, un alce, una mantarraya, dos leones de bronce sobre los que jugó con su hermano al Rey de la Montaña y una pelota de beisbol que lleva décadas suspendida en una fecha que también emigró. En la epifanía, ese que parece un vendedor de electrodomésticos o un pescador de vacaciones y tiene una sonrisa avergonzada sólo puede ser Gabo (antes del Nobel).

Lo mejor de irse, no es el regreso; lo mejor de éste, no es volverse a ir. Lo mejor de la errancia está en los libros vivos que viajeros como Elias Canetti, William Saroyan, Henry Roth y David Unger trajeron de vuelta.

JL Perdomo Orellana

Set in either Guatemala or Florida, these stories follow the sons of a Guatemalan Jewish family in the United States. The first tale describes the family's migration to this country, setting the tone for the rest of the book. Told in third person, Unger's (Life in the Damn Tropics, Univ. of Wisconsin Pr.) stories delve into a child's mind, helping us empathize with the character's feelings. For instance, in "Canillas de leche," when Danny and Henry step out to buy their favorite treat while Ni chicha, ni limonadatheir grandparents are taking a nap, Danny is beaten up by a group of homeless kids. And in "Shabbat Shalom," the brothers decide to spend their stipend gambling at the fair during Shabbat, the sacred day for Jews, and must later face the consequences. Unger effectively illustrates with humor and candor what it is like to grow up in two different countries (Danny and Henry spend vacations in their native land with their grandparents) and to be Jewish in Guatemala, a predominantly Catholic nation. Also included is a brief chronicle of the author's encounter with Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez. It is easy to forget that each piece was originally written in English; the translations are impeccable. Full of nostalgia and charm--and likely inspired by Unger's own recollections--these stories will surely stir up readers' own childhood memories. Highly recommended for libraries and bookstores, especially those serving migrant communities.--María Elena Cruz, Boston, MA

David Unger has a gift for writing about nostalgia with great charm and a fantastic sense of humor. Its hard to pick my favorite of the stories in this book, but I particularly loved the ones where Danny and Henry take us to mischievous episodes while dealing with their migration (from Guatemala to Florida) and their own growing pains.

This book is recommended for anybody who likes good literature, but it is a MUST for multi-cultural parents and families dealing with migration, from and to the United States.