Rolling The R's [Hardcover]

R. Zamora Linmark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2, 1995

By R. Zamora Linmark.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

R. Zamora Linmark is the author of two novels, LECHE (Coffee House Press, 2011) and ROLLING THE R's (Kaya Press, 1997), and two poetry collections, PRIME TIME APPARITIONS (Hanging Loose Press, 2005) and THE EVOLUTION OF A SIGH (Hanging Loose Press, 2008). Linmark splits his time between Manila and Honolulu, Hawaii. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Kaya/Muae (December 2, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885030029
• ISBN-13: 978-1885030023
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Poet, novelist, and playwright R. Zamora Linmark was born in Manila, educated in Honolulu, and has lived in Madrid and Tokyo. The recipient of a U.S.-Japan Friendship Commission and NEA fellowships and twice from the Fulbright Foundation, he has taught, as a Distinguished Visiting Professor in Creative Writing, at the University of Hawaii and University of Miami. In 2011, he will publish Leche, the long-awaited sequel to Rolling The R's, and Drive By Vigils, a poetry collection. He currently resides in Honolulu and Manila.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Episodic, Humorous, and Critical, February 1, 2005

By 

D. Recio, SJ (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rolling The R's (Paperback)

Linmark's Rolling the R's (1995) can be difficult because of its construction marked by a series of vignettes, each of them written in Pidgin English. However, if readers are interested in a Filipino-Hawaiian narrative, further punctuated by the protagonist's budding gay identity, then one might appreciate the humor as he makes references to Teen Beat, Charlie's Angels, and other cultural elements from the 70's.

Linmark includes significant Catholic references, placing Filipino-Hawaiians against a backdrop of a diasporic history. Linmark is not afraid to use camp as a means of resisting the forces which plague his oppressed characters. Whether it is gay youth, battered wives, or well-meaning mothers advising their sons, these characters never escape that their religious traditions can sometimes hurt them more than offer genuine spiritual shelter. Linmark takes language and re-writes the traditional Catholic litany invoking other "cultural" saints as a means of protection while maintaining a playful spirit in his work. Even though a careful analysis might surface other unfortunate realities (molestation, domestic abuse, etc.), Linmark weaves them into the stories easily without apologizing for their presence.

Finally, Linmark addresses the racism which exists in the local culture. In "They Like You Because You Eat Dog", Linmark illuminates in list form, the various ways in which people "like Filipinos" because they have sought to assimilate wherever possible. Linmark enjoys a gentle skewering when he concludes his list by asking directly whether their attempts to assimilate will really bring about any genuine acceptance. Although Linmark leaves his question open ended, he observes rather astutely that one cannot gain respect without a measure of considerable self-acceptance.

Linmark's voice is authentic and unique yet never without some concern for the social injustices which he sees around him.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rolling the "ares", December 11, 2007

By 

Eric C. Scott (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rolling The R's (Paperback)

Read this book for class at Indiana University: Fictions of Empire.

Much of this book was originally short fiction pieces published elsewhere.

What fantastic poetry! Anyone who identifies with a sub-culture, is queer or is otherwise interested in finding alternative narratives in their life can look to this book for inspiration.

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Alright, but not for me., October 31, 2004

By 

Kristin Lewis (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rolling The R's (Paperback)

This is definitely a series of vignettes, and not the traditional novel. Each chapter is told in a new way, and they often switched between Pidgin and English. I felt that this novel was directed to an audience somewhat older than me (I'm just graduating college now), an audience who grew up with Farrah Fawcett and Charlie's Angels. While I caught some of the pop culture references, I'm sure quite a few were lost on me too. Overall, this really just was not my style of novel, and the grammar lover within me flinched at the Pidgin. It was also quite sexually explicit to feel like it was truly written about fifth graders and their community.