East Side Dreams - Softcover

Rodriguez, Art

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0967155568 ISBN 13: 9780967155562

Publisher: Dream House Press, 2010

Synopsis

Travel with Art Rodriguez as he dreams of his past. He experiences an unpleasant childhood full of difficult obstacles that could have profoundly impaired his chance for a normal life. Life appears hopeless during those young years as he struggles to discover who he really is and at the same time contends with his dictatorial father. Travel with him as he takes you through the California Youth Authority, the prison system for young offenders. In this story, which brings laughter and tears, both young and old can find comfort in knowing that when life appears bleak and there seems to be no hope, events in life can change. In 1975 Art Rodriguez started a successful business in San Jose, the city in which he was born. Grow with him in his life and experience with him the hardships and successes of a new business.

About this title

From the Publisher:

This story is one you definitely will enjoy reading. We have received all good feed back on "The Monkey Box". Art Rodriguez is also the author of East Side Dreams. "The Monkey Box" was written so that the young reader as well as older reader will enjoy it.

From the Author:

I sure hope you order "The Monkey Box" and enjoy it. When I wrote my first book, East Side Dreams, I wondered what I was going to write next. I didn't know if people would enjoy reading about my family story. One day I started writing it as a love story. I really enjoyed it and kept right on going. Those who read "The Monkey Box" have let me know that they really enjoyed it. It is a very romantic story. Some can not believe for the tough guy that I am that I could write something so romantic, but I did! In "The Monkey Box" story, some of my great grandfather, Chico's thinking and feelings are what I feel inside. Also, many of my grandfather, Romulo's ways are my ways, not all though.

My grandfather, Romulo, died in 1937. Last year before I finalized "The Monkey Box", I went to Chiapas, Mexico to see my family and to confirm what I had written to be true. I have an uncle who is in his 80's. I went to see him and his wife in Chiapas. When I knocked on his door, the maid let me in because they had heard I was in town. My Uncle was sitting on his chair out on the back patio. I walked up to him and greeted, "Tio (Uncle)!" He turned and looked up at me and became a little startled, and asked, "Romulo?" He thought I was my grandfather. I answered, "No, Tio, it is I, Arturo." He replied, "Arturo! You look just like Romulo now!" They had not seen me for a few years. Then his wife stepped into the room, looked at me and said, "Romulo!" Her husband said, "No, my love, it is Arturo!" I gave a little laugh and they both looked at each other and said, "He even laughs like Romulo!" I think the genes came out in me.

I asked my uncle things about Romulo's life to see if they were the same stories that were handed down to me. He went on to tell me the same stories I was told. He said he was a young boy during that time but knew of the stories because his side of the family told them to him.

There is a letter that Romulo gave to my father dated 1937 telling my father nice things about what he had to do in his life and getting an education. At that time my grandfather was 64 years old and suffering from diabetes for a few years already. He died that year. My father was in boarding school in another town. My father was 16 years old. I have the original letter in Spanish. It is a very poetic letter. My grandfather was a doctor in that small town.

I hope, no, I know, you will enjoy "THE MONKEY BOX"!

About this edition

• Publisher: Dream House Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0967155568
• ISBN 13: 9780967155562
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 282