Butterfly Boy: Memories of a Chicano Mariposa (Writing in Latinidad: Autobiographical Voices of U.S. Latinos/as)

The author wrote a great book on his life and his experiences as a gay Chicano. His stories are detailed and humorous at times but at times sad or eye opening. I was very proud of his outcome from childhood to adulthood.

Having lived in a Latino country for some time I really resonated with Butterfly Boy. Although Latino culture changes from country to country there are linking mentalities and traditions that flow through all of them. Gonzalez perfectly captures the complex nature of the Chicano- who never seems to belong to any country completely, but whose heart is undeniably Latin. This is not a book about a gay Mexican. This is a book about a Mexican American who happens to be gay, and who (often) painfully deals with the complexities and hypocrisies of his culture, his family, and his personal relationships. This is a good book for anyone interested in Latino themes, gay themes, cross cultural themes or family and personal relationships- especially troubled father/son relationships. The prose is crisp and snappy and engages you from the first page.

This book reminds me of another book, "Gypsy Boy" by Mickey Walsh. They are both about migrant workers in search of work, living communally under the dictatorship of the patriarch, where education is considered a waste of time, and always feeling like an outsider. In both books the authors as young men are gay and it is forbidden to express it in any way.In this book the migrants travel back & forth between Mexico and the US so the two brothers, as well as other family members, are of different nationalities. Since I know nothing of Mexico I was unfamiliar with many words, phrases and place names but it didn't change my understanding of the story.This is an excellent book about a culture I never thought about before and how difficult life is, especially when you stand out because you're educated, gay and motherless.

I read this book when I was a teenager in High school and it saved my life. The way that Rigoberto Gonzalez described so well the stress and turmoil of growing up in a world you can not entirely grasp or allow to understand and accept you is a strong reason why I love this book. I bought the book again now going on 30 and its just as good or even better than before. I recommend this anyone wanting to understand what its like to be different in a world that not matter what it places in front of you will still keep going and ask for more.

I enjoyed this book so much. I relate to the parental dynamics, and fully appreciate the honesty in homosexuality with the Hispanic culture. Well done and recommend to anyone looking for a real perspective on identity, race, and sexual struggles. I loved it, thank you for your story.

Lyrical and provocative, though at times, a bit too much self-pity for my tastes. Overall, though, a decent work of art -- smart, poetic, erotically charged. RG does a great job, in particular, of making his father come alive on the page.

His stories are so relateble and hit close to home. He is raw and apologetic; not leaving out a single detail about common problems and themes in Mexican culture.

Good book, interesting. I only read it as a requirement for my English class. Recommend. Came quickly, in perfect condition. Good book.