Anywhere But L.A.: Stories - Softcover

Daniel A. Olivas

9781931010696: Anywhere But L.A.: Stories

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1931010692 ISBN 13: 9781931010696

Publisher: Bilingual Press/Editorial Bilingue, 2009

Anywhere But L.A., Daniel A. Olivas's latest collection of short stories, ranges from contemporary narratives to more traditional cuentos de fantasma, giving us a vivid and honest portrait of modern Latinos in search of their place in the world. Funny yet poignant, Olivas's characters frequently amuse, sometimes disturb, and often remind us of our own vulnerability. People who on the surface appear to be ordinary and uncomplicated reveal their deepest secrets and anxieties related to a variety of issues, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and the human condition in general. We are given a glimpse into the complex emotions and attitudes of characters who are trying to cope with the mysteries of life. These stories ring with humor, insight, and power, and like the cities they describe, they shift and slide and refuse to be pinned down as they drive the reader to the very core of human existence through the colorful mural of a thriving Latino community.

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About the Author:

Daniel A. Olivas is the editor of Latinos in Lotusland: An Anthology of Contemporary Southern California Literature (Bilingual Press, 2008) and the author of Devil Talk: Stories (Bilingual Press, 2004), Assumption and Other Stories (Bilingual Press, 2003), The Courtship of María Rivera Peña (Silver Lake Publishing, 2000), and a children's book, Benjamin and the Word (Arte Público Press, 2005). He has written for numerous publications, including the Los Angeles Times, MacGuffin, THEMA, Exquisite Corpse, La Bloga, the El Paso Times, and the Jewish Journal. Since 1990 he has practiced law with the California Department of Justice. Olivas makes his home in the San Fernando Valley with his wife and son.

Review:

"Daniel Olivas has mastered the knack of telling intricate tales that are natural, never labored, and a genuine pleasure to read. His clever, subtle stories in Anywhere But L.A. reveal puzzling secrets and closely-kept anxieties of people who on the surface appear to be rather ordinary. . . . Olivas's impressive talent gives readers a glimpse . . . inside the hearts and minds of characters who are trapped, afraid, or falling in or out of love; that glimpse drives readers to the exasperating and, ultimately, very human core of [his] excellent stories." --Manuel Ramos, author of The Ballad of Rocky Ruiz

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