Gringos is a novel. It is by Charles Portis who lives in Arkansas, where he was born and educated. Thr book is about brightly painted walls and men in hats reading books. Just regular men wearing hats, not the 80's pop group "Men In Hats." If I had to describe Charles Portis I would agree with Ron Rosenbaum of Esquire who called him "perhaps the most original, indescribable sui generis talent overlooked by literary culture in America." Though, to be honest, I have no idea what "sui generis" means ...
Okay, okay. I didn't finish Gringos like I said I would. but that's okay, because you didn't either. So everyone gets another week before the review -- huzzah!
Posted on June 13, 2005 to BooksI trust you're aware the '80s pop group was actually called Men Without Hats. Mind you, it's entirely possible that they've since acquired hats, thus explaining their subsequent disappearance. It's either that, or the "Safety Dance" actually turned out to be surprisingly dangerous.
Posted by: arto on June 13, 2005 11:41 AMMaybe they and Niggaz With Hats worked out a trade.
Posted by: nebulawindphone on June 13, 2005 11:49 AMI just found your website last week and I have to say that I really enjoy it! It's rare for me to make such a boring comment but when there's only so much to say...
You have a rally engaging site!
~slw
Posted by: Sarah on June 13, 2005 2:00 PMSui Generis:
The single example of its kind. Basically something that is unique.
I am a sui generis human being in that I am unbelievably good looking. My smile cures cancer you know...
Posted by: Walt on June 13, 2005 8:17 PMMi generis es sui generis.
Posted by: Ice Queen on June 14, 2005 9:09 AMAha! You actually do have limits! I was beginning to think you were actually a some sort of blogging collective, the Matthew Baldwin Group, writing, reading, playing, all the while parenting.
Posted by: Buck on June 14, 2005 1:00 PMI read "Gringos" and loved it. The most frustrating part has been trying to decide who should play whom in the movie (that it HAS to be made into).
Posted by: MrChucho on June 14, 2005 3:49 PMHis "Dog of the South" is the funniest book I've read.
Posted by: Jim on June 20, 2005 10:42 AMThanks for the educational vote for Arkansas. And for another good book to read.
Posted by: Andrew on June 21, 2005 11:19 AM