People Like Us - by Javier Valdes (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Darkly comic and highly entertaining, Javier Valdés's stories insinuate themselves in the unsuspecting reader like a heady brew with a strange kick. From the exploits of an urban vigilante to the erotic pleasures exacted from an unrequited love, from a menacing treasure to a family that brings a whole new twist to the meaning of neighbors, People Like Us is seasoned with irreverent takes on Valdés's favorite writers and directors -- such as Stephen King and Martin Scorsese -- as he delivers a unique array of fascinating and hapless urban creatures.

Review Quotes

"Finally! A Latin American author with a sense of humor! Javier Valdés's stories -- with their quirky characters, off beat rhythms, and generous dose of humanity -- will keep you deliriously turning the pages." -- Laura Esquivel, author of Like Water for Chocolate

"The stories in People Like Us are like deliciously addictive candy filled with absinthe. Valdés manages to skewer his characters with something akin to tenderness, even affection, beguiling the reader into caring for them, too. These stories rock!" -- Jaime Manrique, author of Latin Moon in Manhattan