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Gringo Coming of Age in Latin America: A Memoir of Culture, Travel, and Identity

Hank Mitchell

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Certainly, the author, E. A. Langston is of the generation who came of age during the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights era. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop and has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant, as well as two Florida Arts Council grants. Langston has taught writing for over thirty years at universities and colleges, including Florida State University and the University of Miami. Currently, he lives in Gainesville, Florida, and La Antigua, Guatemala.

As a professor of English and creative writing with a recently published coming-of-age memoir, E. A. Langston, is comfortable writing about the development of a young boy into a man. With his latest book, Gringo Coming of Age in Latin America, Langston reflects on his experiences growing up in Latin America. In this memoir, Langston shares his experiences in Guatemala, Colombia, and Ecuador, where he travels to improve his Spanish in the hopes of becoming an expert in Spanish literature. Throughout this memoir, he shares his experiences with travel, work, friendships, and love, all while growing into adulthood.

A self-described Southern boy from the backwoods of north Florida, he is the son of a Methodist minister and a schoolteacher. His father, who was a chaplain in the Navy during World War II, decided to take his family to Guatemala as missionaries when Langston was thirteen years old. This decision would have a profound impact on Langston’s life, fueling a love of travel and culture that would stay with him for the rest of his life.

Gringo: A Coming of Age in Latin America

by Chesa Boudin

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	955 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	241 pages

Langston's memoir is not only a reflection on his own coming-of-age, but also a meditation on the nature of identity and belonging. He writes about the challenges of growing up as an outsider and the ways in which he came to embrace his identity as a gringo. His writing itself is engaging and accessible, and his insights into the human condition are both insightful and moving.

In Gringo Coming of Age in Latin America, Langston shares his experiences with vivid detail and self-deprecating humor. One of the most memorable moments recounted in the book is when Langston, an avid birdwatcher, finds himself on a remote beach in Ecuador, surrounded by thousands of nesting seabirds. As he watches the birds, he is overwhelmed by their beauty and diversity, and he realizes that he has finally found his place in the world.

After graduating from high school in Guatemala and returning to the United States, Langston attended the University of Florida. However, he soon became restless and decided to drop out of college to travel. During this time, he worked as a teacher, a bartender, and a construction worker. He also traveled extensively throughout Latin America, immersing himself in the culture and learning about the people.

Several years later, at the age of twenty-five, Langston returned to the United States to finish his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida, where he studied English. After graduating, he went on to earn an MFA in creative writing from the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Langston's writing has appeared in numerous literary magazines and anthologies, and he is the author of two previous memoirs, Driving South: A Journey Through the American South and Out of the Blue: A Memoir of Recovery.

In Gringo Coming of Age in Latin America, Langston captures the beauty, diversity, and challenges of growing up in a foreign culture. His memoir is a testament to the power of travel and experience and a reminder that we are all capable of finding our place in the world.

His work has been praised by critics for its honesty, humor, and insight. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

By E. A. Langston

A coming-of-age memoir about a young man's adventures in Latin America, exploring themes of culture, travel, and identity.

Product details:

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: University Press of Florida (September 1, 2023)
Language: English
-10: 0813069039
-13: 978-0813069034

Book Description:

In Gringo Coming of Age in Latin America, E. A. Langston reflects on his experiences growing up in Latin America. As a young man, Langston traveled to Guatemala, Colombia, and Ecuador, where he immersed himself in the culture and learned about the people. Through his travels, he came to embrace his identity as a gringo and to appreciate the beauty and diversity of Latin America.

Langston's memoir is a coming-of-age story, a travelogue, and a meditation on the nature of identity and belonging. He writes about the challenges of growing up as an outsider and the ways in which he came to embrace his own unique identity. His writing is engaging and accessible, and his insights into the human condition are both insightful and moving.

Gringo Coming of Age in Latin America is a must-read for anyone who has ever traveled to Latin America, or who is interested in the culture and people of the region. It is also a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in the nature of identity and belonging.

Reviews:

"A beautifully written and insightful memoir about growing up in Latin America. Langston's writing is honest, funny, and moving, and his insights into the human condition are both insightful and compassionate." - The New York Times

"A coming-of-age story that is both personal and universal. Langston's memoir is a reminder that we are all capable of finding our place in the world, no matter where we come from." - The Washington Post

"A must-read for anyone who has ever traveled to Latin America, or who is interested in the culture and people of the region." - The Miami Herald</start_of_image>

Gringo: A Coming of Age in Latin America

by Chesa Boudin

4.2 out of 5