The Boy Kings of Texas

A Memoir

By: Domingo Martinez

Narrated by: Emilio Delgado

Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Lyrical and gritty, this New York Times best-selling coming-of-age story about a border-town family in Brownsville, Texas, insightfully illuminates a little-understood corner of America.

Domingo Martinez lays bare his interior and exterior worlds as he struggles to make sense of the violent and the ugly, along with the beautiful and the loving, in a Texas border town in the 1980s. Partly a reflection on the culture of machismo and partly an exploration of the author’s boyhood spent in his sister’s hand-me-down clothes, this book delves into the enduring, complex bond between Martinez and his deeply flawed but fiercely protective older brother, Daniel. It features a cast of memorable characters, including his gun-hoarding former farmhand, Gramma, and “the Mimis”- two of his older sisters who for a short, glorious time manage to transform themselves from poor Latina adolescents into upper-class white girls. Martinez provides a glimpse into a society where children are traded like commerce, physical altercations routinely solve problems, drugs are rampant, sex is often crude, and people depend on the family witch doctor for advice.

Charming, painful, and enlightening, this book examines the traumas and pleasures of growing up in South Texas and the often terrible consequences when different cultures collide on the banks of a dying river.

©2012 Domingo Martinez (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• National Book Award finalist, 2012
• Pushcart Prize Nominee, 2013

Entertainingly funny!

As a former New Yorker, now "gringo", living in South Texas this made me laugh out loud at some of the references that I have learned since coming here. Written openly about his life and a great glimpse into a colorful part of America that has not been homongenized as of yet still. Loved it!

It's s Complicated

I enjoyed this book so much. I enjoyed the narrator's natural vocal timbre. I am a woman of Mexican decent from the Los Angeles area. I am currently on a quest to read more books by Mexican American authors. This book had so many laughs, tragedies, and insights to our culture. By the fashion and musical choices of June I suspect we are the same age. LOL, it still surprises me how much Latinos like the Cure, Morissy and the Smiths. My own family dynamic is so complicated. I am also a big fan of British literature and movies and his use of phrases was BRILLIANT.

rough life, good story

Some of the storytelling felt repetitive and I caught myself zoning out a few times as the narrative was drawn out a bit too long for my liking. i never once felt like I couldn't wait to pick up where I left off, as it just was not a story that grabbed a lot my attention. However, incredibly interesting life to tell about, and I am glad I listened.

are we related

saw myself in every line, mostly. the good the bad and the ugly

daughter of the 5th sol
Leala

The weaving of a narrative place and the psychology of a family system.

Loved the weaving of a narrative place and the psychology of a family system. Such a visual description of the valley of Texas. A hard story told with compassion and humor.

Impressive debut!

There were times when I had to pause the audio because I was laughing so hard and I didn't want to miss anything. There were also times when I stopped dead in my tracks because of the power and truth in his words. Times when I replayed sections of the audio many times to be sure I had memorized each word correctly.

This story is honest and frank and a hell of a ride. The delivery of Emilio Delgado is spot on. I highly recommend this story to anyone.

Fantastic!!

I am from El Paso, TX and Hispanic as well. I found many similarities with the culture and yet it feels like another world when he beautifully describes his experiences.

Fabulous, Wonderful!

I love this book. I alternately fell out laughing and wanting to cry. What a great read! Between the powerful writing and great narration, I thoroughly enjoyed this experience.

great story

I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating memoir. I told well and keeps you enthralled. While the stories aren't extraordinary, they're recanted very well

Memories

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Good if you have some prior knowledge of life in South Texas. Evokes an atmosphere.

What does Emilio Delgado bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good pronunciation and appropriate accent. Knowledge of the material.