What my readers are saying about Beatniks, Tupperware, and Chiles en Nogada
Engagingly written book about many people from diverse cultures. Great stories. Amazing characters. Never a dull moment.
The first part of the book provides an insightful glimpse of 1950s Southern California. The chapters “Tupperware and Goofy Goose toys” and “Peter Paul and the Beatniks” are funny and unforgettable.
There is much to enjoy in the latter 2 parts of the book. “Twilight in Carroll Gardens” is a bittersweet tale of the denizens of an Italian neighborhood unable to fend off its inevitable gentrification.
The chapter entitled “La Mixteca” is truly beautiful. It takes place in a remote indigenous region of Mexico—a Mexico that few know anything about but should.
Check out the chapter “Three Little Piggies”. It’s a hilarious story of surgeons acting badly.
Author Robert de Paola shares his life in this epic memoir, the title of which touches on but three aspects of the exhilarating story that describes so many issues - immigration, the concept of home, family, frustrations with placing, and on and on - delivered in a kaleidoscopic way that spans from Southern California 1950s style to Brooklyn’s Italian neighborhoods to Europe and to Mexico. Included in the diary, of course, is the author’s career as a founder of a software company and his service as a college professor. But the joy of reading this engaging novel (and it most assuredly is a novel in content!) is discovering the world of bilingual duality, a child’s view of foregoing family roots south of the border and adaptation to life in the era of the 50s in California, the transient life, discovery, dreams, and ultimate expectations of discovery of self and ‘home.’ De Paola’s skill as an author makes this fascinating book an impressive debt on the literary stage. Reading his memoir dredges up childhood memories for all of us, not only escorting us through his remarkable journey in finding home, but also providing permission to reflect on our origins. Simply stated, this book supplies - and provides - the art of remembering. Very highly recommended
Reading this memoir was wonderful and I find myself thinking back to it often. The way it's written really makes you feel like you're watching it all unravel and it's hard to put the book down when you get started! This book is just chockful of emotion and heart. Captivating and genuine.
Tired of Covid, Inflation and other depressing news? If yes, your remedy is to read this compelling journey of Robert de Paola’s life filled with genuine pathos, intrigue, and handcrafted originality.
This is a compelling story of an individual discovering how the world works. It gives the reader a chance to reflect upon his or her own life and perhaps discover reasons for the choices made along the way. It does indeed read like a novel, drawing the reader in to wonder "what will happen next?"
The chaotic circumstances of his childhood are told in a natural, down-to-earth voice that feels very real and personal. When young Bobby is told he must move yet again, he questions this through tears, stubbornness and pouting, prodding the reader to feel as he feels and remember what it felt like to be a child controlled by the circumstances and sometimes whims of the adults in their lives.
Throughout his life, he continually learns. He approaches other people and cultures with wide-eyed , unbiased wonder and acceptance. He is not afraid to reveal his inner thoughts, desires and feelings. This book is an inspiring read, which, as any good book should, leaves the reader wanting more.
A remarkable and eclectic collection of experiences wrapped into a single life story. This memoir truly reads like a work of fiction! During a childhood that most would regard as adverse, Robert displays the adaptability and resilience of the human spirit. As an adult, his unique and entertaining experiences with travel and personal relationships extend far beyond typical. This is fun read with a heart warming finish that will be appreciated by anyone who values love and family.
Many people have valuable insights they’ve learned over the years of their life, but not too many can write a memoir as captivating as this one. “Beatniks, Tupperware, and Chiles en Nogada” by Robert de Paola is a memoir that takes the reader on a journey to many exotic locales, but most important is the journey the author takes to remember the emotions felt by a child whose young years were often chaotic.
Robert relates memories and weaves them into a life story that gets the reader pondering their choices throughout their own life. His memoir reads like a well-developed fiction, but since it is true, the reader is often drawn to compare their own memories.
“Beatniks, Tupperware, and Chiles en Nogada,” by Robert de Paola is a wonderfully well-written memoir that will truly take you back in time and will allow you the opportunity to walk in the shoes of another individual in a very believable manner. If you are seeking a story that will truly allow you the chance to escape your personal life and view life through the eyes of another, then this is most certainly the book that you need to check out!
Beatniks, Tupperware, and Chiles en Nogada is a beautifully-spun memoir that reads like fiction, inviting readers on a journey from 1950s Southern California, to traditional Italian neighborhoods in Brooklyn, to remote indigenous communities in Mexico. Robert de Paola has transformed his vibrant life into a colorful odyssey. His book is a celebration of the things that make one happy to be alive: friendship, beauty, family, and love. Readers are invited to celebrate the enduring miracle of humanity in this sprawling gem of a narrative.
This is a fun read with a heart-warming finish that will be appreciated by anyone who values love and family.
The most mesmerizing memoir I’ve ever read. Each chapter is its own individual story. Strung together, this book tells a story of a very unique life from a tumultuous—yet sweet childhood.
