Potato Queen

By Rafaelito V. Sy

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1928662064
• ISBN13: 9781928662068
• Release Date: July 2005
• Publisher: Palari Pub
• Length: 267 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Potato Queen is an Inspiring Triumph

Rafaelito Sy masterfully captures the heart of a man in search of love and his own identity. From his beginnings in the Phillipines to his adopted home in San Francisco, the main character, Juancho Chu, is vividly portrayed by the author. The insight into Juancho's soul and those of the people that come and go in his life is inspiring, moving and entertaining. Sy skillfully bridges cultural gaps, giving insight into Filipino-American culture and Asian-Americans in the gay community. He reels us into these worlds, usually plagued by stereotypes and assumptions, and shatters preconception, revealing the truth as we accompany Juancho in his search. This entertaining first novel looks to be the initial triumph for this inspiring writer. A must read!

You say Potato!

A totally captivating story. I could not resist turning page after page to follow the lead and his band of soul-searching comrades. Once every few years, you hear a unique gay immigrant voice. A few years ago, it was Realuyo's Umbrella Country; in 2005, Sy's work resonates with a story that touches the heart and warms the soul. Love, pain, happiness, risk, abandon, friendship, acceptance and alienation served in a bite-size but scrumptious lumpia -- just to extend the food metaphor. Potato Queen is like getting to know familiar places all over again: (bars in the Castro and Polk), sights (in San Francisco), and queens (of all colors partying away in the City). Sooooo retro cool. Nice job!

A Great Book

I'm not much of a book reader, but when I picked up Potato Queen, I couldn't put it down. Sy writes with such vivid imagery and creates such compelling characters that I was instantly sucked into the world he creates. The book has humor, too. It brought back a lot of memories. Mark Greenbaum FIVE STARS

Great read with humor and heart!

Potato Queen manages to combine romance, humor, and a serious look at racism/ racial views within the gay community all with style! Bravo to Mr. Sy!

Race and Romance in the Gay Community

I feel that Potato Queen is a poignant Asian-American story about class, immigration, and racial identity in the gay community. The relationships between Asians (mostly Filipinos) and Caucasians represent the struggle that people of color have in order to assimilate into a community that prides itself for its unity. Yes, the characters are sad - racial segregation and objectification are hardly any cause to be happy - but more than that, they are hopeful and loving. Through lush details and lyrical prose, the author effectively conveys strong and complex emotions. A fresh perspective on an often unspoken issue.