{"product_id":"a-natural-man-gary-soto-9780811825184","title":"A Natural Man","description":"In this new collection of poetry, National Book Award finalist Gary Soto tackles the shabby reality of the world around him and turns it into vivid poetry. Drawing on the Chicano slang of the barrio, Soto gives authentic voice to portraits of life set mostly in California's San Joaquin Valley, where he was born and raised. The theme of the poet as troubadour runs throughout the bookthere is a wry humor in Soto's description of the drunken narrator of \"The Mariachi Suit,\" who, with \"spurs jangling music\" and a \"guitar like a small coffin in my arms,\" serenades an audience of cats, \"Who yawn, lick the clover pads\/Of their salty paws, and prance away.\" A delightful poem to Soto's wife of 23 years (\"Meat and Potatoes\") playfully contrasts a miserable bachelor meal with the exotic cooking of the woman next door: \"Love was at her table, \/A fork going to her mouth and the noodles, \/How delicious, easy to swallow.\" These new poems will please Soto's many admirers, and the edgy voice of \u003ci\u003eA Natural Man\u003c\/i\u003e is sure to convert even more.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Gary Soto\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0811825183\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780811825184\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Chronicle Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/01\/1999\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 96\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.35lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.97h x 6.04w x 0.32d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/27\/1999 pg. 102\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 02\/01\/2000 pg. 146","brand":"Gary Soto","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46311108346111,"sku":"9780811825184","price":13.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_40c3b8c4-0d57-4a67-8321-cc747be09103.jpg?v=1730888142","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/a-natural-man-gary-soto-9780811825184","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}