Rhymes With Orange

“Orange County: A Personal History is really three books in one,” explains author Gustavo Arellano. “One part is a history of Orange County and the way it’s influenced the United States. I’ve tracked the big trends that have influenced the country, like religion, the horrible television shows, the idea of master-plan communities. And another part is a history of my family’s four generations going back and forth between Mexico and the United States, and I wrote that part to tell the know-nothing part of the United States, who say that Mexicans don’t assimilate, that, in fact, they do. My family’s story is not an exception; it’s a rule. I used my family’s experience to tell the story of Orange County. And the third part is a short dining guide to Orange County. I felt that I didn’t really give people a sense of what Orange County is about in talking about the major trends, so I thought I might as well tell people where to come eat.”

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Arellano, who is also known for his work as the illustrious ¡Ask a Mexican! columnist, has this to say to fans and foes of his writing: “It’s a more personal version of my column. This is really a book for families; it’s going to be less crass, with fewer curse words. For fans of the column, you’ll have a lot of history, a lot of humor, a lot of good writing and storytelling. It’s the column writ large.”

Arellano will sign Orange County tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Tattered Cover LoDo, 1628 16th Street. “The two times I’ve been to Denver, I’ve had a very welcoming audience,” he notes, so help make his third time a charm. Visit www.tatteredcover.com or call 303-436-1070.
Wed., Sept. 24, 2008