Julio Marzán | J. A. Marzán

Review written by Louise at Bookmarks and Stages.

Don’t Let me Die in Disneyland begins with a well written poem of the same title, setting the scene of the story to come in some ways, but not in others. This book is in-fact not Disneyland as we know it, full of all the well-known princesses, prince’s, Mickey Mouse etc. It is however split into 5 sections by the names of Disney areas: Main Street, USA 1987, Adventureland, Fronteerland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

Our main character – Eddie Loperena worked within a legal practice and is seeking change in many ways. This is far from the lightness and fun of Disneyland. The setting is the Bronx  where there is a lot of knife and gun crime. Readers will get a real sense of unlawlessness, with cop killers included.

The book has many political ideals within it, which are still around today, such as equality for all. So, this book is actually relevant today.

The book is very dark and twists and turns, showing much of human life and events, such as the character Soc wanting to leave a will. Not far in and I realise it is a tale of woe, hardship, ill health, political leanings, with an elements of feeling like a social vicitim. There are also elements of other life events too such as school, university, romance.

Readers are taken within The Bronx, with its hard times and also its political leanings and a want for equality within the Hispanic community. It doesn’t all make for comfortable reading either, with a character believing they have to see themselves as a Latin intrusion to feel truly American. This however in someways has to be put into context of the times of when this book is set, in otherways, it is perhaps showing that America still finds it hard to accept people with other ethnicities. There does appear to be a bit of a social commentary running through it. Readers shouldn’t get offended however and would be advised to put it all into context, but also perhaps the story can be used within conversations in what is happening within today’s America as well as learning of something of the not so distant past.

The book itself is well written and works well in its construction. Reading it, you get the sense of a dark, gritty atmosphere as well as setting. People who enjoy reading about the US and its politics and all its issues with an air of grittiness will get much enjoyment out of this book.