The Night of the Virgin

by Elliott Turner, Peter Beatty (Editor)

Overview

When Manny Hernandez turned eighteen, he left behind the desperately poor Rio Grande Valley with one goal in mind: become a professional soccer player. He stumbled a few times, but found plenty of adventure along the way as he and his best friend Hector traveled across Texas and the West Coast. Still, what happened on the field isn't even half the story.

A pulsating and raw look at the Mexican-American community's struggles with poverty, alcoholism, infidelity, and heterosexism. A thoughtful reflection on a brash young man who grew into a loving father. An indisputably American tale where a dream lead to a journey that twisted when you wanted it to turn. The Night of the Virgin is a story about those slippery topics of identity and acceptance, hatred and love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780692781036
Publisher:	Round Ball Media
Publication date:	03/01/2017
Pages:	300
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.67(d)

Editorial Reviews

“Turner’s…expert knowledge of [soccer] is evident throughout, and it gives the story a near-journalistic authenticity. Sometimes the prose is strikingly evocative. The novel as a whole…is richly drawn-a moving bildungsroman and a thoughtful reflection on what it means to lack a settled sense of self.”

--Kirkus Reviews

“Scintillating…sends the reader through a whirlwind of emotions. Turner twists the plot and stories marvelously.”

--USA Today

“The [novel] is often funny…Turner’s deceptively simple prose is often sly, and he is skilled at dialogue…Texas, particularly the [R.G.V.] come alive.”

--Michelle Newby

“A solid debut. The authenticity of the language and experiences on the page…ring[s] true.”

--ReadDiverseBooks.com

“[A] celebration of dreams, soccer and friendship.”

--The Book Satchel

From the Publisher