Book Review: Trejo

Danny Trejo, with Donal Logue, Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood. New York: Atria Books, 2021. ISBN: 9781982150822.

 

Genre: memoir and autobiography

Subgenre: Hollywood, actors, celebrities

Format: e-book galley

Source: NetGalley

 

I've been looking forward to reading this book since it was first announced. Danny Trejo, actor likely best known for the character of Machete and for his role in Spy Kids, tells his own story with some assistance from his friend Donal Logue. It is a moving and powerful tale of his life in crime to redemption to Hollywood. The odds were definitely not in his favor. However, with a strong faith, perseverance, and a promise to help others along the way Danny Trejo beat the odds to become a Hollywood icon and entrepreneur. This memoir combines humor, pain, and redemption in a book that once you start reading you will find hard to put it down until you are done reading. 

The book has 35 chapters in addition to a prologue and an epilogue. The story runs from the 1960s and his youth to the present day. It is an engaging, powerful, and as I said, at times very moving book. 

Trejo starts the story with his youth. Learning the ways to be a man (not always in a good way. He later writes in the book about having to deal with and unlearn toxic masculine behaviors) and how to survive in the streets and in prison. Those were at times very dark times, yet Trejo draws lessons from those experiences and shares them with his readers. He may not have intended by the way, but this part of the story is also a bit of a prison survival guide. One you hope you never have to call upon. Early on we see Trejo was resourceful, a trait that would help him get out of prisons and addictions. 

Throughout his memoir, Trejo shares moments of insight and realization. These lessons helped steer him to a better path. For example, as he served one of his stints in San Quentin, he realizes: 

"Everything that had happened to me was the result of decisions and choices I made. I always had good information I choose to ignore" (65). 

Insights like that along with his resolution to finally change eventually lead him to his success. It was a long, arduous road to that success full of pain, suffering, a lot of hard work, and a setback or two, but he refused to stay down. 

When he resolved to help others get out of addictions, it was his turning point. He knew then his redemption lay in helping others. Sometimes he succeeds, sometimes he does not, especially if someone just does not want to be helped. But once he took the path of helping others he was on his way to healing himself. This is one of the most powerful parts in the book, and offers a great message to readers.

Hollywood work came gradually from small bit parts and then working his way up. As Trejo explains it, he already knew how to act since childhood. Having to hide emotions or pretend he felt a certain way or not in a dysfunctional home really prepares one for Hollywood acting. Point he makes is that the transition for him was natural, but he was also open to learning from other actors and movie people. 

Trejo is a good storyteller. His narrative is powerful and engaging. It is moving and interesting as well. For readers seeking an inspiring story of crime and healing, it's here. For readers who are fans of Hollywood, Trejo has plenty of interesting stories and anecdotes on films and film people he worked with and met over time. For readers who enjoy a good memoir this is definitely a great one. 

Overall, this is an authentic memoir with raw power and mucho corazón. I am sure it took a lot for Trejo to share some of the things he shares, but I am glad he did. He offers a powerful story that is unique and yet it also conveys universal lessons for us all. For me, this is an inspiring book and a great read that I am glad to recommend to all readers. This is a book I would gladly put in readers' hands. On a final side note, I was glad to see recently that my local public library did order a copy of the book.

5 out of 5 stars. 

 

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Additional reading notes: 

 

When society has lost a child: 

 

"I wasn't scared of being busted, I wasn't scared of being locked up, and when a kid loses fear of consequences, that's when society has lost them" (15).

 

On the appeal of bad boys: 

 

"The bad boy appeal diminishes when the person is actually bad. It's all very sexy and mysterious until you have to deal with the reality" (24).

 

A very basic lesson: 

 

"In life, you have to know who you are fucking with. . . " (44).

 

On prison: 

 

"Prison is a terrible waste of the best years in a person's life, when they otherwise could be part of society, contributing, raising kids, working, providing jobs" (53). 

 

On meeting Charlie, the blond gay boy he protected: 

 

"That moment is when I first realized that people are who they are. That there are people among us who don't fit into any box and it's not a conscious decision they make it, it just is" (59). 

 

On toxic masculinity, learning it: 

 

"If I even did anything around my dad or uncles that wasn't considered manly, I was called a sissy. It was as humiliating as it was intended to be. I was taught to hate anything they considered feminine. It was a lesson I learned too well" (110). 

 

The good in helping others: 

 

"But, as I've said many times: everything good that's ever happened in my life has come as the direct result of helping someone else and not expecting anything in return" (120). 

 

On doing B-movies: 

 

"People ask me if I mind doing B movies and the answer is, every time I do a movie and my involvement helps it get made, that means people are getting paychecks that assist their family in putting food on the table. Plus movies are what they are: the people you meet, the conversations you have, the life that goes down while you are making them, that is gold" 160). 

 

 

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This book qualifies for the following 2021 Reading Challenges: