The first novel to tackle the Vietnam War from a Latino soldier"s perspective "Luminous. This is a beautiful book."--Carolyn See, author of The Handyman This acclaimed Mexican-American author"s third novel draws upon his personal experience as a soldier in Vietnam for a passionate and profound meditation on war, race, history, and desire. Vea"s fictional counterpart, Jesse Pasadoble, served his country with honor and courage--even though he and his fellow Chicano grunts, as well as their black comrades, experienced a different, less hospitable America than the one enjoyed by their white commanders. A lifetime later, the battle still rages in nightmares and memories as Jesse finds himself on the front lines of a new conflict: the present-day gang wars raging in urban America. Gods Go Begging is a novel that is both searing and suffused with poetry, and Vea tackles his ambitious subject with gritty authenticity and gutsy humor. "Powerful . . . enchanting. From the very first sentence I was trapped and could not resist."--Isabel Allende (on La Maravilla)