Gilroy - One of Portugal's most celebrated authors comes to Gilroy tonight to present his new book, "I No Longer Like Chocolates," a timely story about an immigrant's dreams of life in America and his ultimate disillusion with that dream.Alamo Oliveira, a Portuguese artist renowned for a host of artistic achievements, including books, essays and plays, will present his latest novel this evening at the Portuguese Hall. The novel, now translated into English, depicts the life in California of an emigrant from the Azores, the Islands off Portugal where Oliveira lives.
Mayor Al Pinheiro has lived the immigrant's dream. He moved to America when he was 12 and grew up in Gilroy, never losing ties with his birthplace. Pinheiro, also a native of the Azores, has known Oliveira most of his life through family friends. The book presentation and signing tonight is an event Pinheiro organized for the Sister Cities cultural exchange program. Last year, Gilroy added Angra do Heroismo, Pinheiro's birthplace, to the list of the Garlic Capital's foreign exchange partners. He said the timing of Oliveira's visit could not be better.
"It's kind of funny that it's at this time, when we're all talking about immigrants," Pinheiro said. "Whether you're legal or illegal, when you're an immigrant you face a lot of the same things no matter where you come from. There are different ways as to how you're accepted in this country. If you try to assimilate while still carrying on your culture, you're accepted by some while others don't want to accept you."
Following the book presentation and signing from 6:30 to 7:30pm, a Portuguese theater group will perform one of Oliveira's plays. The free event takes place at the Portuguese Hall at 250 Old Gilroy St.
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