Willie Perdomo's book of poems, "Los éxitos esenciales de Shorty Bon Bon", has been translated into Spanish by Mayra Santos Febres, giving new life to the original 2014 publication. The book is an epic Caribbean, specifically Puerto Rican, story told through verse and stanzas, narrating the tragedy of a musician's life, a doomed love, and a man's rebirth. Perdomo and Santos Febres use the language of salsa and Caribbean music to tell the story, creating a text that moves between different rhythms and sounds.
The author's connection to music is rooted in his family, as his grandfather was a lyricist and his uncles were musicians. Perdomo's work is a unique blend of poetry and music, making it almost impossible to put down. The translation has brought a new melodic flavor to each word, making the book a must-read.
The story is a single, cohesive narrative, divided into poems to facilitate reading, but forming a single, epic tale.