Adolfo “Fito” Angelino Character Analysis in The Book of Unknown Americans

Fito is the landlord of Redwood Apartments, the bustling complex where the novel’s characters make their home. Fito is an immigrant from Paraguay who once dreamed of being a boxer. Slight and “sinewy,” Fito took a job as the building manager of the apartment complex after losing an arm wrestling match against its former landlord. Years later, he now owns the building and is a compassionate and involved landlord who has earned himself the nickname “Fito Mosquito” due to his small frame and constant buzzing about.

Adolfo “Fito” Angelino Quotes in The Book of Unknown Americans

The The Book of Unknown Americans quotes below are all either spoken by Adolfo “Fito” Angelino or refer to Adolfo “Fito” Angelino. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

The Unknown and The American Dream Theme Icon

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Vintage Books edition of The Book of Unknown Americans published in 2014.

The area is changing. A clash of cultures. I try to make this building like an island for all of us washed-ashore refugees. A safe harbor. I don’t let anyone mess with me. If people want to tell me to go home, I just turn to them and smile politely and say, “I’m already there.”

Related Characters: (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 146

Explanation and Analysis:

Adolfo “Fito” Angelino Character Timeline in The Book of Unknown Americans

The timeline below shows where the character Adolfo “Fito” Angelino appears in The Book of Unknown Americans. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...nearby mushroom farm. Quisqueya has heard this information from Nelia Zafón, who heard it from Fito, the landlord. Celia says it will be nice to have a new addition to the... (full context)

As Alma heads to the staircase, she spots a man who introduces himself as Fito, the landlord. He gives Alma her mailbox key, and she asks about the boy—Fito tells... (full context)

...there is a party in full swing at the Toro apartment, and even the landlord, Fito, stops by to announce that the energy company is on the way to fix the... (full context)

Fito came to America from Paraguay in 1972 with dreams of being a boxer. He was... (full context)

...money from their savings in order to pay the rent and they try to ask Fito for a break, but he cannot give them one. The Riveras subsist on rice and... (full context)