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Summary: A moving journey through a young girl's past...
Review: Esmeralda Santiago shares her Latino childhood in *When I Was Puerto Rican* and instead of simple events marking time, her childhood was rich with her surroundings, both in her own home and outside. The novel is full of beautiful descriptions of their culture recreating the scene easily for the reader. The novel, written in a series of short-stories, will be on the reader's mind far beyond the actual reading.Esmeralda, nicknamed Negi, is a curious child with plenty to investigate in her home in Macun, Puerto Rico. Her mother is often pregnant with plenty to say, and her father is usually working or off committing sinverguezas (little sins) rather than being at home. The mother, while burdened with mostly raising her children alone, is a positive thinker, and passes this on to Negi. Many of the stories involve Negi getting into some kind of trouble or learning something new about human nature. When the realities of her father's transgressions hit hard, Negi swears she'd rather stay a spinster for life than open herself to that heartache. The novel is very well-written and brings to life Puerto Rico for all readers. I'm looking forward to reading part two of her memoirs, *Almost a Woman.*
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Summary: The most heartwarming ,endearing story I could relate to.
Review: My mother came to New York from Puerto Rico,in 1956.The stories she told us while we were in bed (in the dark) were all similar to Negri's. I laughed and cried as I read this book.It was an emotional rollercoaster that I could relate to.I loved every minute of it. Thank You Esmeralda.
Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile Reading Without a Doubt
Review: I read the Spanish version of the book, "Cuando Era Puertorriqueña" . It was the first Spanish book that I've ever read. It was really inspiring. Esmeralda's mother was an incredibly strong person. She had the courage to leave her village in Puerto Rico (along with Esmeralda's father) and pursue a better life in NYC, in spite of the fact that she spoke almost no English. She reminded me of the song "Yo No Soy Esa Mujer" or "Not That Kind of Girl" by Paulina Rubio. The Spanish version was a bit difficult to read. Puerto Rican Spanish is VERY different from the Spanish of South and Central America, Mexico, and Spain. Many of the words that I had to look up weren't in the dictionary. Many also seemed to be Spanglish. Don't use it to improve your Spanish. However, it offers a great lesson in Caribbean culture and also the "Newyorkarican" culture. Die-hard Castilians may not like the "jíbaro" lingo, but it can hardly be helped. Either version of the book is neither entirely English nor entirely Spanish. The book is about the crossing of the languages. Some words and concepts simply don't translate. Some don't exist in Castilian or English. Many have been invented by this Spanglish culture and may not be understood unless one is bilingual. It is easy to look past this, however. Often times it can be quite amusing. Read it! I suggest the Spanish version, though, even if you speak the Spanish of a different region. I'm one of those die-hard Castilians, too. It really helped change my mind about the "español de los granjeros".
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Summary: Back 2 My Boricua Roots
Review: WOW! I LOVED this book! It took me back to the land of my ancestors, in La Isla Del Encanto (The Island of Enchantment)...Puerto Rico. Ms.Santiago's life was well-written in this book telling about how she grew up in Macun, Puerto Rico and when she reached New York. She wrote about how her father cheated on her mother, the many children her mother had, and how life was being a Puerto Rican and being discriminated against once she went to a school in Santurce where they called her a Jibara. This book definitely brought me back to my Boricua roots and once I finished this book, I had to read it all over again! Beautifully written! BORICUA HASTA LA MUERTE....PUERTO RICAN UNTIL THE DEATH!
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Summary: When I was Puerto Rican
Review: I found this book to be a reflection of what so many Puerto Ricans have felt. The way the story flowed and changed effortlessly really impressed me. Ms. Santiago wrote this without an agenda or a schedule---it was written like the collection of years it reprensented. I was left breathless.
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Summary: Nice job here.
Review: Pleasure to read and it provided the reader with a view to a very hectic life that made for a good read. I am interested in the sequel to see what happened to the family members. This would be a great book for young girls with craziness in their lives.
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Summary: The Life of a Brilliant Latina
Review: Well before I start this review I'd like to send shot outs to all my people at Payton College Prep out here in the Windy City, Chicago (Meagan, Augi, Angela, Angel, Veronica, Aixa, Diana, Rosa, Christina, Lee, Quentin, Charles, and Jerie.) Esmeralda Santiago's autobiography, When I was Puerto Rican, has proven itself as one of literary's most entertaining, and powerful works, that has arisen within Latino-American society. When I was Puerto-Rican focuses on Santiago's blossoming into a stunning Latina, and her family's traveling to America, from Puerto Rico, while being lead by a promising American Dream. Seemingly, Santiago regrettably abandons her rich Latino heritage, in adopting this new Americanized lifestyle. However, Santiago beyond doubt overcomes these barriers and wins acceptance to New York's High School of Performing Arts, and thus forward continues her enlightening educational experience at America's most prestigious and highly-esteemed university, Harvard. A MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!
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Summary: When I was Puerto Rican
Review: I recently read When I was Puerto Rican and was very happy to read this book . It took me back to my childhood and reminded me what a priviliged it was to live in my beautiful island. I enjoyed it so much that I give a great applause to Esmeralda who remind us that no matter where you live our hearts are always in Puerto Rico. It was a terrific book and can't wait to read Almost A Woman.
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Summary: ESMERALDA SANTIAGO GIVES US VOICE.
Review: WHAT A GREAT STORY! I READ THIS BOOK AND I ENJOYED IT. IT REMINDED ME OF BEING PUERTO RICAN AND MISSING THE MANGO TREES
AND THE BEAUTY OF LIVING IN PUERTO RICO. I GIVE GREAT
APPLAUSE TO ESMERALDA SANTIAGO WHO ENCHANTS US WITH HER PAST
AND REMINDS US THAT OUR HEARTS ARE ALWAYS IN PUERTO RICO DESPITE
US LIVING IN THE USA.
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Summary: Cultura latina
Review: Me encantó este libro, la manera en que Esmeralda Santiago introduce al lector hasta la casita de Macun y todos los diferentes escenarios en Puerto Rico es mágica; todo lo explica de manera tan sencilla y amena que te hace sentir que estas en esa Isla. En cada parte del libro hay olores, colores y sabores pero al mismo tiempo en cada personaje hay facciones, sentimientos, emociones y defectos, todos descritos desde el punto de vista de una niña inocente que a pesar de las carencias siempre ve algo positivo en su entorno y en los seres queridos que la rodean. Les recomiendo este libro ampliamente porque como latina y a pesar de las diferencias de culturales y de lenguaje entre nuestros países hay muchas cosas comunes entre nosotros y al leer la historia de Negi uno puede situar esa misma escena familiar y a esa niña en cualquier rincón de latinoamerica, no es difícil imaginarse que el choque cultural al llegar a Estados Unidos debe ser exactamente el mismo para una niña pueroriqueña, mexicana o colombiana.
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