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Summary: Coming of age autobiography of a Puerto Rican/American girl
Review: Full of imagery, eloquently Latin and inspirational. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a good ethnic read. END
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Summary: A beautiful and Important book
Review: This is one of the most beautiful memoirs I have ever read. This is a book that brought tears to my eyes and made me break out in laughter. I read an excerpt of this book in the anthology, "Boricuas" and that was enough to make me want more. I loved this memoir!
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Summary: A flavor of nostagic, melancholic memories.
Review: Her story goes beyond gender, and reaches the deep, blue dreams and desires of so many young boricuas. Each chapter was akin to an episodic event of my childhood. The roasting coffee, the farina with sweet, sweet sugar and, yes, the smell of "manteca," that cold slab of lard that sizzled to a hot spattering substance that engulfed the pork chop, all come to mind. This book brings us the beautiful moments of being Puerto Rican, then, now and forever. Her verses, graced with fond antedotes and wittty ends, brings home the warm and happy feeling that seemed lost, forgotten, and far away. In the end, one still yearns for yesteryear, but knows that is not possiible. Yet, with the magic of her writing, Esmeralda Santiago brings yesteryear closer to the heart, and that is the value of her story.
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Summary: I wanted more!
Review: I couldn't wait to write this review. I was excited to find more novels written by Puerto Ricans, especially women. I enjoyed this book and learned words I didn't know existed, the glossary helped much. Santiago took the usual story of traveling from P.R. and successfully transformed it into a believable victory for the Puerto Rican. I completely identified with the thought patterns of Esmeralda in her curiousity about herself and the world. To find out this is a fiction novel, weaved with truth of the author's life, especially the Harvard part, it is two more points on the score board for Puerto Rican woman, and Latinas overall. Thank you Ms. Santiago for letting Latinas know that opression is no excuse not to just do it.
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Summary: A Flavor of the Essence of Being Puertorrican
Review: A beautiful depiction of the essence of being puertorrican - the struggle to succeed and survive, the need to fit in, the battle to retain cultural inheritance and values. A Puertorrican perspective, from a women's perspective. A good intro into one of the dimensions of being puertorrican and the clash/merge between the "New Yorican" and island "rican". Entertaining, emotional, colorful and flavorful.
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Summary: A book worth reading
Review: I loved it!! It brought back wonderful memories, being raised by my grandmother from Puerto Rico. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. Once I started reading the book I could not put it down. If you want to learn about the Puerto Rican Culture, this is the book to read. I highly recommend this book.
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Summary: I strongly recommend it.
Review: This is a great book to learn about Puerto Rican culture. Esmeralda Santiago elegantly depicts unique Puerto Rican traditions and brings to life terms that are difficult to translate. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommended it to anyone interested in reading a good story from an ethnic perspective.
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Summary: A Book Worth Remembering
Review: In Santiago's story of her early life in Puerto Rico, one can almost feel that they themselves are there. The imagery in this story creats a clear image and leaves a lasting impact on the reader. It's theme is of the "coming of age," and is a must for any teenager to read, especially ones studying Spanish. Esmeralda is one who grew up in a little town in Puerto Rico, then later when her mother decides to leave their life to live in better one in New York, where Esmeralda has to adapt to whole new way of life. Yet, she fits right in, is the top of her class, and even gets accepted in the New York City's High School of the Performing Arts. I would surely like to read this book again.
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Summary: Touching and Heart Felt
Review: I just finished "When I was Puerto Rican." I thoroughly enjoyed the book and connected with the author. Being the oldest female child in my family, I have felt the way that she did. The book takes you back through your adolescence and makes you exam life. Another plus to the book is how much culture it has. I enjoyed learning about the culture, the food, the dichos (sayings). I am pretty familiar with the Mexican Culture but the Puerto Rican has a completely different vibe and I enjoy it. Esmeralda's experience in New York is what so many people dream of. She makes me proud of her and I feel that I know her so intimately. That is what I love about her writing. Thank you for being so honest with your readers.
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Summary: Another Life
Review: For anyone who appreciates excellent literature, I highly recommend this book. You are immediately drawn into the world of a young Puerto Rican girl and the joys and challenges of her daily life. You will find yourself rooting for her during her amazing accomplishments when all the odds were stacked against her. One certainly doesn't have to be multi-cultural to fully enjoy the rich rewards of this memoir. Order it now, and pass it on to your daughter when you're done.
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