Sandra Cisneros

3.5 Super short, with one version in English and one in Spanish in the same volume. But full of Cisneros' eloquence and transformation of language. This is stream of consciousness memory - created by a found letter that went unanswered. The narrator, Corina (Puffi to her friends) is living in Paris, yearning to write and waiting for a fellowship offer from Southern France ( "We were waiting for something to happen. Isn't that what all women do until they learn not to?" 7) She has become show more friends with 2 other transplanted young women: Marta from Argentina and Paola from Italy. The brief time together is told in flashback and also in letters which fast-forward the years after their stay to their grown-up lives, loves, and disappointment. Their Paris time is marked by cold weather, student poverty and flophouse living conditions, but a shared sense of adventure and possibility embodied in the young men they meet - many from South and Central America who have formed a tight-knit if incestuous community. But the girls ultimately stand on their own feet, and Corina, of Mexican descent by way of Chicago, has the grit and hope to make it, even as her eyes are opened to a more sophisticated, continental way of living. Love this description from the cover flap: this book "...is a rare bottle from Sandra Cisneros' own special reserve, preserving the smoke and the sparkle of an exceptional year." show less

A quick poetic look at the innocence, beauty, and hardship of growing up in a Latin neighborhood in Chicago. Esperanza minces no words and her beautiful, minimal, and magical prose tell so much about her neighbors, her dreams, and her family. The lens through which she views her world is often naïve but as the pages turn she gets more mature as she starts to grow out of childhood. The way in which she describes her world, namely the motley cast of characters that are her neighbors, is eye show more opening and honest. A quick coming of age tale told through vignettes that explores love, heartbreak, friendship, and family. A classic. show less

"The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros is a poignant collection of vignettes that beautifully captures the essence of growing up in a Latino neighborhood. The prose is lyrical and evocative, making the reader feel the emotions and struggles of the protagonist, Esperanza.

However, the fragmented narrative style, while unique, can sometimes be disjointed and make it challenging to fully connect with the story. Some readers may find the lack of a traditional plot structure a bit show more unsatisfying. Despite this, the book offers important insights into cultural identity and the complexities of finding one's place in the world.

Overall, it’s a thoughtful read with both strengths and weaknesses. Recommended for those interested in diverse perspectives and poetic storytelling. show less

How did I miss this one, now over thirty years since publication? This is the perfect book to read with middle schoolers. It's a stroll through a poor and nurturing Mexican-American neighborhood in Chicago though the eyes of Esperanza, who sees so much but is still too young to understand all the ramifications of the treatment of women and girls, many of whom marry young to escape their jailer fathers and end up in the exact situation they tried to escape. The value of women and girls is show more tightly tied to physical attributes and macho enforcement of double standards, but Esperanza and her sister and friends, through their creativity and fearlessness, manage to create a gang of sisterhood and find some joy. It's both sad and inspirational. show less