estuve esperando MUCHO por este libro. Cuando era PRiqueña fue tan bello y me trajo tantos recuerdos. Luego salio El Sueño de America- una de las mejores novelas que he leido- y yo seguia esperando por este libro!

Esmeralda es la mejor, me transporta a PR en cualquier momento y por eso la adoro. Habla de su familia como si fuera la mia y creo que somos primas!

Creo que es la mejor escritora latinoamericana hoy en dia, solo que no tiene mucha popularidad porque escribe mas bien sobre PR. Estoy esperando como loca el proximo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

El mejor regalo para cualquier latina que este orgullosa de sus raices!

Esmeralda did it again! This book is excellent, it takes up where When I was Puerto Rican left off. No pude dejar de leer el libro hasta el fin! This book is not only a sequel, but it stands on its own as a really good book. For me, reading it in Spanish added a little more flavor to the plot. In English or Spanish this book doesn't loose anything in the translation. I highly recommend it.

America is the typical boricua female, full of mishappenings. There is always an America in every puertorican family. She captures the image of the women's only family. There is lot of families like that, the male goes and comes as he pleases like some macho king, and expects the woman to always take him back. But America decides she is not taking him anymore. Esmeralda has a sincerity on her narrative that is easy to relate. America is Esmeralda's mother in another scenario. America is a brave woman trying to have a new beginning, she wants to experience life to the fullest and she is ready for the challenge. What she doesn't know is that her former lover won't allowe her to be happy. The typical male chauvinist, I know a lot of puertorican men like that, El Vocero newspaper is full of man like him. Esmeralda is so smart, and contemporary she knows how to mixed routinary life with suspense and danger. And the book turns out to be interesting and very human. Like every puertorican woman raised without a father Esmeralda's heroine is her mother and it reflects in her writings. Esmeralda, if you ever have a chance to read this I would like to tell you that I am your number one fan.

Every year, around mid November, I begin searching for stories, poems, and comments relating to the holidays. I usually look for something that amuses me, like "A Christmas Carol," "Navidad en las Montañas" and Capote's "A Christmas Morning;" I look for something that makes me review my present and my past. I must admit that I found very little material referring to those of us who live in the United States. In the fall, 1998, señora Santiago came to Chicago and mentioned the publication "Las Christmas" during a radio interview with Luisa Torres. Then, one December morning my son (Pablito) and I went to B&N and bought it. I read it during my vacation, in Valhalla, a town near White Plains, where my in-laws live. I am glad señora Santiago decided to publish these great experiences. Some of them are very funny. Others are sad, but I was inpressed by how much first, second and third generations of Hispanics born in the United States retain. At times, these bicultural experiences seem more authentic than those we had in our countries. They are, I would say, multicultural. There is no morality or religiosity in them. Each page reveals a surprise. Since this is the first book that reflects the Hispanic traditions during the holidays, I sure more people will read it in the years to come. I will certainly will reread it with "mucho gusto."I understand that you had space limitations, but if you decide to reprint it with additional texts, I would like to see Mr. Hijuelos' included. Also, I would like to see more vegetarian recipies and more poetry.I hope you had very pleasant holidays. I wish you the best in 1999.Con afecto, Enrique Murillo

Such a fun read, even the sad stories since they, too, are part of our shared history. Can't wait to make the pernil. Helped me understand the crazy notion of "asalto" that I grew up with but had no idea was cultural in nature; I just thought my Dad was nuts. As a second generation "born here" there was so much I had an inkling about but this book taught about our history and traditions in the best way possible - through food and music, tears and laughter.

Brought tears to my eyes as I remembered when I, as a child, would get up before the first rays of tropical light to participate as an altar boy in all the early morning services, and then go have breakfast at someone's house and quickly head back home to put on my school uniform before starting the day. Thanks for rekindling those long lost memories.

I bought this book for my daughter and before I wrapped it,I started browsing thru it. The different memories of Christmas past bought tears to my eyes when I recalled my 1st Christmas in Puerto Rico. It was so exciting going door to door and greeting our neighbors with "Parandas". The recipes included are an excellent way of passing our LATIN TRADITIONS down from generation to generation. What a great gift for anyone who is interested in how different cultures enjoy Christmas or for anyone who would like to learn to cook traditional holiday food. Recipes are very "reader friendly".

Es una lástima que Esmeralda Santiago haya decidido traducir ella misma su libro. Sus errores en español distraen de una historia bien contada. Me encantaría sugerirle a la autora que siguiera los pasos de Julia Alvarez quien no solo consiguió un excelente traductor para "En el tiempo de las mariposas" sino que además tenía un asesor para los regionalismos. Por mi parte, de volver a leer a Santiago, iría a la versión original en inglés.

EL LIBRO ES EXCELENTE, LAS DESCRIPCIONES Y EL ESTILO DE NARRACION UTILIZADO ES MAGNIFICO, LLEVA AL LECTOR A NO DETENER LA LECTURA Y LO OBLIGA A TERMINAR DE LEER EL LIBRO PARA CONOCER EN QUE CULMINO SU CARRERA.

LO UNICO QUE ENCONTRE Y QUE HUBIESE CAMBIADO ES EL FINAL, ME GUSTARIA HABER TENIDO MAS INFORMACION DE LA FAMILIA DE ESMERALDA.

SI ES POSIBLE CONTACTARME CON ELLA AGRADECERE ASI ME LO DEJEN SABER A MI DIRECCION ELECTRONICA. LA RAZON PARA ELLO ES QUE LEYENDO EL LIBRO ENCONTRAMOS INFORMACION QUE RELACIONA DIRECTAMENTE A MI ESPOSA CON ESMERALDA, SEGUN LOS DATOS LA MAMA DE ESMERALDA, MONIN, ERA SOBRINA DE LA ABUELA DE MI ESPOSA.

I read this book three years ago and was very impressed with the way the themes were developed by Esmeralda Santiago. The book is a reflection of the Puerto Rican society in the time when Esmeralda Santiago was a young girl. Therefore, it is true reflection of how many Puerto Ricans lived and struggled to ascertain life's most basic needs. I like the fact that Esmeralda did not leave a pillow unturned while describing family situations, how the father left the family to survive with very little income and lastly their move to NYC in search of better opportunities.

The reader can identify with Puerto Rican culture and what it means to be Puerto Rican because of the way Esmeralda describes her life in a language that's very adecuate, full of descriptions and expressions of her deepest sentiments. The beauty and simplicity of her vocabulary facilitates one's understanding of the book, the themes and situations presented. Overall, it is an exemplary memoir that paints a very real description of the ups and downs of the Puerto Rican society in the fifties. I recommend this book to all those who are fond of literature of any kind.
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Leí este libro hace tres años y quedé muy impresionada con el tema que ha sido muy bien desarrollado por Esmeraldo Santiago. El libro realmente es un reflejo de la sociedad puertorriqueña en aquella época cuando Esmeralda Santigao era niña. Por lo tanto, es un retrato real de como muchos puertorriqueños vivían y luchaban para tener las cosas más básicas de la vida. Me gustó mucho el hecho de que Esmeralda no escatimó en los detalles al describir los episodios de su familia, de como su papá dejó a la familia para sobrevivir con pocos recursos y finalmente de la mudanza a Nueva York en busca de nuevas oportunidades.

La manera en que Esmeralda describe su vida en un lenguaje adecuado, lleno de descripciones y de expresión de sus más profundos sentimientos hace que el lector se identifique con "la cultura puertorriqueña" y lo que significa ser parte de esa cultura siendo puertorriqueño/a o no. La belleza y sencillez de su léxico facilita la comprensión del libro y el entendimiento de los varios temas y asuntos que se presentan. Por lo general, es un libro ejemplar que pinta una descripción muy verdadera de los avatares de la sociedad puertorriqueña en los años cincuenta. Recomiendo este libro a los amantes de la buena lectura.

Puerto Rico. When I hear those words, I am reminded of pride, effort, and heart. For seventeen years, I have single-mindedly thought of Puerto Rico as a land of minimal opportunities, many hardships, and a mediocre society. Author Esmeralda Santiago made me recognize the sunny days in Puerto Rico. In her moving autobiography, When I was Puerto Rican, I found a joyful, passionate Puerto Rican spirit. With her wise words, Esmeralda affectionately describes her child life and the difficulty of growing older. The story began with Esmeralda describing her background as a Puerto Rican. As the eldest of 11 children and the daughter of an unmarried couple, life was complex. Esmeralda woke every morning in Puerto Rico to find excitement. From climbing trees to exploring the market, she and her siblings were inseparable always knowing how to have fun and to make the best of life. Living in their small house, her family learned to adapt to being close and having little privacy. As she grew older, Esmeralda began to understand why her parents argued. For many nights, Esmeralda cried herself to sleep listening to her parents arguing and realized the difficulty of growing older. She learned to be strong when she was faced with hardships. Although she was expected to know right from wrong and to take care of her siblings, Esmeralda was not even una señorita, a young woman, yet. Seeking a better life, Esmeralda's mother, mamí, moved the children to the big city of Brooklyn, New York. The family quickly adapted to the fast paced city life. Despite the little amount of English she knew, Esmeralda excelled and succeeded academically. She followed her dreams and was accepted into New York's school of Performing Arts, followed by a scholarship to Harvard University. I thought that Esmeralda Santiago depicted her childhood and early womanhood commendably. The world seems completely different through the eyes of a child, and she brought that world to life. The confusion, curiosity, and fascination of a child's mind can easily be found. Esmeralda's vast use of details helps the reader to visualize the setting and actions of the characters. She described the world around her and recognized the importance of the five senses. By reading her autobiography, I could understand Esmeralda's fear, braveness, sorrow, and joyfulness. As she grew older, she gained more experience and knowledge. Esmeralda's readers can easily relate to her. Despite their culture, Esmeralda brings a common experience to life; an experience in which everyone can be united, childhood. Throughout her autobiography, Esmeralda used many Spanish words. Her readers can learn about the Puerto Rican culture and learn words from the language. I thought the use of Spanish words was interesting. As I read her novel, I felt pulled into Esmeralda Santiago's words. Her realistic view on the world reminded me of my childhood days. With her vivid details, Esmeralda brings her optimistic view on life to a whole new level. By reading When I was Puerto Rican, I saw Puerto Rico through different eyes, through eyes that treasure the land. I now see Puerto Rico as a land full of love, happiness, and simplicity. Puerto Rico, to me, is no longer associated with negativity.

I recently read When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago for my Literature of Latino/as in the United States at the University of Iowa. This autobiography improved my understanding of the situation Puerto Ricans in their native land, and Puerto Ricans in the United States. In her autobiography Santiago told the story of her childhood in Puerto Rico and her move to Nueva York (New York) when she was thirteen.

A strength of When I Was Puerto Rican was Santiago's description of life in Puerto Rico. I learned facts about Puerto Rican culture that I did not know previously. One Puerto Rican tradition I learned was how they celebrate Christmas differently from Americans. In Puerto Rico they have a big neighborhood celebration where the community comes together at one house. There is traditional food such as roasted pig, pasteles, arroz con dulce, and tembleque. They also make a traditional drink called coquito which contains rum.

In my opinion the title was a weakness. To me the word "Was" symbolizes something in the past. Choosing When I Was Puerto Rican as the title made me believe that Santiago no longer thought of herself as Puerto Rican. I have not seen my father since I was a child, but he was born in Puerto Rico and I am half Puerto Rican. I never say I "was" Puerto Rican, I am still and will always be Puerto Rican-American. Even though the autobiography told of Santiago's culture and experiences as a Puerto Rican, I think the choice of "Was" took away from Santiago's heritage.

I found that When I Was Puerto Rican is similar to How the García Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez. Both are autobiographical accounts of female protagonists migrating to the United States from the Caribbean. They also are coming-of-age stories that describe the authors childhood in her native land and how the United States changes them in their teenage years. I would definitely recommend this autobiography to a friend, especially an adolescent.

This book is like a sneak peak into the hearts and lives of Puerto Rican migrants. Esmeralda Santiago writes in a way that makes you feel what she feels. She puts you in her shoes and takes you through her journey from Puerto Rico to the United States, as well as from her childhood to adolesence. Many people migrate to the United States searching for a better life without poverty. Unfortunately, in many cases these people are greeted with low paying jobs and discrimination. The effects of migration are different for everybody. The increasing number of immigrants coming to this country makes it necessary to educate yourself about different cultures. This seems to be the only way to break down the walls of misconception between people of different backrounds. Read this book and LEARN about the migration experience of a poor, Puerto Rican family in search of a better future. Beautifully written! Colofully detailed! Shockingly honest!

I read America's Dream over a year ago but America's story still sticks with me. As an American born citizen, I still could relate to her struggle with achieving independence in spite of all the forces that worked against her: her somewhat puzzling love for her husband in spite of his abuse; her tolerance of her mother's preoccupation with controlling her life; her struggle to influence her daughter in spite of a culture that deceives her into believing that she can gain independence through a relationship with a man. As a "professional" woman of color, I could even identify with her relationship with her employer. This is a fascinating story.

Reading "America's dream" brought me back to Puerto Rico. I can certainly relate to not coping well to my first American winter, after years in the run. Reading how America, after a long-term, damaging relationship, decides that "it is her life, and she is the one in the middle of it" is an inspiration to me. The best developed character is America, of course. Other characters, although not so well defined, by turns influence America's life: Karen Leverett, the woman who hires America to care for her children; Rosalinda, America's rebellious 14-year old; Ester, America's alcoholic mother; and Correa, the abusive lover and father of Rosalinda. Jo-Hanna Goettsche, Everett. WA

I just finished reading America' Dream and I highly recommend it. The main theme of the book is spousal abuse and it's consequences. America, the main character, I think, represents the many Latinas who are victims of the old, but thriving mentality of the Latino men and culture. The book gives a pretty good feel of life in a Latin American country. It also portraits what is like to be a Latina servant in the United States. The story is a descriptive and accurate portrait of a woman's anguish and suffering, and her road to self-sufficiency. As a Latino man I was never offended by the depiction of America's nemesis her lover Correa. On the contrary, I give Esmeralda Santiago praise for daring to portrait the agony that is part of many Latinas and other women's everyday lives.

"Almost A Woman," the "sequel" to the well-written "When I Was Puerto Rican," is boring, tedious, and only recommended to hardcore fans of the first memoir from Esmeralda Santiago (and even then, your patience might wear thin on this one). While the first book, written with descriptive details and passionate voice, shows us the insights into young Esmeralda growing up poor in Puerto Rico, "Almost A Woman" is filled with uneventful happenings that won't draw the reader in as much as the first book. "My Boring Recollection of When I Became a Young Lady" would have been a better title for this book, and one wonders what the point was behind writing it in the first place. You won't come away feeling satisfied with what happens to the "characters," nor will you care halfway in. The first book captured you: you wanted to know about Esmeralda and her family; why her father did what he did; her childhood in Puerto Rico and its effect and lasting impression on her. The first book is "must reading" if you were/are an immigrant from any backround. In "Almost...", you read about Esmeralda in the US as a young lady: going on audtions; contemplating who she will give her virginity to; her future and what pain it will bring to her overprotective mother. This isn't, unfortunately, a "must read" for young ladies, or anyone who wants a good read, for that matter. This book is a huge disappointment, considering how good Santiago's first memoir was. It's useless, senseless reading and only if you have nothing else to read will you even bother wanting to read towards the end (which I might add, is predictably as boring and senseless as the rest of the book).

I received this book last week after hurricane George hit our beautiful island and I could not put it down. I loved reading "When I was a Puerto Rican", but this one I enjoyed so much more. It was great reading about her change from child to woman. I come from a family of seven children, I am the oldest and I identified with her, specially the way they wanted us to marry in church but we don't visit church and things like that. I live very close to her "barrio Macum", I visited it and told some of the people their that they had to read her book. Esmeralda Santiago describes her upbringing with such candor that I even imagine her story in a movie or mini-series.

I loved Santiago's first book (When I Was Puerto Rican) and I love this one too. Almost a Woman is a memoir about coming of age in New York City. It is also about the struggle to find her own identity among a large family and a domineering but loving mother. Even though I am not an immigrant or Puerto Rican I found this book very compelling and hard to put down. I only hope Santiago will write a third memoir so I can find out how she gets to Harvard, what happens to her mother, brothers and sisters, if she sees her father again and what happens to her lover. Santiago has become one of my favorite authors!

When I first saw this book in the bookstore, I could not believe that someone finally put together a book about Latin mothers. As a person with a Mexican mother, I was hopeful that my unique experiences would finally be told. I was wrong. The writing in this book is dishonest and pretentious. I kept getting the feeling that the writers were trying to impress the readers with their clever writing and big words. It certainly did not help that the editors chose to exhaustively list all of the awards and accolades ever bestowed upon the writers. What does this have to do with writing about your mother? Even though some of the stories were potentially touching, I did not shed one tear because I simply could not get over the "look at me" writing. If someone wants to read a beautifully written book about a mother that made me cry and think about my own mother, please read Growing Up by Russell Baker. Russell Baker's mother did not have to be Mexican for me to be touched by her son's honesty and the beauty of his writing.

IT IS A TREAT TO READ ABOUT DIFFERENT STORIES ABOUT VARIOUS MOTHERS. THIS BOOK REMINDS US HOW IMPORTANT OUR MOMS ARE.
WE SHOULD ALWAYS GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THIER GUTS ON BEING MOMS.

One has to bear in mind that writing about people one knows is very subjective, and this is the author's right. People simply are not objective about those close to them. The writers of this book have accomplished a creation that has resulted in a beautiful specimen of literature, rich in description and sentiment, both amusing and tragic.

How can one not laugh when Jaime Manrique quotes the only comment his mother makes after she sees her son's pictures in a magazine spread for the first time: " You look fat, You'd better lay off those pies" and how can one not cry when he writes "The most wonderful tribute I can pay to my mother is to say that whereas most children automatically love their mothers, I've grown to love Soledad." But these quotes don't mean much without reading all that precedes them.

And then, who will ever forget, once read, Alba Ambert's haunting search for a mother she has never known and how she consciously forms a life for herself based on this lack of knowledge?

If you are looking for straight storytelling, you will find it here, but you will also find great sentiment and poetry within these pages. That in itself is worth the read. One no longer cares as one reads along if it is true or not; it still touches the soul.