book data
1,796 ratings,
3.94
average rating, 125 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
February 1st 1992
by Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media
(first published 1991)
details
Unknown Binding
literary awards
isbn
0606210008
(isbn13: 9780606210003)
description
A collection of stories, whose characters give voice to the vibrant and varied life on both sides of the Mexican border. The women in these stories of…more
find at:
Amazon • WorldCat • more options…
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Students! : * What Did You Finish Reading/What Are You Currently Reading? | 1862 | 2869 | 1 hour, 43 min ago | |
| Chicks On Lit: Essential WOMAN'S Library! | 136 | 478 | Jan 26, 2010 06:26PM |
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 2,266)
All ratings
|
5 stars (539)
|
4 stars (703)
|
3 stars (463)
|
2 stars (82)
|
1 star (9)
|
avg 3.94
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in June, 2009
I love how blunt the narrators of the various stories are. Even when the narrator is doing or saying terrible things, there's something about her that is still likable even as you hate her. Her strength and rebellious attitude, mixed with the vulnerability she sometimes reveals, makes her a fascinating character. Sometimes I want to be her, other times I want to be her best friend, and then once in awhile I don't even like her at all.
"And it's not the last time I've slept w...more
"And it's not the last time I've slept w...more
Like this review?
yes
4 comments
Read in May, 2009
I wish I liked this since so many people I respect sing its praises. Instead of being drawn into Cisneros's voice or themes, I found the execution of the stories to be largely frustrating. Cisneros likes to use lists in her stories, lists of sounds, lists of items for sale at the grocery, lists of things that remind her of a child's ear, etc. For me, this got old very quickly, and became a huge distraction from whatever the story was. I wanted to like her insight into Mexican-American culture. I...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1998
This book is absolutely magical. There are perhaps only two or three short stories that did not grip me, but otherwise I have read all the others it at least four times. I think Cisneros truly found her voice here - poetic, hypnotic, erotic storytelling with multi-cultural and feminist undertones. I truly envy her gift for writing in this collection.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in November, 2008
recommends it for:
only die-hard Cisneros fans, or people that get blown away by creative descriptions...
I finally finished Sandra Cisneros’ short story collection. I was surprised that it took me a few weeks to read, since it’s only about 200 pages long. For some reason, I just could not get rolling with this book. It’s a collection of short stories by the acclaimed writer and poet, mostly set in the Latino areas of San Antonio, Texas, that I thought would rock my world like House on Mango Street or My Wicked, Wicked Ways.
Cisneros does some wonderful descriptive work. She can pa...more
Cisneros does some wonderful descriptive work. She can pa...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Cisneros was one of my first introductions to language used in this lyrical way. I fell in love with Cisneros, particarly "BBQ" and "Ten," from her House on Mango Street.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
I read this collection of short stories during my women in literature class in college. Each story offers an amazing tale. Every woman (and man) should read this.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in January, 2003
I loved The House on Mango Street
and very much wanted to read more
of this author. The quality of
the stories varied wildly, from
excellent to poor. Even the
weakest stories, however, are
very successful in presenting
a Hispanic-American viewpoint,
a viewpoint that I ha...more
and very much wanted to read more
of this author. The quality of
the stories varied wildly, from
excellent to poor. Even the
weakest stories, however, are
very successful in presenting
a Hispanic-American viewpoint,
a viewpoint that I ha...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2009
Again, only a partial review -- read the first section, the "children's stories" as they are sometimes considered, although I can see why Cisneros doesn't think of them as children's stories (and to me they also seem to be for an adult audience, because they're so poetic). Great lines and descriptions, great language, but only "Barbie-Q" and "Mericans" are narratives; the rest are prose poems, not even flash fiction, and I am more interested in reading stories/woul...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Her poetic language was consistent throughout; present in the vignettes as well as the longer stories. I think the vignettes benefited from being in the collection. As stand alone pieces many of them didn't work well for me. They were strong on voice and with evocative language, but I wanted something more—the surprise of a poem or the conflict of a story—something more than a page or two of voice (a character speaking). Including them in the collection, however, creates a chorus of voices. ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This book was assigned reading in high school where each student got one different book picked by the teacher and i need to thank Mrs Chapman because it blew my mind. Really changed the way I thought, or maybe made me realize and focus and bring to light what I thought and didnt understand yet or wasnt able to put into words.
I have bought many copies of this book as I give it away all the time. Cisneros needs to write more books as I cannot get enough of her.
She is a fem...more
I have bought many copies of this book as I give it away all the time. Cisneros needs to write more books as I cannot get enough of her.
She is a fem...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2010
If I was a writer of books, I would want to write like a cross between Kent Haruff, Anita Diamont and this new find: Sandra Cisneros.
Excellent, excellent connection to the characters. Excellent descriptions. (Why isn't there a better word to use?)
There are some stories here, (Salvador Late or Early, Woman Hollering Creek, Eyes of Zapata) that I thought were really quite perfect. Granted, I did most of my reading late into the night, so my sentimental side comes out and I ...more
Excellent, excellent connection to the characters. Excellent descriptions. (Why isn't there a better word to use?)
There are some stories here, (Salvador Late or Early, Woman Hollering Creek, Eyes of Zapata) that I thought were really quite perfect. Granted, I did most of my reading late into the night, so my sentimental side comes out and I ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1998
i was given this book by a mentor i was matched up with in high school. i didn't get much out o the relationship, but she gave me a nice picture frame, and this book. i wish i could thank her for the book now, because i loved it then and i love it now! i got to hear sandra cisneros speak recently and it was awesome. i like her a lot and i like her writing. there are a couple stories in particular that really spoke to me and i still think about them once in a while. good read.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2005
Cisneros showcases her brilliant story-telling in this collection of short-stories/vignettes. She brings to life the joys, trials, and tribulations of life on the Mexican/Texan border. She illustrates the importance that Mexican-Americans place on family and extended family. She portrays the Mexican-American woman as a multi-faceted being, who can adapt to an array of situations; which, hasn't been done very often in Chicano or Mexican literature.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
"Because the way you grow old is kind of like an onion or lieke the rings inside a tree trunk or like my little wooden dolls that fit one inside the other, each year inside the next one."
"He said he would love me like a revolution, like a religion."
"But the truth has a strange way of following you, of coming up to you and making you listen to what it has to say."
"And when he loves, gives himself body and soul. None of this f...more
"He said he would love me like a revolution, like a religion."
"But the truth has a strange way of following you, of coming up to you and making you listen to what it has to say."
"And when he loves, gives himself body and soul. None of this f...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2003
This book, well, compilation, intrigued me even at a time in my life when I was less mindful of other cultures. The stories are a nice grouping of interesting stories told from a Hispanic perspective. My wife, who is of Mexican descent, enjoyed stories in this book as well. I read the story "Eleven" to my students on their eleventh birthdays, and for some reason, they really enjoy it.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This is a collection of short stories and poems. I read all of it in one day. I should've slowed down but I wanted to finish it all.
The only stories I remember are the one about Zapata's wife or mistress. There was also the one where the woman is talking to the virgin mary, which led me to understand what the virgin actually represents.
The only stories I remember are the one about Zapata's wife or mistress. There was also the one where the woman is talking to the virgin mary, which led me to understand what the virgin actually represents.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
There's a lot of good stuff here but it doesn't always come together as nicely. Great detail, point of view, and interesting topics, but most of the stories were under five pages and the narrative didn't amount to much. I wish she would have focused on longer stories and developed the narrative more instead of just delivering flavor.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Lyrical and powerful and it, along with "House on Mango Street" and her poetry, were very influential to me. My copy of the short stories was one she gave me after I told her a story at a signing, and she signed it in big loopy letters. I haven't followed her writing in recent years. I will have to change that.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2009
Lots of short sketches, prose poems, and stories, all focused on Mexican-American women's experiences. Some of the subject matter was not my cup of tea, and while I can appreciate such writing, it wasn't always enjoyable. Fit my way of reading just now, because it could be enjoyed in small bites.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2008
There were only a few stories in this entire book that I cared for. Most of the stories were hard to follow at times, but it could be the form of writing Cisneros takes on. One Holy Night was one of my favorite stories, not because it was tragic, but because it had meaning and is a statisitic for many, young girls. Barbie-Q was creative, and I loved how she took something as simple as Barbie Doll and made it into a tale of poverty for unfortunate little girls.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
to-read
(on 233 people's shelves)
fiction (on 55 people's shelves)
short-stories (on 47 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 22 people's shelves)
favorites (on 8 people's shelves)
shortstories (on 6 people's shelves)
literature (on 6 people's shelves)
adult-fiction (on 5 people's shelves)
latino (on 5 people's shelves)
More shelves...
fiction (on 55 people's shelves)
short-stories (on 47 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 22 people's shelves)
favorites (on 8 people's shelves)
shortstories (on 6 people's shelves)
literature (on 6 people's shelves)
adult-fiction (on 5 people's shelves)
latino (on 5 people's shelves)
More shelves...
