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The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood
A poignant, hilarious, and inspiring memoir from the first Latino and openly gay inaugural poet, which explores his coming-of-age as the child of Cuban immigrants and his attempts to understand his place in America while grappling with his burgeoning artistic and sexual identities.
Richard Blanco’s childhood and adolescence were experienced between two imaginary worlds: his parents’ nostalgic world of 1950s Cuba and his imagined America, the country he saw on reruns of The Brady Bunch and Leave it to Beaver—an “exotic” life he yearned for as much as he yearned to see “la patria.”
Navigating these worlds eventually led Blanco to question his cultural identity through words; in turn, his vision as a writer—as an artist—prompted the courage to accept himself as a gay man. In this moving, contemplative memoir, the 2013 inaugural poet traces his poignant, often hilarious, and quintessentially American coming-of-age and the people who influenced him.
A prismatic and lyrical narrative rich with the colors, sounds, smells, and textures of Miami, Richard Blanco’s personal narrative is a resonant account of how he discovered his authentic self and ultimately, a deeper understanding of what it means to be American. His is a singular yet universal story that beautifully illuminates the experience of “becoming;” how we are shaped by experiences, memories, and our complex stories: the humor, love, yearning, and tenderness that define a life.
Richard Blanco’s childhood and adolescence were experienced between two imaginary worlds: his parents’ nostalgic world of 1950s Cuba and his imagined America, the country he saw on reruns of The Brady Bunch and Leave it to Beaver—an “exotic” life he yearned for as much as he yearned to see “la patria.”
Navigating these worlds eventually led Blanco to question his cultural identity through words; in turn, his vision as a writer—as an artist—prompted the courage to accept himself as a gay man. In this moving, contemplative memoir, the 2013 inaugural poet traces his poignant, often hilarious, and quintessentially American coming-of-age and the people who influenced him.
A prismatic and lyrical narrative rich with the colors, sounds, smells, and textures of Miami, Richard Blanco’s personal narrative is a resonant account of how he discovered his authentic self and ultimately, a deeper understanding of what it means to be American. His is a singular yet universal story that beautifully illuminates the experience of “becoming;” how we are shaped by experiences, memories, and our complex stories: the humor, love, yearning, and tenderness that define a life.
249 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2014
144 people are currently reading
2135 people want to read
About the author
Richard Blanco
66 books232 followersRichard Blanco was born in Madrid in 1968, immigrating as an infant with his Cuban-exile family to the U.S. He was raised and educated in Miami, earning a B.S. in civil engineering and a M.F.A. in creative writing from Florida International University.
In 2013, Blanco was chosen to serve as the fifth inaugural poet of the United States, following in the footsteps as such great writers as Robert Frost and Maya Angelou. Blanco performed One Today, an original poem he wrote for the occasion, becoming the youngest, first Latino, immigrant and openly gay writer to hold the honor.
Following the inauguration, he continued connecting communities through occasional poetry. He has written and performed occasional poems for such organizations as Freedom to Marry, the Tech Awards and the Fragrance Awards. In May of 2013, Blanco wrote Boston Strong, a poem he performed at the Boston Garden Benefit Concert and at a Red Sox game at Fenway. Following his performances, he released a limited edition Boston Strong chapbook, with all proceeds going to those most affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.
His books, in order of publication, are: City of a Hundred Fires (1998), Directions to the Beach of the Dead (2005), Looking for the Gulf Motel (2012), One Today (2013), Boston Strong (2013), and For All of Us, One Today: An Inaugural Poet’s Journey (2013).
Blanco has received numerous honors for his writings and performances, including an honorary doctorate from Macalester College and being named a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow. His first book, City of a Hundred Fires received the prestigious Agnes Starrett Poetry Prize. His second book, Directions to the Beach of the Dead won the PEN / American Beyond Margins Award. His third book, Looking for The Gulf Motel received various accolades, including the Tom Gunn Award, the Maine Literary Award and the Paterson Prize. His poems have appeared in countless literary journals and anthologies, including Best American Prose Poems and Ploughshares.
Blanco has been a practicing engineer, writer and poet since 1991. He has traveled extensively in his adult life, living and working throughout Europe and South America. He has taught at Georgetown University, American University, Writer’s Center and Central Connecticut State University. Blanco currently lives and writes in the tranquil mountains of Bethel, Maine.
In 2013, Blanco was chosen to serve as the fifth inaugural poet of the United States, following in the footsteps as such great writers as Robert Frost and Maya Angelou. Blanco performed One Today, an original poem he wrote for the occasion, becoming the youngest, first Latino, immigrant and openly gay writer to hold the honor.
Following the inauguration, he continued connecting communities through occasional poetry. He has written and performed occasional poems for such organizations as Freedom to Marry, the Tech Awards and the Fragrance Awards. In May of 2013, Blanco wrote Boston Strong, a poem he performed at the Boston Garden Benefit Concert and at a Red Sox game at Fenway. Following his performances, he released a limited edition Boston Strong chapbook, with all proceeds going to those most affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.
His books, in order of publication, are: City of a Hundred Fires (1998), Directions to the Beach of the Dead (2005), Looking for the Gulf Motel (2012), One Today (2013), Boston Strong (2013), and For All of Us, One Today: An Inaugural Poet’s Journey (2013).
Blanco has received numerous honors for his writings and performances, including an honorary doctorate from Macalester College and being named a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow. His first book, City of a Hundred Fires received the prestigious Agnes Starrett Poetry Prize. His second book, Directions to the Beach of the Dead won the PEN / American Beyond Margins Award. His third book, Looking for The Gulf Motel received various accolades, including the Tom Gunn Award, the Maine Literary Award and the Paterson Prize. His poems have appeared in countless literary journals and anthologies, including Best American Prose Poems and Ploughshares.
Blanco has been a practicing engineer, writer and poet since 1991. He has traveled extensively in his adult life, living and working throughout Europe and South America. He has taught at Georgetown University, American University, Writer’s Center and Central Connecticut State University. Blanco currently lives and writes in the tranquil mountains of Bethel, Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
April 23, 2020
Reading Road Trip 2020
Current location: Florida
Dios mío. . . I've fallen in love.
Again.
Ay, caramba! I just can not resist these gay poets! (Okay, let's be honest here. I can't resist too many of the straight ones, either).
But, this one, this Richard Blanco (Riqui!!), is extra special to me, and we have sooo much in common. Riqui and I both love men, we both grew up in the Miami area, and we're both poets.
I mean, if not for the Cuban part, the male part, or the gay part, we'd practically be identical twins.
I have walked around my house for days now (where else would I be walking around??), pressing this book to my chest, sighing, reading passages aloud to my family, enduring their dramatic eye rolls as I have lamented. . . why, oh why must another hot writer be gay? (All family members are completely unfazed by me, by this point. Are any of them even listening??)
I could not have chosen a more perfect book to represent my home state on my reading road trip.
Richard Blanco writes like he's the love child of Frank McCourt and David Sedaris (two of my favorite memoirists), and he writes of a childhood that could have taken place in my own backyard.
In this one paragraph, he sums up the experience of living in the tropics of South Florida (especially when you have padres baratos:
At home, to cut down on the electric bill, we were not allowed to turn on the air-conditioning until after dinner, no matter how much we'd complain or beg. Some afternoons, after walking home from school drenched in sweat, I'd strip off my polyester uniform, bathe in rubbing alcohol, dust my body with talc, then lie on my bed like a floured drumstick under the ceiling fan to cool off.
Richard Blanco. . . te amo. Your poetry is on its way.
Current location: Florida
Dios mío. . . I've fallen in love.
Again.
Ay, caramba! I just can not resist these gay poets! (Okay, let's be honest here. I can't resist too many of the straight ones, either).
But, this one, this Richard Blanco (Riqui!!), is extra special to me, and we have sooo much in common. Riqui and I both love men, we both grew up in the Miami area, and we're both poets.
I mean, if not for the Cuban part, the male part, or the gay part, we'd practically be identical twins.
I have walked around my house for days now (where else would I be walking around??), pressing this book to my chest, sighing, reading passages aloud to my family, enduring their dramatic eye rolls as I have lamented. . . why, oh why must another hot writer be gay? (All family members are completely unfazed by me, by this point. Are any of them even listening??)
I could not have chosen a more perfect book to represent my home state on my reading road trip.
Richard Blanco writes like he's the love child of Frank McCourt and David Sedaris (two of my favorite memoirists), and he writes of a childhood that could have taken place in my own backyard.
In this one paragraph, he sums up the experience of living in the tropics of South Florida (especially when you have padres baratos:
At home, to cut down on the electric bill, we were not allowed to turn on the air-conditioning until after dinner, no matter how much we'd complain or beg. Some afternoons, after walking home from school drenched in sweat, I'd strip off my polyester uniform, bathe in rubbing alcohol, dust my body with talc, then lie on my bed like a floured drumstick under the ceiling fan to cool off.
Richard Blanco. . . te amo. Your poetry is on its way.
October 18, 2014
It still baffles me that someone with nearly the same exact cultural references as I have wrote and read a poem for the president. I used to feel my family was so weird and not like the ones I saw on TV (and there was no room for someone like me). I feel a little less weird and a little less ashamed.
A lot of the stuff around his sexuality really triggered some old old old wounds. They were surprisingly hard to read, especially his grandmother's abuse (which is similar to the shit my mother and other relatives used to say to me).
A lot of the stuff around his sexuality really triggered some old old old wounds. They were surprisingly hard to read, especially his grandmother's abuse (which is similar to the shit my mother and other relatives used to say to me).
May 10, 2016
The Prince of Los Cocuyos is hands-down the best memoir I’ve ever read. Richard Blanco does absolutely everything right. Each chapter tells a single story small enough to be fleshed out in full detail, but themes of belonging, family, and finding your place stretch effortlessly throughout each one, connecting them all into a resoundingly satisfying whole.
It also doesn’t hurt that he’s flippin’ hilarious, with the timing of a stand-up comedian. (Be careful reading the chapter about his family’s trip to Disney World in public, unless you don’t mind snorting in front of an audience.)
The book is about Blanco’s childhood, growing up a Cuban immigrant in Miami, but underneath that, it’s about complicated love-hate relationships with relatives, realizing from a young age that you’re different but not knowing what to do about it, and finally growing into yourself and figuring out who you want to be in this world.
The poignance of Blanco’s stories made my heart pinchy. Remember what it felt like to be a kid? Things were beautiful! Exciting! Extraordinary! Remembering that simple joy and, yes, also the disappointment and hurt when things didn’t work out gave me all the feels.
Everyone who is a person should read this book. Highest possible recommendation.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
It also doesn’t hurt that he’s flippin’ hilarious, with the timing of a stand-up comedian. (Be careful reading the chapter about his family’s trip to Disney World in public, unless you don’t mind snorting in front of an audience.)
The book is about Blanco’s childhood, growing up a Cuban immigrant in Miami, but underneath that, it’s about complicated love-hate relationships with relatives, realizing from a young age that you’re different but not knowing what to do about it, and finally growing into yourself and figuring out who you want to be in this world.
The poignance of Blanco’s stories made my heart pinchy. Remember what it felt like to be a kid? Things were beautiful! Exciting! Extraordinary! Remembering that simple joy and, yes, also the disappointment and hurt when things didn’t work out gave me all the feels.
Everyone who is a person should read this book. Highest possible recommendation.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
March 19, 2020
The Prince of los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood was a beautiful and endearing coming-of-age memoir by Richard Blanco. Blanco was born in Madrid, Spain and immigrated as an infant with his family exiled from Cuba to New York City and subsequently to Miami where he spent his childhood. The theme running through the book was the nostalgia and yearning for their former life in Cuba as expressed by his family in this Cuban-American neighborhood in Miami. However, classmates introduced him to the American culture which he yearned for as well, independent of the immigrant experience. This delightful book examines all of his conflicting feelings as he is growing up and searching for his place in the world, grappling with who he is and what his neighborhood and village consists of. His relationship to the neighborhood bodega, 'El Cocuyito' meaning the firefly, is symbolic throughout the book.
It should also be noted that Richard Blanco had the distinction of being the nation's fifth inaugural poet, first reciting his poem "One Today" at the second inauguration of Barack Obama in January 2013.
"I've bent time and space in the way that the art of memory demands. My poet's soul believes the emotional truth of these pages trumps everything. Read as you would read my poems, trusting that what here is real, beyond what is real--that truer truth which we come to call a life."
"Like Cuba, like New York City, Miami Beach--Yetta's Miami Beach--suddenly became a place I have never been either."
"El Cocuyito was a magical part of my childhood, and despite the reason for employment, I looked forward to working there."
"I remembered Don Gustavo's story of the fireflies that lit up his village in Cuba. El Cocuyito wasn't just a grocery store anymore, it felt like that village to me, a pueblo where everybody knew each other and where, for a few minutes every day, they could pretend they were still in Cuba, surrounded by their own fruits and vegetables, their own sweets and cuts of meat, their own language and fireflies, as if nothing had ever disrupted their lives."
It should also be noted that Richard Blanco had the distinction of being the nation's fifth inaugural poet, first reciting his poem "One Today" at the second inauguration of Barack Obama in January 2013.
"I've bent time and space in the way that the art of memory demands. My poet's soul believes the emotional truth of these pages trumps everything. Read as you would read my poems, trusting that what here is real, beyond what is real--that truer truth which we come to call a life."
"Like Cuba, like New York City, Miami Beach--Yetta's Miami Beach--suddenly became a place I have never been either."
"El Cocuyito was a magical part of my childhood, and despite the reason for employment, I looked forward to working there."
"I remembered Don Gustavo's story of the fireflies that lit up his village in Cuba. El Cocuyito wasn't just a grocery store anymore, it felt like that village to me, a pueblo where everybody knew each other and where, for a few minutes every day, they could pretend they were still in Cuba, surrounded by their own fruits and vegetables, their own sweets and cuts of meat, their own language and fireflies, as if nothing had ever disrupted their lives."
September 15, 2020
I've been so disappointed in the memoirs I've read for about the last 10 years. This little gem may be the best memoir ever! I'm so glad my sister sent this to me - as I'd never even heard of the book or Blanco before.
Part of the appeal is that the author is my age and we both grew up in south Florida and I'm familiar with the Cuban culture, the Jewish culture, and all things that those of us from the southern third of the Sunshine State can understand!
More of the appeal is that it is a very relatable, coming-of-age life story. And for me personally, it was so nice to read one man's life story without it being filled with sex abuse, neglect, or being locked in a closet for 5 years.
Uplifting, tender, funny, and one of the best examples of something we're all able to relate to - who am I? - where do I come from? - how will I live my life?
Part of the appeal is that the author is my age and we both grew up in south Florida and I'm familiar with the Cuban culture, the Jewish culture, and all things that those of us from the southern third of the Sunshine State can understand!
More of the appeal is that it is a very relatable, coming-of-age life story. And for me personally, it was so nice to read one man's life story without it being filled with sex abuse, neglect, or being locked in a closet for 5 years.
Uplifting, tender, funny, and one of the best examples of something we're all able to relate to - who am I? - where do I come from? - how will I live my life?
October 14, 2014
So you agree to meet a friend and her friend at a favorite cafe. You're a few minutes late. You go up to the counter and order your cafe cubano, and when you drop into the comfy chair they've kindly saved for you, it's clear that your new acquaintance had just begun to share a story. With a warm smile, he begins again. You sip your cafe and that's that. Ten words in, one sip down, and you're enraptured. Who is this charmer?
That's what it's like to read Richard Blanco. There's no set-up, no folderol, no long, extended do-si-do. He just enfolds you into his life, and you feel entertained ---and exalted.
That's what it's like to read Richard Blanco. There's no set-up, no folderol, no long, extended do-si-do. He just enfolds you into his life, and you feel entertained ---and exalted.
June 7, 2021
I'd heard of Richard Blanco but wasn't super familiar with his work, but I got this as a gift and I'm glad I did because I otherwise don't know that I would have picked this up, but I loved it! It reminded me a bit of David Sedaris, which I guess is an obvious comparison for tragi-funny stories from growing up gay with a dynamic family, but here we are. Blanco's work is a bit less laugh-out-loud funny than Sedaris's but, as you might expect from a former poet laureate, more poetic. Really moving.
June 28, 2018
I'm not much of a memoir reader, but my son has to read this for school in the fall and I thought I'd read it as well. Very enjoyable--found the writing warm and Blanco's early life and struggles in Miami as a family of immigrants interesting. I then watched his reading of the poem "One Today" at Obama's second inauguration and just loved it--a sobering contrast to the politics of 2018.
December 3, 2018
This book offered both beautiful insight into someone’s own life and a deep connection to my own family.
October 11, 2024
one of the first books ive read that i really saw myself in. describes perfectly the miami experience and all feelings that come up being first generation cuban american with a family stuck in its cuban ways- ive truly never had a unique experience!
December 28, 2014
I was already familiar with Blanco's poetry, so I was excited to read his memoir about his life in Miami. The title is slightly misleading because we also get Richard's teen years as well, which is great. Of course the prose is beautiful and poetic, and the different stories show how Blanco is caught between Cuba and America, his parents' homeland and his new country. The standout character is his outspoken and at times cruel grandmother who forces him to act like a man as she perceives it, even when he is a young boy interested in coloring (not a manly pursuit, according to her). I breezed through this book because the stories were so interesting, and the writing flows so well. I wanted more, of course, and we get a glimpse into Richard's later years in the final page(s) of the book. Perhaps he will write another memoir! I would gladly read it.
I wished the book had included photographs. Blanco's mother is described as taking photographs to mark every occasion, so I'm certain there would be some available. Also, the ending to one of the chapters (El Ratoncito Miguel) came to such a sudden screeching halt that I was jolted. Maybe that was the intended effect, but I did not like it.
I wished the book had included photographs. Blanco's mother is described as taking photographs to mark every occasion, so I'm certain there would be some available. Also, the ending to one of the chapters (El Ratoncito Miguel) came to such a sudden screeching halt that I was jolted. Maybe that was the intended effect, but I did not like it.
December 5, 2014
Richard Blanco not only does a wonderful job recreating his colorful childhood, he captures a broader experience for many Cuban-American children who were born in the USA or don't remember Cuba. Our legacy is to be left wistful and yearning for a place and life style that aren't our own and never will be. For those readers and myself, their is an excitement to this book that comes from recognition and finally feeling part of a group- the Cuban-American kids who didn't belong in any group!
For any reader, his descriptions of his childhood and the stories he chooses to tell are very funny and entertaining. As Blano happens to be gay, his book would also be of particular interest to the person trying to come out to their family- particularly in a conservative Spanish home.
His mama's first Thanksgiving toast echoes the hearts of many Cubans still, "Happy San Giving a todos! One day we will all be together."
For any reader, his descriptions of his childhood and the stories he chooses to tell are very funny and entertaining. As Blano happens to be gay, his book would also be of particular interest to the person trying to come out to their family- particularly in a conservative Spanish home.
His mama's first Thanksgiving toast echoes the hearts of many Cubans still, "Happy San Giving a todos! One day we will all be together."
August 6, 2017
I read this book since it was the common reading experience for raising freshman at Duke and I was blown away about how good it was. I guess since it was a quasi summer assignment I had low expectations of the book but wow was I being prejudiced. This book is awesome, raw, and relatable. Seriously. Blanco unifies the reader and his narrative, making his childhood situations feel so personal and genuine. Though his experiences were wildly different than mine, I found myself really understanding where Blanco is coming from and knowing exactly how he felt in the given situation. I absolutely loved that. In addition, Blanco uses humor to highlight the very serious identity crisis caused by the pressure to conform to American culture by his ambient environment and the pressure to conform to Cuban culture by his family and his past. Overall, this book is striking and will always hold meaning beyond words for me.
November 16, 2014
Wonderful memoir! Richard Blanco recalls in poetic, loving detail his growing up in Miami and burgeoning awareness of his "self" and all that entailed - his sexuality, his insight and intelligence, his intransigence and yearnings. A fine, fine book.
So glad he remembered and retained the humor that infects so much of the remembering. The first chapter, dedicated to his first attempt to create an American San Giving out of the Winn Dixie is hilarious, as is his take on Yetta, the Yiddish Queen of the Copacabana and his father's efforts to keep el Malibu running and spot-free. Hilarious and sad and deftly done. Blanco's rendering of the cast at the market, Los Cocuyos, makes it come alive, as does his quest to recognize and accept his sexuality.
A fine poet, an artist and engineer, Blanco writes well.
A book I'll come back to again...
So glad he remembered and retained the humor that infects so much of the remembering. The first chapter, dedicated to his first attempt to create an American San Giving out of the Winn Dixie is hilarious, as is his take on Yetta, the Yiddish Queen of the Copacabana and his father's efforts to keep el Malibu running and spot-free. Hilarious and sad and deftly done. Blanco's rendering of the cast at the market, Los Cocuyos, makes it come alive, as does his quest to recognize and accept his sexuality.
A fine poet, an artist and engineer, Blanco writes well.
A book I'll come back to again...
July 25, 2020
Every Miami Cuban needs to read this
Beautiful and honest, this book felt like a reflection of my life. It perfectly holds on to and portrays the limbo feeling immigrant children feel. Not quite Cubana, but certainly not a gringa, I am at odds with both my culturas and it can be so isolating. But with this book I feel seen and understood. You can feel in the language that a poet wrote this. Richard Blanco might just be my new favorite writer.
I do wish Riqui’s coming out to his family had been explored and feel that the ending was a little rushed, but I feel like that’s only a fair criticism for a novel. This is Riqui’s story as told by him and I’m in no place to demand more details than he’s willing to give.
All in all, this will be a book I read over and over and bring with me as I leave Miami behind. It’ll be my little piece of home I can take with me everywhere.
Beautiful and honest, this book felt like a reflection of my life. It perfectly holds on to and portrays the limbo feeling immigrant children feel. Not quite Cubana, but certainly not a gringa, I am at odds with both my culturas and it can be so isolating. But with this book I feel seen and understood. You can feel in the language that a poet wrote this. Richard Blanco might just be my new favorite writer.
I do wish Riqui’s coming out to his family had been explored and feel that the ending was a little rushed, but I feel like that’s only a fair criticism for a novel. This is Riqui’s story as told by him and I’m in no place to demand more details than he’s willing to give.
All in all, this will be a book I read over and over and bring with me as I leave Miami behind. It’ll be my little piece of home I can take with me everywhere.
June 21, 2015
I was about to Christopher Columbus this book and be like, "Oh, look at this great author that I discovered," when I found out that this is like Blanco's third or fourth book already. #failedcolonialsm I heard the author speak at the national First Year Experience conference in Dallas, and received a copy of this memoir for free. It took some months before I finally decided to read it, and I'm so glad that I did! Blanco is such a rich writer, detailed without being a know-it-all. The first two, three chapters are my favorite, and literally laughed out loud when he was describing his family's "San Giving" celebration. Blanco makes it all look very easy. I look forward to reading his poetry now!
October 25, 2014
I picked up this book in Barnes and Noble because old Miami is so colorful and the author is Cuban. When I was 10, Cuban refugees moved into my neighborhood and I loved them, loved visiting them, and loved hearing about their lives.
Richard Blanco's story is different but there are many similarities. He writes so beautifully that I can hear his poetry. Reading his life story (through his teenage years) let me see vividly his Cuban family, warts and all. I learned a lot and loved every word.
In 2013, Blanco became the youngest, first Latino, first immigrant, and first openly gay person to become the US Poet Laureate. He is an inspiration to many.
Richard Blanco's story is different but there are many similarities. He writes so beautifully that I can hear his poetry. Reading his life story (through his teenage years) let me see vividly his Cuban family, warts and all. I learned a lot and loved every word.
In 2013, Blanco became the youngest, first Latino, first immigrant, and first openly gay person to become the US Poet Laureate. He is an inspiration to many.
July 21, 2016
I've wanted to read this book since I heard the author speak at Milwaukee Public Library in the last year. This esteemed poet has written a beautiful memoir of a Cuban American childhood which was somewhat complicated by the author's realization that he was gay. He has an amazing memory for the details that make this story very compelling and heartfelt.
November 28, 2018
What a beautifully written memoir.
Richard Blanco lived his life in two worlds. He was tossed between his parents love and longing for their beloved Cuba, and his need and desire to be like those around him. His artistic talent shines through in this book. He is a beautiful writer.
There is a fair amount of humor within. I particularly loved the story about him trying to convince his grandmother that they should celebrate their own first San Giving. The way he talks about walking through the Winn Dixie is so relatable and hilarious. I love this book, and am so excited to read more of his poetry!
Richard Blanco lived his life in two worlds. He was tossed between his parents love and longing for their beloved Cuba, and his need and desire to be like those around him. His artistic talent shines through in this book. He is a beautiful writer.
There is a fair amount of humor within. I particularly loved the story about him trying to convince his grandmother that they should celebrate their own first San Giving. The way he talks about walking through the Winn Dixie is so relatable and hilarious. I love this book, and am so excited to read more of his poetry!
Read
December 7, 2024I don’t feel that it’s fair for me to rate this book since I read about half of it in June, was busy and got in a reading slump, read a chapter in August, then finished it in December. I liked the writing style and the beginning chapters, but it took forever to get to the parts of his life where he realizes he’s gay and comes to terms with it so I lost interest.
I think I need to stop reading memoirs (especially of people I didn’t know about before reading the memoir) because I always hope for them to be like regular books and they never are.
I think I need to stop reading memoirs (especially of people I didn’t know about before reading the memoir) because I always hope for them to be like regular books and they never are.
July 20, 2019
My teenage daughter recommended this. She was spot on! I loved this book so much. I never wanted it to end. Ever. So nuanced and funny and heart-rending. It's probably especially enjoyable if you speak Spanish, but most words are translated or understood by context. Beautiful exploration of identity.
April 5, 2023
i'm stuck between 3.5-4 stars
i do not know much of richard blanco except two poems and his visits to the white house. however, this book felt surreal. i read it as a novel filled with characters i see in my daily life. i found it beautifully written and easy to get carried away with. the way he played with memory was a really cool thing.
i do not know much of richard blanco except two poems and his visits to the white house. however, this book felt surreal. i read it as a novel filled with characters i see in my daily life. i found it beautifully written and easy to get carried away with. the way he played with memory was a really cool thing.
January 26, 2024
I read this book for my family and human services class. I liked the story but thought it lacked excitement and was a bit boring. I know this is a memoir about Richard Blanco's life, but nothing happened other than the fact that they are a Cuban family who migrated to the USA and now live in Florida.
November 24, 2020
This is a hilariously engaging story of the author's childhood growing up in Miami, during the 1970's. The cast of characters is laugh out loud funny, especially the author's Abuela. Highly recommended for fans of the memoir genre.
March 4, 2025
4.5 STARS- honestly phenomenal. gripping from the start and SO many details masterfully weaved throughout the memoir. some elements were particularly memorable while letting some time pass after finishing, but did not grant a 5 star. would still highly, highly recommend.
March 18, 2021
Fantastic memoir with effortless storytelling. This is what it is like to really step into someone’s world.
May 7, 2021
Beautifully and vividly written, I especially enjoyed the familiarity of the Miami setting and references to Cuba.
Want to read
March 16, 2022
January 30, 2023
Read this for school but it was sooooooo good. So good!!!! Such a unique coming of age story that brings up so many intersectional points - race, gender, sexuality, family dynamic. Literally so good did not want to put it down. Except i feel like when I read for school it doesn’t count..
July 17, 2023
A really good read about a group of Americans I know very little about.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews