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賲賳 丕夭 蹖丕丿鬲 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴з囐� 賲丕乇鬲蹖鬲丕
A long-forgotten letter sets off a charged encounter with the past in this poignant and gorgeously told tale masterfully told by Sandra Cisneros, the celebrated bestselling author of The House on Mango Street, in a beautiful dual-language edition.
As a young woman, Corina leaves her Mexican family in Chicago to pursue her dream of becoming a writer in the cafes of Paris. Instead, she spends her brief time in the City of Light running out of money and lining up with other immigrants to call home from a broken pay phone. But her months of befriending panhandling artists in the subway, sleeping on crowded attic floors, and dancing the tango at underground parties are given a lasting glow by her intense friendships with Martita and Paola. Over the years the three women disperse to three continents, falling out of touch and out of mind--until a letter unearthed in a closet brings Corina's days in Paris back with breathtaking immediacy.
Told with intimacy and searing tenderness, this tribute to the life-changing power of youthful friendship is Cisneros at her vintage best, in a beautiful dual-language edition.
As a young woman, Corina leaves her Mexican family in Chicago to pursue her dream of becoming a writer in the cafes of Paris. Instead, she spends her brief time in the City of Light running out of money and lining up with other immigrants to call home from a broken pay phone. But her months of befriending panhandling artists in the subway, sleeping on crowded attic floors, and dancing the tango at underground parties are given a lasting glow by her intense friendships with Martita and Paola. Over the years the three women disperse to three continents, falling out of touch and out of mind--until a letter unearthed in a closet brings Corina's days in Paris back with breathtaking immediacy.
Told with intimacy and searing tenderness, this tribute to the life-changing power of youthful friendship is Cisneros at her vintage best, in a beautiful dual-language edition.
77 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2021
148 people are currently reading
4601 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Cisneros
95听books3,920听followersSandra Cisneros is internationally acclaimed for her poetry and fiction and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Lannan Literary Award and the American Book Award, and of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the MacArthur Foundation.
Cisneros is the author of two novels The House on Mango Street and Caramelo; a collection of short stories, Woman Hollering Creek; two books of poetry, My Wicked Ways and Loose Woman; and a children's book, Hairs/Pelitos.
She is the founder of the Macondo Foundation, an association of writers united to serve underserved communities (), and is Writer in Residence at Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio. She lives in San Antonio, Texas.
Cisneros is the author of two novels The House on Mango Street and Caramelo; a collection of short stories, Woman Hollering Creek; two books of poetry, My Wicked Ways and Loose Woman; and a children's book, Hairs/Pelitos.
She is the founder of the Macondo Foundation, an association of writers united to serve underserved communities (), and is Writer in Residence at Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio. She lives in San Antonio, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
October 26, 2023
丕賮鬲囟丕丨! 鬲乇噩賲賴 賳丕賲賮賴賵賲 賵 夭卮鬲. 丕蹖賳 丕賲乇丕蹖蹖 丕夭 亘丿鬲乇蹖賳 賲鬲乇噩賲丕賳 夭賲丕賳賴鈥屫池�.
August 21, 2021
Did I enjoy reading Sandra Cisneros' Martita, I Remember You? Yes.
Is it a book I'll read again and again, like Loose Woman or The House on Mango Street? No.
Cisneros knows how to tell a story, to pull readers along on a journey, offering enough scenery and commentary that they never feel bored, never feel that they've wasted a moment of reading time. But, there are the books you read once and the books you read again and again. For me, Martita, I Remember You was a one-read experience.
Martita is an epistolary novella. The central character, Carina (known to the particular friends whose letters she's reading as Puffina) has come across a small bundle of letters from two women she spent time with in Paris years ago, with whom she's lost touch. All three were young then, hoping to be writers, artists, to make or do something that would make them stand out in some way. They were dreaming big. Clearly, those dreams didn't pan out, but I think part of the point here is that smaller things, just keeping going, doing right by loved ones and one's self, is enough. Small isn't the opposite of big. Small is a kind of big that it takes time and maturity to recognize.
I was charmed by this group of young friends, but never really felt I'd gotten to know them. As a reader, I had to fill in parts of their stories myself to get the sort of resonance I was looking for. So, in a way, I felt like I was simultaneously reading Martita while also writing parts of it.
I very much appreciate the format of this novella, with text provided both in English and Spanish. It gives readers with some competence in both languages an opportunity to see how language can affect the feel of a piece of writing, what kinds of ideas come across most clearly in which language.
Martita, I Remember You is definitely worth seeking out and reading. The pleasure may be brief, but it's pleasure nonetheless.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
Is it a book I'll read again and again, like Loose Woman or The House on Mango Street? No.
Cisneros knows how to tell a story, to pull readers along on a journey, offering enough scenery and commentary that they never feel bored, never feel that they've wasted a moment of reading time. But, there are the books you read once and the books you read again and again. For me, Martita, I Remember You was a one-read experience.
Martita is an epistolary novella. The central character, Carina (known to the particular friends whose letters she's reading as Puffina) has come across a small bundle of letters from two women she spent time with in Paris years ago, with whom she's lost touch. All three were young then, hoping to be writers, artists, to make or do something that would make them stand out in some way. They were dreaming big. Clearly, those dreams didn't pan out, but I think part of the point here is that smaller things, just keeping going, doing right by loved ones and one's self, is enough. Small isn't the opposite of big. Small is a kind of big that it takes time and maturity to recognize.
I was charmed by this group of young friends, but never really felt I'd gotten to know them. As a reader, I had to fill in parts of their stories myself to get the sort of resonance I was looking for. So, in a way, I felt like I was simultaneously reading Martita while also writing parts of it.
I very much appreciate the format of this novella, with text provided both in English and Spanish. It gives readers with some competence in both languages an opportunity to see how language can affect the feel of a piece of writing, what kinds of ideas come across most clearly in which language.
Martita, I Remember You is definitely worth seeking out and reading. The pleasure may be brief, but it's pleasure nonetheless.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
December 20, 2021
3.5
I don't call myself a writer anymore,but I console myself with reading. Before, it was all about how I looked to others. Now, I just want to look good to myself. That's just as important isn't it? If not more.
Sandra Cisneros, the Mexican American poet and novelist's recent novella, Martita, I Remember You is a nostalgic reminder of youthful dreams. Corina, thirtysomething and married with two children, finds letters from the two female friends she met in Paris while trying to live their dreams. The letters draw her back in time as she reflects on her younger self and the person she has become. Cisneros deftly combines epistolary and prose forms in this finely crafted novella. It is a short and beautifully written reflection on friendship and change.
I don't call myself a writer anymore,but I console myself with reading. Before, it was all about how I looked to others. Now, I just want to look good to myself. That's just as important isn't it? If not more.
Sandra Cisneros, the Mexican American poet and novelist's recent novella, Martita, I Remember You is a nostalgic reminder of youthful dreams. Corina, thirtysomething and married with two children, finds letters from the two female friends she met in Paris while trying to live their dreams. The letters draw her back in time as she reflects on her younger self and the person she has become. Cisneros deftly combines epistolary and prose forms in this finely crafted novella. It is a short and beautifully written reflection on friendship and change.
November 5, 2021
鈥淚 should鈥檝e answered your letter. Some things that happened to me were wonderful, and some parts were only good because they passed. When things were bad, I kept thinking better was just around the corner, and by the time I had the energy to raise my head and take a look at my life, years and years had passed. Forgive me. I didn鈥檛 want to admit to myself this was all I had to tell you, this life of mine. At the time, it didn鈥檛 seem enough, not what I expected, not what I had ordered, not what I wanted to share. Do you understand?鈥�
My heart is so warm after reading Martita, I Remember You. This novella is equal parts everything that lights me up when it comes to literature: it鈥檚 a novella (
This is a novella in three parts. First, Corina reminisces on her time as a young woman in Paris. She remembers waiting in line with other immigrants to use the payphone. She remembers being cold and broke. She remembers feeling like an interloper because she didn鈥檛 speak French very well 鈥� because she was a writer who didn鈥檛 write. But mostly she remembers her friends Martita and Paola, who loved her.
There鈥檚 one scene in particular where Corina tells Martita that she鈥檚 鈥溾€� never made love.鈥� And Martita replies:
鈥淣ever? Not once?
Ay, Puffina, it鈥檚 what religion is supposed to be. Like when the sun shines through the church window鈥檚 prettiest colored glass and you know God isn鈥檛 inside that building, he鈥檚 inside you.
鈥�
And it鈥檚 as if your body isn鈥檛 an anchor or an iron bell anymore, it鈥檚 only your spirit, wide as a sky, as if a thousand sparrows opened their wings inside your heart, and oh, it鈥檚 lovely, lovely, Puffina. As if you鈥檒l never feel alone again.鈥�
The tenderness! The way that Cisneros makes it clear that to love someone, is to gently inform them about the things that you know they must know. I read those lines, and I will never stop thinking about them!
This book is so beautiful! Aside from friendship, it鈥檚 about growing up and growing apart from people you loved. It鈥檚 about how the love always persists. It鈥檚 about how you rarely become the person you planned on becoming in your youth. And how despite the disappointment of that, there is still so much joy to be found in wherever you鈥檝e wound up. It鈥檚 about how the love that was cultivated in friendships that only lasted for a season is, in fact, perennial. And all in only fifty-two pages! I have to share this one last quote:
鈥淪ometimes I think of you at odd moments, Marta. When I鈥檓 teaching the youngest how to brush her own hair or painting my toes on the back porch and painting my girls鈥� toes, too. I suspect it must be that way for you, too. Which is when we both must be thinking of the other, tugging and yanking like the tides.鈥�
Sandra Cisneros never misses. All of the stars, all of the satellites, all of the neon signs, and anything else that shines.
January 20, 2023
芦夭蹖爻鬲賳 亘賴 賲丿鬲 讴賵鬲丕賴蹖 丿乇 讴鬲丕亘貙 丿丕爻鬲丕賳貙 卮毓乇. 丌丿賲 賲蹖鈥屬呚з嗀� 卮毓乇 趩诏賵賳賴 丕蹖賳賴賲賴 賲胤賱亘 乇丕 亘賴 夭蹖亘丕蹖蹖 鬲賲丕賲 亘蹖丕賳 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�. 乇蹖趩丕乇丿 禺爻鬲賴鈥屫� 丕夭 丌賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳鈥屫堌� 賲爻丕卅賱 丿賯鬲 讴賳丿 賵鈥� 賲賳 鬲賳賴丕 卮丕賴丿 丌賳 卮丕丿賲丕賳蹖 賵 丕賳丿賵賴 亘賵丿賲. 毓丕丿鬲 讴乇丿賴鈥屫з� 亘賴 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 丕夭 丌賳 卮丕丿賲丕賳蹖鈥屬囏� 賱匕鬲 亘亘乇賲.禄
September 13, 2021
"As a young woman, Corina leaves her Mexican family in Chicago to pursue her dream of becoming a writer in the caf茅s of Paris...."
Instead she confronts an expensive city she can't afford and she has to figure out how to stay there. One thing is to find two dear friends, and some of the memories come through in these letters.
This is in English and in Spanish, so as an audiobook it's 3.25 hours total but perhaps only if you speak both languages!
Instead she confronts an expensive city she can't afford and she has to figure out how to stay there. One thing is to find two dear friends, and some of the memories come through in these letters.
This is in English and in Spanish, so as an audiobook it's 3.25 hours total but perhaps only if you speak both languages!
June 7, 2024
賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘乇噩 亘丕亘賱 賳卮乇 趩卮賲賴 乇賵 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇賲. 丕蹖賳噩賵乇蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 卮丕賴讴丕乇 亘丕卮賳貙 賮賯胤 爻丕丿賴 賵 丿賱賳卮蹖賳賳.
September 9, 2024
趩蹖 亘诏賲責
賳賴 丕蹖賳讴賴 亘丿 亘丕卮丿 丕賲丕 丨乇賮蹖 讴賴 丿丕卮鬲 丿乇 噩丕賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇 亘賴 賲乇丕鬲亘 噩匕丕亘鈥屫� 亘蹖丕賳 卮丿賴. 卮丕蹖丿 亘賴 賳馗乇 賲賳 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丿乇丿 賵 丿賱 丿禺鬲乇丕賳賴 亘賵丿 鬲丕 賯氐賴 丕蹖 賲丕噩乇丕丿丕乇 丕夭 丿禺鬲乇賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇丿賴丕蹖蹖 丿丕乇賳丿.
賳賴 丕蹖賳讴賴 亘丿 亘丕卮丿 丕賲丕 丨乇賮蹖 讴賴 丿丕卮鬲 丿乇 噩丕賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇 亘賴 賲乇丕鬲亘 噩匕丕亘鈥屫� 亘蹖丕賳 卮丿賴. 卮丕蹖丿 亘賴 賳馗乇 賲賳 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丿乇丿 賵 丿賱 丿禺鬲乇丕賳賴 亘賵丿 鬲丕 賯氐賴 丕蹖 賲丕噩乇丕丿丕乇 丕夭 丿禺鬲乇賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇丿賴丕蹖蹖 丿丕乇賳丿.
October 23, 2023
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇亘丕乇賴鈥屰� 爻賴 丿賵爻鬲 丕夭 爻賴 讴卮賵乇 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丿乇 倬丕乇蹖爻 丿乇 賲賯胤毓蹖 亘丕 賴賲 乇賵夭诏丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭柏必з嗁嗀�.
丿乇 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 爻毓蹖 卮丿賴 讴賴 亘蹖卮鬲乇 亘賴 賵丕賯毓蹖丕鬲 夭賳丿诏蹖 丿乇 卮賴乇 倬丕乇蹖爻 讴賴 毓賲賵賲丕 卮賴乇 丌乇夭賵賴丕蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 丕夭 賲乇丿賲 噩賴丕賳 丕爻鬲 亘倬乇丿丕夭丿貨 讴賴 丕蹖賳 卮賴乇 丌賳蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 禺賱賯鈥屫з勝勝� 丿乇 匕賴賳 禺賵丿 鬲氐賵乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�.
丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 爻禺鬲 賯卮乇 賲鬲賵爻胤 亘賴 倬丕蹖蹖賳 倬乇丿丕禺鬲賴 亘賵丿 讴賴 鬲賲丕賲 鬲賱丕卮鈥屫簇з� 丿乇 丕蹖賳 丿賳蹖丕 毓賲賵賲丕 亘賴 夭賳丿賴 賲丕賳丿賳 賵 賳賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿賳 賲毓胤賵賮 丕爻鬲.
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕蹖丿賴鈥屰� 禺賵亘蹖 丿丕卮鬲 丕賲丕 亘賴 賲毓賳丕蹖 賵丕賯毓蹖 讴賱賲賴 丌卮睾丕賱 亘賵丿. 賴蹖趩 诏賵賳賴 丕賳爻噩丕賲蹖 賳丿丕卮鬲 賵 爻毓蹖 卮丿賴 亘賵丿 亘丕 倬爻 賵 倬蹖卮 讴乇丿賳 夭賲丕賳蹖 乇賵丕蹖鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴賲蹖 噩匕丕亘卮 讴賳賴 讴賴 禺亘 亘賴 讴丕賴丿賵賳 夭丿貨 亘蹖卮鬲乇 亘賴 賴匕蹖丕賳鈥屭堐屰� 賲蹖鈥屬呚з嗀池� 鬲丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 爻乇丕蹖蹖.
亘賴 亘丕賵乇 賲賳 丕诏賴 讴爻蹖 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 賳禺賵賳賴 趩蹖夭蹖 乇賵 丕夭 丿爻鬲 賳丿丕丿賴 賵 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 倬賵賱 賵 賵賯鬲卮 乇賵 氐乇賮 讴鬲丕亘 丿蹖诏賴鈥屫й� 亘讴賳賴.
丿乇 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 爻毓蹖 卮丿賴 讴賴 亘蹖卮鬲乇 亘賴 賵丕賯毓蹖丕鬲 夭賳丿诏蹖 丿乇 卮賴乇 倬丕乇蹖爻 讴賴 毓賲賵賲丕 卮賴乇 丌乇夭賵賴丕蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 丕夭 賲乇丿賲 噩賴丕賳 丕爻鬲 亘倬乇丿丕夭丿貨 讴賴 丕蹖賳 卮賴乇 丌賳蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賴 禺賱賯鈥屫з勝勝� 丿乇 匕賴賳 禺賵丿 鬲氐賵乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�.
丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 爻禺鬲 賯卮乇 賲鬲賵爻胤 亘賴 倬丕蹖蹖賳 倬乇丿丕禺鬲賴 亘賵丿 讴賴 鬲賲丕賲 鬲賱丕卮鈥屫簇з� 丿乇 丕蹖賳 丿賳蹖丕 毓賲賵賲丕 亘賴 夭賳丿賴 賲丕賳丿賳 賵 賳賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿賳 賲毓胤賵賮 丕爻鬲.
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕蹖丿賴鈥屰� 禺賵亘蹖 丿丕卮鬲 丕賲丕 亘賴 賲毓賳丕蹖 賵丕賯毓蹖 讴賱賲賴 丌卮睾丕賱 亘賵丿. 賴蹖趩 诏賵賳賴 丕賳爻噩丕賲蹖 賳丿丕卮鬲 賵 爻毓蹖 卮丿賴 亘賵丿 亘丕 倬爻 賵 倬蹖卮 讴乇丿賳 夭賲丕賳蹖 乇賵丕蹖鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴賲蹖 噩匕丕亘卮 讴賳賴 讴賴 禺亘 亘賴 讴丕賴丿賵賳 夭丿貨 亘蹖卮鬲乇 亘賴 賴匕蹖丕賳鈥屭堐屰� 賲蹖鈥屬呚з嗀池� 鬲丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 爻乇丕蹖蹖.
亘賴 亘丕賵乇 賲賳 丕诏賴 讴爻蹖 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 賳禺賵賳賴 趩蹖夭蹖 乇賵 丕夭 丿爻鬲 賳丿丕丿賴 賵 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 倬賵賱 賵 賵賯鬲卮 乇賵 氐乇賮 讴鬲丕亘 丿蹖诏賴鈥屫й� 亘讴賳賴.
February 2, 2023
亘丕 禺賵丿賲 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 丕诏賴 賲賳賲 倬丕賲 亘賴 倬丕乇蹖爻 亘乇爻賴貙 賴賲趩賳丕賳 賴賲賵賳賲 讴賴 賴爻鬲賲.
丕賲丕 賴賳賵夭 賴賲 倬丕乇蹖爻 卮賴乇 乇賵蹖丕鈥屬囏й� 賲賳賴.
芦鬲賵蹖 賯賱亘賲 爻賵乇丕禺蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丌賳 胤乇賮卮 倬蹖丿丕爻鬲貙 丕賳诏丕乇 蹖讴蹖 爻蹖诏丕乇蹖 亘乇丿丕卮鬲賴 賵 讴乇丿賴 鬲賵 賵 丕夭 丌賳 賵乇 亘蹖乇賵賳 丌賲丿賴. 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 乇賵夭蹖 賯丿 爻乇 爻賵夭賳蹖 亘賵丿賴 丨丕賱丕 丌賳鈥屬傌� 噩丕 亘丕夭 讴乇丿賴 讴賴 丕賳诏卮鬲 丕夭 丌賳 乇丿 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�.禄
芦賲賳鬲馗乇賲 趩蹖夭蹖 亘夭乇诏鬲乇 丕夭 丨丿 賲賳 丿乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 丕鬲賮丕賯 亘蹖賮鬲丿. 鬲賲丕賲 毓賲乇賲 賲賳鬲馗乇 亘賵丿賴鈥屫з�.禄
丕賲丕 賴賳賵夭 賴賲 倬丕乇蹖爻 卮賴乇 乇賵蹖丕鈥屬囏й� 賲賳賴.
芦鬲賵蹖 賯賱亘賲 爻賵乇丕禺蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丌賳 胤乇賮卮 倬蹖丿丕爻鬲貙 丕賳诏丕乇 蹖讴蹖 爻蹖诏丕乇蹖 亘乇丿丕卮鬲賴 賵 讴乇丿賴 鬲賵 賵 丕夭 丌賳 賵乇 亘蹖乇賵賳 丌賲丿賴. 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 乇賵夭蹖 賯丿 爻乇 爻賵夭賳蹖 亘賵丿賴 丨丕賱丕 丌賳鈥屬傌� 噩丕 亘丕夭 讴乇丿賴 讴賴 丕賳诏卮鬲 丕夭 丌賳 乇丿 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�.禄
芦賲賳鬲馗乇賲 趩蹖夭蹖 亘夭乇诏鬲乇 丕夭 丨丿 賲賳 丿乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 丕鬲賮丕賯 亘蹖賮鬲丿. 鬲賲丕賲 毓賲乇賲 賲賳鬲馗乇 亘賵丿賴鈥屫з�.禄
August 16, 2022
Not my favorite Cisneros book, but still beautiful. My favorite part are the letters from Paola鈥攖he phrasing is so very Italian. 鈥淚t is a long time I don鈥檛 have news from you鈥濃€斆� tanto tempo che non ho notizie da te. I think maybe I鈥檒l understand it more when I鈥檓 older.
March 26, 2023
-亘乇丕賲 賲賲賱賵 丕夭 睾乇亘鬲 亘賵丿 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘貙 丨爻 爻賮乇 讴乇丿賳 賵 鬲賱丕卮 亘乇丕蹖 賲賵賳丿賳 賵 丨爻 丿乇丿賳丕讴 丕蹖賳讴賴 丌禺乇卮 讴賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫堎嗃� 亘賲賵賳蹖. 倬乇 丕夭 丨爻 賲賴丕噩乇鬲 賵 蹖賴 讴賵賴 睾賲 讴賴 丨丕賱丕 亘丕蹖丿 趩蹖 讴丕乇 讴賳蹖.
-爻亘讴 賳賵卮鬲丕乇蹖 丕蹖賳 賳賵賵賱丕 蹖賴 噩賵乇蹖 賴爻鬲卮 讴賴 蹖賴 毓丕賱賲賴 讴賱賲賴 丕爻倬丕賳蹖賵賱蹖 賵 丕蹖鬲丕賱蹖丕蹖蹖 賵 賮乇丕賳爻賵蹖 賯丕鬲蹖 賲鬲賳 賲蹖 讴賳賴 丕賳诏丕乇 賲蹖鈥屫堌ж� 亘诏賴 亘毓囟蹖 丨乇賮鈥屬囏� 乇賵 賳賲蹖卮賴 鬲乇噩賲賴 讴乇丿 賵 賮賯胤 鬲賵 夭亘丕賳 賲丕丿乇 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 亘丕卮賳貙 卮丕蹖丿 鬲賲丕賲 賲毓賳蹖卮賵賳 乇賵 賳卮賴 讴丕賲賱 賮賴賲蹖丿 賵賱蹖 亘賴鬲乇 賲蹖鈥屫促� 噩丕賳賽 讴賱賲賴 乇賵 丨爻 讴乇丿.
-鬲噩乇亘賴 讴賵鬲丕賴 禺賵亘蹖 亘賵丿.
鄱 丕夭 郾郯 *
-爻亘讴 賳賵卮鬲丕乇蹖 丕蹖賳 賳賵賵賱丕 蹖賴 噩賵乇蹖 賴爻鬲卮 讴賴 蹖賴 毓丕賱賲賴 讴賱賲賴 丕爻倬丕賳蹖賵賱蹖 賵 丕蹖鬲丕賱蹖丕蹖蹖 賵 賮乇丕賳爻賵蹖 賯丕鬲蹖 賲鬲賳 賲蹖 讴賳賴 丕賳诏丕乇 賲蹖鈥屫堌ж� 亘诏賴 亘毓囟蹖 丨乇賮鈥屬囏� 乇賵 賳賲蹖卮賴 鬲乇噩賲賴 讴乇丿 賵 賮賯胤 鬲賵 夭亘丕賳 賲丕丿乇 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 亘丕卮賳貙 卮丕蹖丿 鬲賲丕賲 賲毓賳蹖卮賵賳 乇賵 賳卮賴 讴丕賲賱 賮賴賲蹖丿 賵賱蹖 亘賴鬲乇 賲蹖鈥屫促� 噩丕賳賽 讴賱賲賴 乇賵 丨爻 讴乇丿.
-鬲噩乇亘賴 讴賵鬲丕賴 禺賵亘蹖 亘賵丿.
鄱 丕夭 郾郯 *
July 2, 2021
What a wonderful little book by the beloved Sandra Cisneros. More quietly reflective than magnificent, it's a joy to settle back into her style that I've come to know and love. From the perspective of Puffina to her long lost friend Martita, this book--told in letters and responses to letters--is about two (sometimes three, but mostly two) friends who lived together during their few but formative years trying to make it in Paris. From the bittersweet recollections of her past self to the acceptance of her current self who did not turn out the way she dreamed, we get a peek into Puffina's brief but astonishingly complete reflection on life. Tender and thoughtfully written, this short book can be read and savored in an afternoon, which I do recommend.
"This morning re-reading your letters and drinking my coffee in the kitchen and sitting under a little square of sunlight that comes through the lace curtain in a graceful pattern, just sitting here, and looking at the walls and not thinking anything special. Just to be able to sit, nice and warm in this lovely square of sunlight, and to not have to go to work today, and no one calling me, and the house very quiet for once, my Richard and our lovely girls all safe and snug at the library. And far away the sound of the expressway whooshing like the ocean, and to realize suddenly . . . happiness.
Sometimes when I look at trees in winter, how their bare branches give off a violet light. Or the scent of a baguette. Or the Moroccan design on an antique doorknob. Or how a window opens out instead of up. They remind me of those days I lived beside you, Martita. Though I don鈥檛 tell anyone, I think it. Without regret. We don鈥檛 write one another anymore, but I still think of you, Marta. Un recuerdo. A remembrance, a souvenir, a memory. Te recuerdo, Martita, I remember you."
"This morning re-reading your letters and drinking my coffee in the kitchen and sitting under a little square of sunlight that comes through the lace curtain in a graceful pattern, just sitting here, and looking at the walls and not thinking anything special. Just to be able to sit, nice and warm in this lovely square of sunlight, and to not have to go to work today, and no one calling me, and the house very quiet for once, my Richard and our lovely girls all safe and snug at the library. And far away the sound of the expressway whooshing like the ocean, and to realize suddenly . . . happiness.
Sometimes when I look at trees in winter, how their bare branches give off a violet light. Or the scent of a baguette. Or the Moroccan design on an antique doorknob. Or how a window opens out instead of up. They remind me of those days I lived beside you, Martita. Though I don鈥檛 tell anyone, I think it. Without regret. We don鈥檛 write one another anymore, but I still think of you, Marta. Un recuerdo. A remembrance, a souvenir, a memory. Te recuerdo, Martita, I remember you."
October 10, 2021
2.5 stars
Very artistic, but also fairly uninteresting. This one seems to suffer from the same thing that haunts extremely autobiographical works: there is not enough connection for an outsider.
The biggest flaw for me is the epistolary structure. It is disjointed and just so trendy that I鈥檝e had enough, regardless of how effective Cisneros may be with it. She has doubled down on minimalism and insinuation to a spot just before poetry with each entry. I would actually be happier with a book of poems. Instead, I am left with no narrative and no fully developed poetry.
This one will be a hit with trendy fans of creative nonfiction, as it echoes some of those patterns. Personally, I鈥檓 glad it was short. Thank you to Sandra Cisneros, Vintage Books, and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Very artistic, but also fairly uninteresting. This one seems to suffer from the same thing that haunts extremely autobiographical works: there is not enough connection for an outsider.
The biggest flaw for me is the epistolary structure. It is disjointed and just so trendy that I鈥檝e had enough, regardless of how effective Cisneros may be with it. She has doubled down on minimalism and insinuation to a spot just before poetry with each entry. I would actually be happier with a book of poems. Instead, I am left with no narrative and no fully developed poetry.
This one will be a hit with trendy fans of creative nonfiction, as it echoes some of those patterns. Personally, I鈥檓 glad it was short. Thank you to Sandra Cisneros, Vintage Books, and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2022
I am sorry but when I was reading this I just found I did not care about the story too much, the writing style is not for me. I found myself a little lost and confused during it and it did not hook me. I really wanted to read the other half in Spanish but I struggled enough with the English part so I only read that. However I have heard great things about Cisneros other works so please do not let this discourage you! I would still love to read "House on Mango" street! This particular work was just not for me.
December 18, 2021
When Corina rediscovers a stash of her old letters, it brings back vivid memories of Marta and Paola--the two young women she befriended, partied with, and crashed with, during a long-ago trip to Paris. Told through a mix of letters and impressionistic memories of incidents and conversations, Martita, I Remember You offers a snapshot of a charmed moment in life.
This very short novella contains flashes of Cisneros's signature poetic, emotion-laden imagery. However, for the most part, it seemed to merely skim the surface of a bigger, deeper story. Martita, I Remember You feels sketchy, undeveloped. I think it could have been stronger as a longer, more fleshed-out novel.
This very short novella contains flashes of Cisneros's signature poetic, emotion-laden imagery. However, for the most part, it seemed to merely skim the surface of a bigger, deeper story. Martita, I Remember You feels sketchy, undeveloped. I think it could have been stronger as a longer, more fleshed-out novel.
July 1, 2023
讴鬲丕亘 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 爻賴 夭賳 乇丕 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 夭賳丕賳蹖 亘丕 乇賵蹖丕賴丕蹖 亘夭乇诏 (蹖丕 丨鬲丕 賳賴 趩賳丿丕賳 亘夭乇诏) 賵賱蹖 禺丕賲賵卮 卮丿賴 丿乇 亘乇丕亘乇 乇賵夭賲乇诏蹖鈥屬囏ж� 賲卮讴賱丕鬲 賲丕賱蹖 賵 丿蹖诏乇 賲卮讴賱丕鬲 卮丕蹖丿 倬蹖卮賽 倬丕 丕賮鬲丕丿賴鈥屰� 夭賳丿诏蹖.
丌卮賳丕蹖蹖 爻賴 夭賳 丿乇 倬丕乇蹖爻 乇禺 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 卮賴乇 乇賵蹖丕賴丕貙 噩卮賳賽 亘蹖鈥屭┴必з嗃� 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 亘毓囟蹖 賮賯胤 趩賳丿 爻丕毓鬲 胤賵賱 賲蹖鈥屭┴簇�. 賴賲鈥屭嗁嗀з� 讴賴 賲丕噩乇丕蹖 丌卮賳丕蹖蹖 丕蹖賳 爻賴 夭賳 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗃屬� 亘丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賴乇 蹖讴 丌卮賳丕 賲蹖鈥屫促堐屬�.
讴鬲丕亘 亘丕 賳丕賲賴鈥屫й� 丕夭 爻丕賱鈥屬囏й� 丿賵乇 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賵 亘丕 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏� 賴賲 鬲賲丕賲 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賲丕乇鬲蹖鬲丕 賵 倬丕卅賵賱丕 亘乇丕蹖 讴賵乇蹖賳丕 (乇丕賵蹖 賯氐賴) 賳賵卮鬲賴鈥屫з嗀�.
丿乇 诏賵卮賴 賵 讴賳丕乇 乇賵丕蹖鬲貙 禺乇丿賴 賳賵卮鬲賴鈥屬囏й屰� 乇丕 丿丕乇蹖賲 讴賴 賴賲鈥屫操呚з� 丕賲蹖丿 賵 賳丕丕賲蹖丿蹖 乇丕 丿乇 丿賱 禺賵丿 丿丕乇賳丿 賵 丕賳诏丕乇 丿乇爻鈥屬囏й屰� 亘乇丕蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥屫з嗀�. 蹖丕 賱丕丕賯賱 亘乇丿丕卮鬲 賲賳 趩賳蹖賳 丕爻鬲.
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 爻丕丿賴 賵 禺賵卮鈥屫堌з� 丕爻鬲. 倬蹖趩蹖丿诏蹖 毓噩蹖亘 睾乇蹖亘蹖 賳丿丕乇丿 賵 鬲乇噩賲賴鈥屫ж� 賴賲 禺賵亘 丕爻鬲. 賴賲 丕蹖賳 讴賴 趩賳丿丕賳 亘賱賳丿 賵 丿賵乇 賵 丿乇丕夭 賳蹖爻鬲貨 賴賲賴鈥屰� 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏� 爻亘亘 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴賴 讴鬲丕亘 賲賳丕爻亘蹖 亘乇丕蹖 蹖讴 毓氐乇 诏乇賲 鬲丕亘爻鬲丕賳蹖 亘丕卮丿貙 賵賯鬲蹖 卮乇亘鬲 禺賳讴蹖 丿乇爻鬲 讴乇丿賴鈥屫й屬� 賵 夭蹖乇 讴賵賱乇 賱賲 丿丕丿賴鈥屫й屬�.
丌卮賳丕蹖蹖 爻賴 夭賳 丿乇 倬丕乇蹖爻 乇禺 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 卮賴乇 乇賵蹖丕賴丕貙 噩卮賳賽 亘蹖鈥屭┴必з嗃� 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 亘毓囟蹖 賮賯胤 趩賳丿 爻丕毓鬲 胤賵賱 賲蹖鈥屭┴簇�. 賴賲鈥屭嗁嗀з� 讴賴 賲丕噩乇丕蹖 丌卮賳丕蹖蹖 丕蹖賳 爻賴 夭賳 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗃屬� 亘丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賴乇 蹖讴 丌卮賳丕 賲蹖鈥屫促堐屬�.
讴鬲丕亘 亘丕 賳丕賲賴鈥屫й� 丕夭 爻丕賱鈥屬囏й� 丿賵乇 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賵 亘丕 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏� 賴賲 鬲賲丕賲 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賲丕乇鬲蹖鬲丕 賵 倬丕卅賵賱丕 亘乇丕蹖 讴賵乇蹖賳丕 (乇丕賵蹖 賯氐賴) 賳賵卮鬲賴鈥屫з嗀�.
丿乇 诏賵卮賴 賵 讴賳丕乇 乇賵丕蹖鬲貙 禺乇丿賴 賳賵卮鬲賴鈥屬囏й屰� 乇丕 丿丕乇蹖賲 讴賴 賴賲鈥屫操呚з� 丕賲蹖丿 賵 賳丕丕賲蹖丿蹖 乇丕 丿乇 丿賱 禺賵丿 丿丕乇賳丿 賵 丕賳诏丕乇 丿乇爻鈥屬囏й屰� 亘乇丕蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥屫з嗀�. 蹖丕 賱丕丕賯賱 亘乇丿丕卮鬲 賲賳 趩賳蹖賳 丕爻鬲.
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 爻丕丿賴 賵 禺賵卮鈥屫堌з� 丕爻鬲. 倬蹖趩蹖丿诏蹖 毓噩蹖亘 睾乇蹖亘蹖 賳丿丕乇丿 賵 鬲乇噩賲賴鈥屫ж� 賴賲 禺賵亘 丕爻鬲. 賴賲 丕蹖賳 讴賴 趩賳丿丕賳 亘賱賳丿 賵 丿賵乇 賵 丿乇丕夭 賳蹖爻鬲貨 賴賲賴鈥屰� 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏� 爻亘亘 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴賴 讴鬲丕亘 賲賳丕爻亘蹖 亘乇丕蹖 蹖讴 毓氐乇 诏乇賲 鬲丕亘爻鬲丕賳蹖 亘丕卮丿貙 賵賯鬲蹖 卮乇亘鬲 禺賳讴蹖 丿乇爻鬲 讴乇丿賴鈥屫й屬� 賵 夭蹖乇 讴賵賱乇 賱賲 丿丕丿賴鈥屫й屬�.
January 5, 2024
Saved by last 10 pages
October 14, 2023
I have read Caramelo by this author but not her most well-known novel, The House on Mango Street. I had some problems with the book I did read though it gave me insight I had not had before about the trials of a Mexican/American woman.
The joy of reading Martita, I Remember You was two fold. One, it is a novella/long short story so I read it in no time. Two, a woman is looking back on her youth when she lived in Paris with several friends. They were all desperately poor and it was always cold. Now the woman is reaching out to one of those friends in letters and pondering the choices she made later.
In the paperback edition I read, both the English and Spanish versions are combined. If you read from the front it is English. If you flip the book over and read from the back it is in Spanish. I, of course read the English.
The author is living in Chicago, trying to renovate her apartment. She digs out letters from Martita and falls into remembering the Paris adventure. It is so bittersweet, trying to reconnect with an earlier self and earlier friends. Who was that young woman so full of hope for an adventurous life? Who is this grown woman with a husband who is almost OK, with children and unfulfilled dreams? The difficulties of reigniting a connection with friends from another long-gone part of one鈥檚 life was so real to me.
The writing is fragmentary but evocative of that portion of life, of dreams, of stubbornness, of willing to go through almost anything to achieve a goal, of first sexual encounters (not love), and finally of the sweet confusion when facing what she has now. Very much a woman鈥檚 story.
The joy of reading Martita, I Remember You was two fold. One, it is a novella/long short story so I read it in no time. Two, a woman is looking back on her youth when she lived in Paris with several friends. They were all desperately poor and it was always cold. Now the woman is reaching out to one of those friends in letters and pondering the choices she made later.
In the paperback edition I read, both the English and Spanish versions are combined. If you read from the front it is English. If you flip the book over and read from the back it is in Spanish. I, of course read the English.
The author is living in Chicago, trying to renovate her apartment. She digs out letters from Martita and falls into remembering the Paris adventure. It is so bittersweet, trying to reconnect with an earlier self and earlier friends. Who was that young woman so full of hope for an adventurous life? Who is this grown woman with a husband who is almost OK, with children and unfulfilled dreams? The difficulties of reigniting a connection with friends from another long-gone part of one鈥檚 life was so real to me.
The writing is fragmentary but evocative of that portion of life, of dreams, of stubbornness, of willing to go through almost anything to achieve a goal, of first sexual encounters (not love), and finally of the sweet confusion when facing what she has now. Very much a woman鈥檚 story.
July 10, 2024
賮賯胤 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 亘诏賲 讴賴 亘爻蹖丕乇 夭蹖亘丕 亘賵丿 鉁�
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇亘丕乇賴 爻賴 鬲丕 丿禺鬲乇賴 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 爻丕禺鬲 夭賳丿诏蹖卮賵賳 亘賴 倬丕乇蹖爻貙 賮乇丕賳爻賴 賲蹖鈥屫辟嗀� 賵 賴賲賵賳噩丕 亘丕賴賲 鬲賵蹖 賲賴賲賵賳蹖 丌卮賳丕 賲蹖卮賳 賵 丿賵爻鬲蹖卮賵賳 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖卮賴. 亘丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 倬丕乇蹖爻 亘乇丕卮賵賳 賲賵賮賯蹖鬲 趩卮賲诏蹖乇蹖 亘賴 賴賲乇丕賴 賳丿丕卮鬲貙 丕賲丕 丕賵賳丕 鬲賵賳爻鬲賳 讴賴 乇丕亘胤賴 丿賵爻鬲蹖 禺賵亘蹖 亘爻丕夭賳. 丨鬲蹖 亘毓丿 丕夭 鬲乇讴 倬丕乇蹖爻 賵 乇賮鬲賳 賴乇蹖讴 丕夭 丕賵賳丕 亘賴 讴卮賵乇賴丕蹖 噩丿丕诏丕賳賴貙 丕賵賳丕 賴賲趩賳丕賳 亘丕 賳丕賲賴 賳诏丕乇蹖 亘丕賴賲 丿乇 丕乇鬲亘丕胤 亘賵丿賳.
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇亘丕乇賴 爻賴 鬲丕 丿禺鬲乇賴 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 爻丕禺鬲 夭賳丿诏蹖卮賵賳 亘賴 倬丕乇蹖爻貙 賮乇丕賳爻賴 賲蹖鈥屫辟嗀� 賵 賴賲賵賳噩丕 亘丕賴賲 鬲賵蹖 賲賴賲賵賳蹖 丌卮賳丕 賲蹖卮賳 賵 丿賵爻鬲蹖卮賵賳 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖卮賴. 亘丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 倬丕乇蹖爻 亘乇丕卮賵賳 賲賵賮賯蹖鬲 趩卮賲诏蹖乇蹖 亘賴 賴賲乇丕賴 賳丿丕卮鬲貙 丕賲丕 丕賵賳丕 鬲賵賳爻鬲賳 讴賴 乇丕亘胤賴 丿賵爻鬲蹖 禺賵亘蹖 亘爻丕夭賳. 丨鬲蹖 亘毓丿 丕夭 鬲乇讴 倬丕乇蹖爻 賵 乇賮鬲賳 賴乇蹖讴 丕夭 丕賵賳丕 亘賴 讴卮賵乇賴丕蹖 噩丿丕诏丕賳賴貙 丕賵賳丕 賴賲趩賳丕賳 亘丕 賳丕賲賴 賳诏丕乇蹖 亘丕賴賲 丿乇 丕乇鬲亘丕胤 亘賵丿賳.
June 24, 2023
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕夭 噩丕蹖蹖 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴賴 讴賵乇蹖賳丕 噩毓亘賴鈥屫й� 賯丿蹖賲蹖 乇丕 亘毓丿 丕夭 爻丕賱鈥屬囏� 禺丕讴 禺賵乇丿賳 丿乇 诏賵卮賴鈥屰� 丕賳亘丕乇蹖貙 亘丕夭 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 賵 亘丕 丿蹖丿賳 賳丕賲賴鈥屫й屫� 禺丕胤乇丕鬲 诏匕卮鬲賴 亘乇丕蹖卮 鬲丕夭賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 讴賵乇蹖賳丕貙 倬丕卅賵賱丕 賵 賲丕乇鬲蹖鬲丕 爻賴 丿賵爻鬲 賵 爻賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕氐賱蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴賴 乇賵夭诏丕乇蹖貙 賴乇 蹖讴 亘賴鈥屫з嗂屫操団€屫й� 賵 丕賲蹖丿 賵 丌乇夭賵蹖蹖貙 亘賴 倬丕乇蹖爻 乇賮鬲賴 亘賵丿賳丿 賵 賴賲丕賳噩丕 亘丕賴賲 丌卮賳丕 卮丿賳丿. 丨丕賱 讴賴 爻丕賱鈥屬囏� 丕夭 丌賳 乇賵夭賴丕 诏匕卮鬲賴 賵 丌賳鈥屬囏� 丕夭 賴賲 噩丿丕 卮丿賴 賵 賴乇 蹖讴 亘賴鈥屫嗀ㄘз� 夭賳丿诏蹖 賵 爻乇賳賵卮鬲 禺賵丿乇賮鬲賴 丕賳丿貙 丿蹖丿賳 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏� 丌睾丕夭 賲乇賵乇 禺丕胤乇丕鬲 賵 亘丕夭诏卮鬲 亘賴 乇賵夭賴丕蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖 丿乇 倬丕乇蹖爻 亘乇丕蹖 讴賵乇蹖賳丕 丕爻鬲.
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 卮賵乇 賵 鈥屫促堎傗€屬囏й� 讴賲乇賳诏鈥屫簇� 賵 丌乇夭賵賴丕蹖 亘乇亘丕丿 乇賮鬲賴 丿乇 禺賱丕賱 乇賵夭賲乇诏蹖 賵 丿賵爻鬲蹖鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 倬蹖賵賳丿 亘蹖賳卮丕賳 诏爻爻鬲賴 丕賲丕 蹖丕丿卮丕賳 亘丕賯蹖 賲丕賳丿賴 賵 亘丕 丕賳丿讴 噩乇賯賴鈥屫й� 丿賵亘丕乇賴 夭賳丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀�. 賲孬賱 噩丕蹖蹖 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 讴賴 讴賵乇蹖賳丕 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫�: "賲丕乇鬲蹖鬲丕貙 賴賲賴鈥屰� 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏� 賲乇丕 亘賴 蹖丕丿 乇賵夭賴丕蹖蹖 賲蹖鈥屫з嗀ж藏� 讴賴 讴賳丕乇 鬲賵 亘賵丿賲. 賴乇趩賳丿 亘賴 讴爻蹖 亘乇賵夭 賳賲蹖鈥屫囐呚� 亘賴 丌賳 賮讴乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�. 賳丕乇丕丨鬲 賴賲 賳蹖爻鬲賲. 丕亘丕蹖蹖 賴賲 賳丿丕乇賲. 賲丕乇鬲丕 丿乇爻鬲 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丿蹖诏乇 亘丕 賴賲 賲讴丕鬲亘賴 賳丿丕乇蹖賲貙 丕賲丕 賴賳賵夭 亘賴 鬲賵 賮讴乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�. 賲丕乇鬲蹖鬲丕貙 賲賳 丕夭 蹖丕丿鬲 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴з囐�. 賲乇丕 丕夭 蹖丕丿 賳亘乇..."
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 卮賵乇 賵 鈥屫促堎傗€屬囏й� 讴賲乇賳诏鈥屫簇� 賵 丌乇夭賵賴丕蹖 亘乇亘丕丿 乇賮鬲賴 丿乇 禺賱丕賱 乇賵夭賲乇诏蹖 賵 丿賵爻鬲蹖鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 倬蹖賵賳丿 亘蹖賳卮丕賳 诏爻爻鬲賴 丕賲丕 蹖丕丿卮丕賳 亘丕賯蹖 賲丕賳丿賴 賵 亘丕 丕賳丿讴 噩乇賯賴鈥屫й� 丿賵亘丕乇賴 夭賳丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀�. 賲孬賱 噩丕蹖蹖 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 讴賴 讴賵乇蹖賳丕 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫�: "賲丕乇鬲蹖鬲丕貙 賴賲賴鈥屰� 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏� 賲乇丕 亘賴 蹖丕丿 乇賵夭賴丕蹖蹖 賲蹖鈥屫з嗀ж藏� 讴賴 讴賳丕乇 鬲賵 亘賵丿賲. 賴乇趩賳丿 亘賴 讴爻蹖 亘乇賵夭 賳賲蹖鈥屫囐呚� 亘賴 丌賳 賮讴乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�. 賳丕乇丕丨鬲 賴賲 賳蹖爻鬲賲. 丕亘丕蹖蹖 賴賲 賳丿丕乇賲. 賲丕乇鬲丕 丿乇爻鬲 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丿蹖诏乇 亘丕 賴賲 賲讴丕鬲亘賴 賳丿丕乇蹖賲貙 丕賲丕 賴賳賵夭 亘賴 鬲賵 賮讴乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�. 賲丕乇鬲蹖鬲丕貙 賲賳 丕夭 蹖丕丿鬲 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴з囐�. 賲乇丕 丕夭 蹖丕丿 賳亘乇..."
September 13, 2021
鈥淭ener a la persona a quien amas viva y sana, viviendo en el planeta al mismo tiempo que t煤, pero eligiendo no estar contigo. Eso es peor que la muerte, creo yo.鈥�
Cisneros does it again, creating a powerful short novel written in epistolary form, ripping my heart apart. She has a unique way with words, unveiling a myriad of emotions using simplest of words. This magnetic bilingual short story is about three girls trying to survive in Paris full of hopes and dreams for the future:
鈥淚鈥檓 waiting for something to happen. Something always happens in Paris. Paris, with its chandeliers and palaces. Paris, of champagne and moon. I鈥檓 waiting for something bigger than my life.鈥�
With letters exchanged between the three, we read about this transition period, their beautiful friendship, their growth and change. Cisnero鈥檚 eloquence and poignant style creates wonders and I wished it were longer. The book consists of two parts each in a different language. I really enjoyed reading the story in both languages, comparing the small nuances. Definitely recommended!
(I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Cisneros does it again, creating a powerful short novel written in epistolary form, ripping my heart apart. She has a unique way with words, unveiling a myriad of emotions using simplest of words. This magnetic bilingual short story is about three girls trying to survive in Paris full of hopes and dreams for the future:
鈥淚鈥檓 waiting for something to happen. Something always happens in Paris. Paris, with its chandeliers and palaces. Paris, of champagne and moon. I鈥檓 waiting for something bigger than my life.鈥�
With letters exchanged between the three, we read about this transition period, their beautiful friendship, their growth and change. Cisnero鈥檚 eloquence and poignant style creates wonders and I wished it were longer. The book consists of two parts each in a different language. I really enjoyed reading the story in both languages, comparing the small nuances. Definitely recommended!
(I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
November 19, 2023
夭賳丕賳诏蹖貙 禺賵丕賴乇丕賳诏蹖貙 賮乇賵丿爻鬲蹖貙 賴噩乇鬲貙 禺丕賳賴鈥屫ㄙ団€屫堌篡屫� 夭蹖乇 倬賵爻鬲 卮賴乇貙 賮乇賵倬丕卮蹖 乇丐蹖丕賴丕貙 亘夭乇诏爻丕賱蹖貙 倬丕乇蹖爻蹖 讴賴 亘蹖鈥屫必呚з嗁� 倬蹖乇賵夭 卮丿 賵 賴乇 爻賴 夭賳 乇丕 亘賴 芦禺丕賳賴禄 賮乇爻鬲丕丿貙 亘夭乇诏爻丕賱蹖貙 讴丕乇 乇賳丿賵賲 丕夭 爻乇 賳丕趩丕乇蹖貙 倬匕蹖乇卮 賵丕賯毓蹖鬲 賵 賳賲乇丿賳.
+丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丕賲鬲蹖丕夭賴丕蹖 倬丕蹖蹖賳蹖 丿乇 诏賵丿乇蹖丿夭 诏乇賮鬲 丕賲丕 賲賳 丿賵爻鬲卮 丿丕卮鬲賲. 卮丕蹖丿 亘賴鈥屫ж坟� 賴賲匕丕鬲鈥屬举嗀ж臂屸€屫池�. 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕賸 鬲賲丕賲 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏� 乇丕 賲賳 賴賲 夭蹖爻鬲賴鈥屫з�. 亘丕 丕蹖賳 鬲賮丕賵鬲 讴賴 卮賲丕 亘賴鈥屫й� 倬丕乇蹖爻 亘诏匕丕乇 鬲賴乇丕賳. 賵 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 噩賳诏 賲賳 賵 夭賳丿诏蹖 賴賳賵夭 鬲賲丕賲 賳卮丿賴.
+丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丕賲鬲蹖丕夭賴丕蹖 倬丕蹖蹖賳蹖 丿乇 诏賵丿乇蹖丿夭 诏乇賮鬲 丕賲丕 賲賳 丿賵爻鬲卮 丿丕卮鬲賲. 卮丕蹖丿 亘賴鈥屫ж坟� 賴賲匕丕鬲鈥屬举嗀ж臂屸€屫池�. 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕賸 鬲賲丕賲 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏� 乇丕 賲賳 賴賲 夭蹖爻鬲賴鈥屫з�. 亘丕 丕蹖賳 鬲賮丕賵鬲 讴賴 卮賲丕 亘賴鈥屫й� 倬丕乇蹖爻 亘诏匕丕乇 鬲賴乇丕賳. 賵 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 噩賳诏 賲賳 賵 夭賳丿诏蹖 賴賳賵夭 鬲賲丕賲 賳卮丿賴.
December 30, 2024
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 蹖丕 毓賳賵丕賳 芦賲賳 丕夭 蹖丕丿鬲 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴з囐呚� 賲丕乇鬲蹖鬲丕禄 丕夭 賲噩賲賵毓賴鈥屰� 亘乇噩 亘丕亘賱 鬲賵爻胤 賳卮乇 趩卮賲賴 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲.
讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 丿禺鬲乇丕賳 噩賵锟斤拷賳蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘賴 倬丕乇蹖爻 丌賲丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 鬲丕 乇賵蹖丕賴丕卮丕賳 乇丕 夭蹖爻鬲 讴賳賳丿 丕賲丕 亘丕 丨賯蹖賯鬲 鬲賱禺 夭賳丿诏蹖 賵 爻禺鬲蹖鈥屬囏й� 賲賴丕噩乇鬲 賵 賲爻丕卅賱蹖 丕夭 丕蹖賳 丿爻鬲 乇賵亘乇賵 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀�.
讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 丿禺鬲乇丕賳 噩賵锟斤拷賳蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘賴 倬丕乇蹖爻 丌賲丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 鬲丕 乇賵蹖丕賴丕卮丕賳 乇丕 夭蹖爻鬲 讴賳賳丿 丕賲丕 亘丕 丨賯蹖賯鬲 鬲賱禺 夭賳丿诏蹖 賵 爻禺鬲蹖鈥屬囏й� 賲賴丕噩乇鬲 賵 賲爻丕卅賱蹖 丕夭 丕蹖賳 丿爻鬲 乇賵亘乇賵 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀�.
May 24, 2022
I don't remember House on Mango Street, but I have respect for this Chicana author who forged her way back in the 80s and 90s when I was first reading women of color and discovering feminism in a context of authors like Cisneros. I watched her chat with the also amazing Joy Harjo last night at the first Santa Fe Literary Festival and loved her even more. This tiny book, about 50 pages in English, and 50 in Spanish translation that I hope I'll try to read, is a snapshot of a character not unlike Cisneros who went to Europe (France mainly) to "become a writer". She struggles to find other writers, but finds street artists and friends from South America and Italy who she shares her daily adventures with. It's nostalgic and sweet and resonated with me because of the my travels and the various characters I met while abroad and searching for more.
November 11, 2021
Doubly delightful short story in English and in Spanish. When I was in high school taking French class, I had a dream that I would move to France and become fluent in the beautiful French language. French always came easy to me because it resembles Spanish so much and I love it so much. This short story is a lovely snippet in time when friends live in Paris just out of high school. The friendship, the hopes and the dreams. Oh my dream passed me by! Lovely lovely short read that reminded me of why we should not let dreams just pass us by.
July 10, 2022
Having just returned home from a couple weeks traveling, it was nice to read such a beautifully written account of an American living abroad. Cisneros captured all those particularities that make travel so exhilarating: the giddy anticipation of sitting down for a drink at a local dive, the quandary that is figuring out street and transit signage, the tight bonds formed almost instantaneously with your fellow travel companions as you cling to one another in a foreign landscape. Cisneros always makes even the most mundane aspects of live seem a romantic adventure, and, with this short piece, she made me eager to hop on a plane (or train) as soon as possible and explore some new corner of the world.
October 23, 2022
This was a lovely read. It gave me wanderlust for Europe and made me want to read and write in a cute Parisian cafe. It really enjoyed the fact it had both languages, many Spanish is "not so good-looking" ( *if you know, you know*) and it was good practice because this book is not as complex as 'The House of the Spirits' or '100 years of solitude.'
March 19, 2024
This is like finding that shoe box with letters from an old college friend you haven鈥檛 thought about for at least a decade. Moves very fast when it gets to the letters- as the years skip by and the closeness fades it is more like a candle slowly going out naturally than anything else.
I recommend this and Bri, Karen and Andrea I remember you!
I recommend this and Bri, Karen and Andrea I remember you!
November 12, 2021
Letters between two characters who met in Paris. The woman from Michigan moved to Paris to become a writer and spent her money. Paolo the man, did the same thing but their bond is firm after returning to their hum drum lives.
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