An interesting coming of age story told in vignettes. ( )

I have wanted to read this for 40 years. It was published while I was in college and was very buzzed about—I remember seeing it everywhere but it never popped up in my syllabus (and syllabus is a word I haven’t thought of in 40 years—in fact, just saying it out loud vexes me). Natural to build up some expectation in that time—and natural to experience a modest let down—however I was delighted the whole time. The hubbub when it came out was that it opened a door to Hispanic culture. A culture rarely referenced in American Literature, and certainly not from a female perspective. This book helped the pulse of Hispanic life beat on the page for the first time. Not really a novel and not really a collection of short stories, Cisneros uses brief snapshots or impressions to vividly put together a story. Each part is a well-crafted little darling. Adolescent Esperanza narrates her life in working class Chicago with just the right details about her small adventures to create a vivid and embracing tapestry. Small revelations relate to big truths—the neighborhood is the world. Designed so you can drop in anywhere and read randomly but there is a feeling by the end that Esperanza has matured and we see many of the forces that have shaped her. ( )

I'm going to be honest and say that I did not choose this book for pleasure reading. I actually only read it because I will be utilizing some of the vignettes for my AP Spanish Lang course I'll be teaching this year.

While I can understand the cultural significance and the literary value this book holds, on a more personal level I can't say that I enjoyed it. I tried approaching this from an open mind and more laid back perspective, but it didn't work. It may have been my subconscious trying to find things that I could factor into my lessons, or the fact that reading this is Spanish was complete different than reading it in English (the original language it was written in). Whatever it was, I did have a hard time wanting to finish it. If it wasn't for the reading challenge I would have filed this under my dnf pile. I will give [a:Elena Poniatowska|32135|Elena Poniatowska|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1203572583p2/32135.jpg] credit for her translation of this book though! I think if it had been anyone else, the translation wouldn't have done it justice.

Now in terms of the content, I will say this book has a lot to offer especially given the perspective of a young Chicana growing up in Chicago. This book is a good book. It teaches the reader a lot about what Chican@s go through in a country in which racism is prevalent and opportunities aren't always easy to come by. Lastly, one thing that [a:Sandra Cisneros|13234|Sandra Cisneros|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1342038396p2/13234.jpg] does really well is experiment with different literary forms. It definitely took me a couple of rereading of certain vignettes to fully understand what was happening.

Overall, it's a good read. Worth a try I'd say. ( )

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

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

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

I love the writing style, and how it's told in vignettes. ( )