When I Was Puerto Rican

Book Description

Selling over 16,000 copies in hardcover, this triumphant coming-of-age memoir is now available in paperback editions in both English and Spanish. In the tradition of Black Ice, Santiago writes lyrically of her childhood on her native island and of her bewildering years of transition in New York City.

Customer Reviews:

Oh please..........2007-05-30

I had to read this book for a class in college back when it was still fairly "new". I say "new" because it is the same tired formula of most contemporary Latin American authors.
I currently, previously and, as far as I can tell, will continue to BE Puerto Rican and the "charms" of this story fail to grab me.
Reading some of the glowing reviews for this book, I suspect I was never meant to be it's target audience.

Truly an Amazing Memoir.......2007-04-28

When I first saw the title I was a little anxious to see why she wasn't Peurto Rican anymore. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was hard for me to put it down and I usually don't say that about many books I have read. Esmeralda Santiago is a brilliant writer and has beat the odds after all she's been through. I mean I'm not going to lie about anything in this review. The book did have it's boring moments, but the action pick back up again after you thought everything was back to normal. I truly enjoyed this book.

i guess my teacher liked it.......2007-03-09

i had to read this for a college class (urban development). this book really gives you the opportunity to reflect on how hard it is to get by in other cultures. the author of this book overcomes a lot of hardship and eventually obtains her phd in the u.s. it is powerful. i wouldnt have read it unless it was for class though. thats minus 1 star

A passionating story.......2006-08-03

The life of the young Esmeralda Santiago is interesting, well-written and full of colored details.

Loved this book!.......2006-07-12

My husband is Puerto Rican (I am not) and read this book years ago. He said that it reminded him of a combination of his mom and grandmother's childhoods. He lent it to his sister, mom and grandmother to read (they all loved it) and eventually to me. I just couldn't get enough of it. Then my mother-in-law lent us "Almost A Woman", which I just finished. Esmeralda Santiago is an amazing writer with a great story.

Average customer rating:

A must read for all of Puerto Rican descent
THE AMERICAN DREAM...

When I Was Puerto Rican: A Memoir
Esmeralda Santiago
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306814528

Book Description

"The American story of immigration, this time with a unique Latin flavor." (Los Angeles Times Book Review)

Esmeralda Santiago's story begins in rural Puerto Rico, where her childhood was full of both tenderness and domestic strife, tropical sounds and sights as well as poverty. Growing up, she learned the proper way to eat a guava, the sound of tree frogs in the mango groves at night, the taste of the delectable sausage called morcilla, and the formula for ushering a dead baby's soul to heaven. As she enters school we see the clash, both hilarious and fierce, of Puerto Rican and Yankee culture. When her mother, Mami, a force of nature, takes off to New York with her seven, soon to be eleven children, Esmeralda, the oldest, must learn new rules, a new language, and eventually take on a new identity.

In this first volume of her much-praised, bestselling trilogy, Santiago brilliantly recreates the idyllic landscape and tumultuous family life of her earliest years and her tremendous journey from the barrio to Brooklyn, from translating for her mother at the welfare office to high honors at Harvard.

Customer Reviews:

A must read for all of Puerto Rican descent.......2006-07-05

This book was absolutely wonderful! My mother never wanted to talk about her youth because of all the bad memories associated but the little bits and pieces that filtered through over the years were captured in these too few pages. Ms. Santiago has given those of us of Puerto Rican descent an opportunity to better understand the hardships endured by our mothers both in their patrias and here in the States. Thank you Esmeralda for filling in the gaps. You go Boriqua!!

THE AMERICAN DREAM..........2006-02-27

This is a rich and evocative memoir of the author's chaotic childhood. Growing up in rural Puerto Rico, while often living in primitive conditions, the author's lush and lyrical prose paints a vivid picture her early life. The flavor and rythms of her island home come alive under her expert hand, creating an unforgettable picture of her early childhood.

The author grew up in a poor family. During her childhood, she lived in Puerto Rico with her unmarried parents, who were always at war with each other, as her father was a somewhat irresponsible philanderer. It was her mother who centered the family and who always sought a better life for all of her children. When an irrevocable break occurred between her parents, her mother moved to New York during the nineteen sixties, eventually settling with her seven children in the mean streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn in New York City.

The author details her life's journey from rural Puerto Rico to Brooklyn. The author was transplanted to Brooklyn at the age of thirteen, and her description of her life in Brooklyn is every bit as interesting as that of her life in Puerto Rico. Her oftentimes bewildering transition from her native, Spanish speaking Puerto Rico to an English speaking environment is engagingly chronicled. The author takes the reader on her journey through Brooklyn's public school system to the prestigious High School of Performing Arts, where she graduated and went on to attend Harvard University on a scholarship.

This coming of age memoir is so engagingly written that I was left with the desire of wanting to know more about the life of this remarkable woman. I was also very taken with her writing style. So, I went ahead and bought every book that this author has ever written and look forward to reading each and every one.

Average customer rating:

Excelente relato biografico sobre la vida puertorriquena
THE AMERICAN DREAM...
Homesick Chica
un libro entretenido
A reveling stream of E.S.'s thoughts, arnieworld@hotmail.com

Cuando Era Puertorriquena
Esmeralda Santiago
Manufacturer: Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback

General | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0606206183

Book Description

Magia, tensión sexual, comedia e intenso drama se mueven dentro de ésta encantadora pero a la vez dura autobiografía; es la historia de una niña que deja a su pueblo en Puerto Rico por la atracción de Nueva York, y una oportunidad para el éxito. "Clara, calladamente poderosa y muy lírica: una historia de verdadera valentía." - Kirkus Reviews

Customer Reviews:

Excelente relato biografico sobre la vida puertorriquena.......2006-09-28

En este excelente libro Esmeralda Santiago nos introduce a sus recuerdos de la infancia en Puerto Rico como se desarrolla hasta su adultes. Utilizando su especial manera de escribir Santiago relata la dura vida que sufrieron miles de puertoriquenos a mediados de siglo, y los eventuales cambios y transformaciones sociales que le precedieron a este periodo. Cualquiera que lea este libro podra imaginarse a Negui y su familia en sus que haceres y ocurrencias. Puerto Rican or not you can read this book. It's excellent. A must read.

THE AMERICAN DREAM..........2006-07-17

This is the Spanish text edition of "When I was Puerto Rican", a rich and evocative memoir of the author's chaotic childhood. Growing up in rural Puerto Rico, while often living in primitive conditions, the author's lush and lyrical prose paints a vivid picture her early life. The flavor and rythms of her island home come alive under her expert hand, creating an unforgettable picture of her early childhood.

The author grew up in a poor family. During her childhood, she lived in Puerto Rico with her unmarried parents, who were always at war with each other, as her father was a somewhat irresponsible philanderer. It was her mother who centered the family and who always sought a better life for all of her children. When an irrevocable break occurred between her parents, her mother moved to New York during the nineteen sixties, eventually settling with her seven children in the mean streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn in New York City.

The author details her life's journey from rural Puerto Rico to Brooklyn. The author was transplanted to Brooklyn at the age of thirteen, and her description of her life in Brooklyn is every bit as interesting as that of her life in Puerto Rico. Her oftentimes bewildering transition from her native, Spanish speaking Puerto Rico to an English speaking environment is engagingly chronicled. The author takes the reader on her journey through Brooklyn's public school system to the prestigious High School of Performing Arts, where she graduated and went on to attend Harvard University on a scholarship.

This coming of age memoir is so engagingly written that I was left with the desire of wanting to know more about the life of this remarkable woman. I was also very taken with her writing style. So, I went ahead and bought every book that this author has ever written and look forward to reading each and every one.

Homesick Chica.......2005-11-04

I bought this book at a fair. There was a "Spanish Only" book stand and I started a conversation with the lady about how homesick I was and she said this is what I needed to read. I'm a younger generation, but I loved it because my Grandmother was not from the city so I read a lof of things that reminded me of her. But there were even some expressions and cultural aspects that have obviously remained the same. The book was extremely interesting and I cried and laughed (and I tend to read in public so I got a couple of weird looks). It really hits home and gives a very accurate view of life in "el campo" in Puerto Rico during the times of depression, but does it in a way that still allows you to notice the beauty of our culture, our people. I am reading the sequel right now and already ordered the last of the three. She's an amazing narrator. Enjoy!

[...]

un libro entretenido.......2003-10-16

este libro esta escrito en una sinplesa que cualquiera lo puede leer lo que esta muy bien, me gusto mucho este libro lo compre en espanol y lo lei en una semana, me parecio un libro muy entretenido y lo recomiendo

A reveling stream of E.S.'s thoughts, arnieworld@hotmail.com.......2003-06-20

I give 5 stars, not because I was necessarily challenged in weighty intellectual "profundities" (as one of the critics above states), but simply because the quality of story-telling (at least in the Spanish version) is insurpassable. I was able to see right into the heart of Esmeralda's thinking. She was almost always eloquent beyond her years; at first I thought that this wasn't accurate for a girl of her age; but in retrospect, I think that the author knew this beforehand and realizes that her character is indeed representative of the many children or tíneyers who are absolutely brilliant but are perceived to be not so bright because of a spoken language. I would like to find out if this was a subtility that she wanted to communicate.
With that said, my favorite aspect of Esmeralda's eloquent subtilities is her honest, authentic anger towards haughty and egotistical people. I believe that E. Santiago was intending also to disfrazel the machista haughtiness that existed in Po'rico. I wanted to reach into the story and punch her Papi in the face. What a pig! I grieves me to think that such a man really existed! Another thing, the move to New York, wonderfully contrasted with Macún - and the innocence of perceiving the jews, italians and blacks throught the eyes of a sweet girl with no prejudices - a brilliant girl indeed! How was she able to dislodge herself from all of the enticements of having prejudices so quickly formed? The best part of the entire novel - a definite tear-jerker - is the rapid dénouement punched at me (the first sentence of the epilogue). I didn't expect it; it had sort of a Great Expectations twist there at the end; if there were ever a movie based on this story, I think that that would be the brilliant finish of the story. The human spirit inside of each of us hopes and believes: "Un día de estos, un día de estos." We all relate so well with Esmeralda that I strongly suggest that this book be included in ethnic-american/hispanoamerican classes and reading circles. This is a must. It's already been successful at Pittsburg State University (KS) with Greg Brown and Dr. Edmée Fernández; try it.

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When I Was Puerto Rican
Kate Hebinck Eddy
Manufacturer: Center for Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1560777907

Cuando Era Puertorriquena: When I Was Puerto Rican

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Cuando Era Puertorriquena: When I Was Puerto Rican
E. Santiago
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
ASIN: 1417642262

Puerto Rican Recipes / Puerto Rico Cookbook

Average customer rating:

""BEST OF BEST"!!

Puerto Rican Recipes / Puerto Rico Cookbook

Manufacturer: Digital Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM
ASIN: B000CPNCTO

Product Description

Best Collection of over 200+ Easy Recipes. For Windows Computer.

Customer Reviews:

""BEST OF BEST"!!.......2006-02-21

5 out of 5: ""BEST OF BEST" in Latin-Caribbean Cookbooks that I've purchased so far. So, glad that I own it & already have been creating "MASTER DISHES OF UPSCALE PORTIONS!" A must have book, if u really appreaciate Puerto Rican Cuisine!*"

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When I Was Puerto Rican
Santiago Esmeralda
Manufacturer: Addison-Wesley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UDEH7Y

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When I Was Puerto Rican
Esmeralda Santiago
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OT2CS0

Average customer rating:

When I was Puerto Rican
Esmeralda Santiago
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LZDNO4

Book Description

"Katzenstein wishes . . . to explore the relationship between culture and national security, using Japan as a case in point. He contends that, since World War II, Japan has developed a distinctive, comprehensive, and generally nonviolent definition of security that is different from that of the United States. To make his argument he follows a discussion of Japanese cultural norms with chapters on the police and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, before exploring the U.S.-Japanese relationship and drawing an extended comparison between Japan and Germany. . . . An intriguing work well worth reading."--Foreign Affairs

"Katzenstein offers one of the most interesting approaches in many years to analysis and interpretation of national security policy and behavior."--Choice

"We find in this work insightful and interesting accounts of Japan's police and military, including historical background, present problems, and future prospects. . . . [Katzenstein] provides well-balanced, up-to-date descriptions on this complex subject." --Journal of Japanese Studies

"An important study that deserves careful attention not only from Japan experts, but from all East Asian security analysts, as well as scholars interested in the forces that drive security-policy-making in general."--Survival

Amazon.com

From the editors of the 1991 anthology The Gulf War Reader comes a comprehensive guide "to the most urgent foreign policy questions of our time." Culled from a wide variety of sources, these essays, commentaries, and official documents cover the entire scope of the conflict with particular attention paid to the history and policies that led to the war. Divided into four sections and stretching from 1915 to the eve of war in 2003, the book offers viewpoints by pundits, politicians, professors, and journalists from every conceivable perspective and political persuasion, including many who participated directly in the events. Part One, "Sins of the Fathers," deals with the modern history of the Middle East, beginning with the end of World War I and the betrayal by the Allies that led to the carving up of the region and to many current problems. It also explains how and why the United States developed a working relationship with Saddam Hussein in the first place. Part Two, "Aftermaths of the Gulf War," covers the years 1991 through 2001 and focuses on the breakdown of the inspections, the effects of the sanctions, and Hussein's efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Part Three, "War With Iraq," covers the debate (mainly from a domestic perspective) over whether to attack Iraq, and if so, whether to act unilaterally or multilaterally. Part Four, "Through a Glass Darkly," offers various looks into the future, including what sort of society and government will take the place of Hussein's regime and what role the United States now plays in the world. Impressive in its breadth and depth, this is an excellent one-volume compendium on a complicated and important subject. Even those who kept current on these events as they unfolded will find much to learn in these pages. --Shawn Carkonen

Book Description

Despite the torrent of coverage devoted to war with Iraq, woefully little attention has been paid to the history of the region, the policies that led to the conflict, and the daunting challenges that will confront America and the Middle East once the immediate crisis has ended. In this collection, Micah L. Sifry and Christopher Cerf, coeditors of the acclaimed Gulf War Reader, have assembled essays and documents that present an eminently readable, up-to-the-moment guide -- from every imaginable perspective -- to the continuing crisis in the Gulf and Middle East.

Here, in analysis and commentary from some of the world's leading writers and opinion makers -- and in the words of the key participants themselves -- is the engrossing saga of how oil economics, power politics, dreams of empire, nationalist yearnings, and religious fanaticism -- not to mention naked aggression, betrayal, and tragic miscalculation -- have conspired to bring us to the fateful collision of the West and the Arab world over Iraq. Contributors include:

Fouad Ajami
George W. Bush
Richard Butler
John le Carré
Noam Chomsky
Ann Coulter
Thomas Friedman
Al Gore
Seymour Hersh
Christopher Hitchens

Arianna Huffington
Saddam Hussein
Terry Jones
Robert Kagan
Charles Krauthammer
William Kristol
Nicholas Lemann
Kanan Makiya
Kevin Phillips
Kenneth Pollack

Colin Powell
Condoleezza Rice
Arundhati Roy
Edward Said
William Safire
Jonathan Schell
Susan Sontag
George Will

Download Description

"Despite the torrent of coverage devoted to war with Iraq, woefully little attention has been paid to the history of the region, the policies that led to the conflict, and the daunting challenges that will confront America and the Middle East once the immediate crisis has ended. In this collection, Micah L. Sifry and Christopher Cerf, coeditors of the acclaimed Gulf War Reader, have assembled essays and documents that present an eminently readable, up-to-the-moment guide - from every imaginable perspective - to the continuing crisis in the Gulf and Middle East. Here, in analysis and commentary from some of the world's leading writers and opinion makers - and in the words of the key participants themselves - is the engrossing saga of how oil economics, power politics, dreams of empire, nationalist yearnings, and religious fanaticism - not to mention naked aggression, betrayal, and tragic miscalculation - have conspired to bring us to the fateful collision of the West and the Arab world over Iraq.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful look at many sides of the Iraq debate.......2004-10-25

I've purchased and read many books on Iraq since it's what I'm studying at grad school right now, and this book is among the best I've read. There are so many different points of view offered here ranging from Noam Chomsky, Ann Coulter, and everyone in between. Even though Coulter's horribly titled (and written) article "Why we hate them" is a testament to how horrible a person she is, it's good to know all sides of the debate.

As the title suggests, in this book you'll find opinion pieces, articles from government officials, and government documents. The editors do a wonderful job at compiling a vast amount of relevant information. This is a good place to start if you'd like to familiarize yourself with the conflict, but most pieces are short and do not provide in-depth analysis of the topic.

The Iraq War Reader: History, Documents, Opinions [DOWNLOAD:.......2004-04-28

This ebook was a complete waste of money. I was unable to print the pages. The publisher does not allow you to print the book you just purchased. I want my money back. I am very unhappy. The only reason I bought the ebook was to print the pages so that I could take notes on them. I'm a student. This is a complete rippoff

Wonderfully Balanced.......2003-09-16

This book was an excellent read. Both sides of the current Iraq War issue are well represented, with excellent footnotes for factual claims. Easy to differentiate between opinion and information. Each piece is from 2 to 8 pages. If you are willing to hear both sides of the story, this book is for you. But beware, I believe that the vast majority who read this with an open mind will develop serious doubts about what America is doing. For those who started out with doubts, this will give you some well-referenced factual support for your doubts. Enjoy!

Reviews the Iraq Situation from All Angles.......2003-07-09

I was impressed by how well this book is balanced. Although the editorial comments are on the whole skewed to the left, there is very little editorializing in the book. Many of the articles are historical documents, speeches or other matters of public record, while most are opinion pieces excerpted from books or periodicals. The reader is left to himself to make a decision on the politics of the situation. Regardless of your politics, nobody will be able to read this book without better grasping the complexity of the Iraq situation.

great book on a complicated subject.......2003-05-17

this is a great book on a complicated subject. goes beyond the headlines, written by the people who make the headlines. you can't go wrong with chris cerf's brilliant iraq war reader. another great read by cerf is "the experts speak", a chapter of which is excerpted in the current book.

Product Description

Hardcover book, 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall

African Birds of Prey: A Study of Africa's 89 Diurnal Raptors and 31 Owls (First Edition with Dustjacket)

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African Birds of Prey: A Study of Africa's 89 Diurnal Raptors and 31 Owls (First Edition with Dustjacket)
Leslie Brown
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000U8AVKG

International Zoo Yearbook : Vol 23 : Birds of Prey

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International Zoo Yearbook : Vol 23 : Birds of Prey
Mike Corbishly
Manufacturer: Franklin Watts Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Africa | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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The South African pilchard (SÌ²aÌ²rÌ²dÌ²iÌ²nÌ²oÌ²pÌ²sÌ² oÌ²cÌ²eÌ²lÌ²lÌ²aÌ²tÌ²aÌ²): Bird predators, 1953-4 (Division of Sea Fisheries investigational report)

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The South African pilchard (SÌ²aÌ²rÌ²dÌ²iÌ²nÌ²oÌ²pÌ²sÌ² oÌ²cÌ²eÌ²lÌ²lÌ²aÌ²tÌ²aÌ²): Bird predators, 1953-4 (Division of Sea Fisheries investigational report)
D. H Davies
Manufacturer: Division of Sea Fisheries
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007K0O2W

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Southern African Birds of Prey
W.R. Tarboton , Peter Pickford , and Beverly Pickford
Manufacturer: Struik Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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African Birds of Prey
Peter and Beverly Pickford and Warwick Tarboton Pickford
Manufacturer: Cornell U Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLVJIM

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African Birds of Prey
Leslie Brown
Manufacturer: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN CO@
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UKQOF0

Proceedings of the Second Symposium on African Predatory Birds, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, 22-26 August 1983

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Proceedings of the Second Symposium on African Predatory Birds, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, 22-26 August 1983

Manufacturer: Natal Bird Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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