Woman Hollering Creek: And Other Stories

I really liked this book for many reasons such as, it shows different aspects of life. On the back of the book it is described as “ a story of breathtaking range and varied life on both sides of the Mexican border. “ I think that this statement is very true because we are told about a girl's life in a small town in Texas and how it is influenced by Mexican culture. The first chapter is called “ My friend Lucy who smells like corn “ . The title is showing us certain aspects of the town like the smell of tortillas which are handmade in Mexico and by many people of that culture. This book is definitely based on family love, there is a statement made when Cleofilas and her son Juan are sitting by the creek talking about how a man and womans love can “sour” but a parents love for a child and a child's love for a parent is undying. I relate to this because I have a single mother who has an undying love for me even though her and my fathers love went “sour”. That is one of the reasons I really liked this book. Cleofilas has always wondered how the creek got its name but has never gotten an answer because no one seems to know, the creek runs behind her house everyday as she sits and thinks about the meaning. There is a certain meaning behind the name of the creek and that is that the name came from the ghostly screeches of a forlorn woman that could be heard there late at night. I think that this analogy may have something to do with the way that Cleofilas feels. One thing I dislike about this book is that the father of Cleofilas is very negative towards her marriage and does not think it will succeed, when she is moving away with her new husband her father says “ I am your father I will never abandon you.” but she is too wrapped up in this important moment that she does not hear what her father has to say to her. She does not remember what was said to her u​​ntil she is a neglected mother and now knows what the words mean and has taken it more to heart. It is such a sad realization that she goes through and I think it does make her miss the old life she had or could have had.

This collection of 22 literary short stories is both compelling and challenging to read. And the most interesting thing happened: I felt that I was living and breathing in a world unfamiliar to me. I was an honored guest in Mexican life and families. I wasn't an unwanted stranger left peering through the windows. I belonged there. (Wow!)Written by Sandra Cisneros, the disparate stories are arranged to take the reader through a woman's life—from childhood to adulthood. Almost all are written in the first person, and none is connected to any other in terms of characters or plot. But all of them are a little piece of genius, a little slice of brilliance.Here is a sampling:• "My Friend Lucy Who Smells Like Corn" is a magical romp through a child's day with her best friend.• "Eleven" is a heartbreaking account of what it feels like to be an 11-year-old girl.• "One Holy Night" tells the oh-so-sad story of a 14-year-old girl who falls for a much-older man and finds herself pregnant.• "My Tocaya" is a tale about a teenager rising from the dead. (Well, sort of.)• "Woman Hollering Creek" is about feminist empowerment—even for those women who need it most as they watch incredulously from the sidelines.• "Eyes of Zapata" is a poignant reimagining of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata Salazar from the eyes of one of his many mistresses, one who just happens to have witch-like qualities.• "Bien Pretty," which is my favorite, is a story of love and heartbreak and resilience.This is an enthralling, sophisticated, and complex collection of short stories that joyfully transported me to another culture. And THAT is the power of reading!

It was in 7th grade when I was first introduced to the House on Mango Street. Thanks to my teacher Ms. Henning, I have become an avid reader of Ms. Cisneros and other great writers such as Elena Poniatowska (one of Sandra's favorites), Julia Álvarez, and Gabriel García Márquez. When I was a freshman in high school, Caramelo had been released and I read it in a matter of three days. The only book left to read of Cisneros was Woman Hollering Creek. This year, things changed. I spent my summer at Harvard University where I took two courses. Mexican Literature and Fiction Writing. While at Harvard, one of my favorite things to do was to walk into the Harvard Book Store, go downstairs to the USED book section and search through the bookshelves. Eventually, that day I purchased the House of Spirits by Isabel Allende (because no one can believe that I haven't read it), Go Tell it to the Mountain by James Baldwin, Sula by Toni Morrison, and last but not least, Woman Hollering Creek by Sandra Cisneros. Since the East Coast consists of very small states, I visited a couple of schools including Boston U., Tufts, Brown, Amherst, Dartmouth, NYU, and Columbia. My trip to Columbia had to be the most fun of all. Me, and two friends, one from L.A. and the other from Chicago all took books for the bus trip. I remember my friend from L.A. was reading Beloved by Toni Morrison, the other was reading a book that was assigned by her Psychology professor (BORING), and I was reading Woman Hollering Creek. By the time we got to New York City I was finished with the book. I liked it so much that when I went back to Harvard I requested my favorite story "Mericans" to be read in class and afterwards we had a discussion. Because of Sandra, I am now a writer and I admire her for getting so far. If you have read The House on Mango Street, you have an idea of the type of neighborhood Sandra lived in. Well that's the exact same neighborhood in which I have been living all my life. Most of the adolescents living in this neighborhood are seen as students who are incapable of having a good future, but Sandra has proved that wrong. Now, she is internationally well known and has been my motivation throughout the past years.Earlier this year, I had to opportunity to meet her in person, and said that she was working on a book right now. I have no other option than to wait.

I had it at University and it turned out to be quite a gem. The (Mexican) migrant experience in America of assimilation, cultural differences, and identity formation is quaintly captured. Some stories are a real pleasure to read with their easy writing style and childlike simplicity.

Great product, quick delivery, exactly what I expected... nothing to complain about!If you fancy it you should buy it here! :)

いいです