From a three-room apartment in Brooklyn, occupied by 10 family members, Esmeralda Santiago begins a journey that is both a triumphant struggle for identity and independence, and a mother's worst nightmare. Challenged by language barriers, cultural stereotypes, and the fiercely protective Mami, Santiago continues the rollicking ascent she began in When I Was Puerto Rican. By day, she perfects the role of Cleopatra at Performing Arts High School and interprets for the family at city welfare offices. At night, she accompanies her mother and sisters to Latin dance halls - but on such a strict leash that she has her first date at the age of 20. Undaunted, she makes up for lost time in a romantic apprenticeship at once hilarious and heartbreaking.
Note: This audiobook is in Spanish. Este audiolibro es en Espanol.
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"While a good second part of my favorite memoir and a portrayal of the Puerto Rican experience in NYC, I thought the translator lost some of the Jibaro/Boricua flavor in the language that was very much present in the first book and which made it heart warming to me. Still it is understandable why it would happen as Esmeralda in this book finds herself immersed in State Side/American culture where some of her island quirks begin to be replaced by her new life." — Shanali (4 out of 5 stars)
"While a good second part of my favorite memoir and a portrayal of the Puerto Rican experience in NYC, I thought the translator lost some of the Jibaro/Boricua flavor in the language that was very much present in the first book and which made it heart warming to me. Still it is understandable why it would happen as Esmeralda in this book finds herself immersed in State Side/American culture where some of her island quirks begin to be replaced by her new life."
" A Possibly the best in the series. SO interesting because it goes into how she becomes her own woman (2nd in the series) "
" I really enjoyed this book. "
" I love Esmeralda Santiago's writing. This was a beautiful work. It follows When I Was Puerto Rican nicely. "
" This is the follow-up memoir to "When I was Puerto Rican". This memoir covers Santiago's teenaged years and her experiences at the performing arts high school and trying to discover who she is and what she wants to do with her life. "
" y sigue la historia en la adolecencia "
" A good story about a young Puerto Rican girl growing up in NYC. "
" This book is a memoir about growing up Puerto Rican in NYC. It started out slow for me but I got into it the more I read. "
" it was a book that i connected to because the main characater is puerto rican as am i "
" I read this book a while ago and I remember liking it, but it has completely left my head. So I am going to have to call it forgettable. "
" Read the spanish version of this book. Much easier to read since it was written in English first. Sequel to When I was Puerto Rican." "
" If you read "When I was Puerto Rican" then you have to read this one right after. She take you through her life as a pre teen. "
" Loved it! Couldn't put it down. I found Esmeralda's story of growing up as a Puerto Rican in Brooklyn during the 60s just fascinating. Definitely need to read the prequel and the sequel! "
" Amazing true story of a girl juggling life between two worlds. "
" This book takes me back when we came to NYC.... It makes me laugh, cry and think about my family, those who are here and those who have passed. Love it.. "
" This book is basically about when she has moved to Brooklyn from Puerto Rico. Their father decides to leave esmeralds mother. TOwards the end of the book Esmeralda leaves and she moves to florida with her love. I really like this book just like how i liked the first one. "
" I liked the first 200 pages or so and blew through them! However, the last about 60-100 pages dragged on and on and were super boring. "
" so far so good :) "
" Such a lovely book! I really enjoy Santiago's writing. The last line in the book was absolutely PERFECT! "
" A wonderful look into the struggles of culture shock, physical change and emotional change. "
" Can't decide between 3 or 4 stars. It's New York, 70's, girl dabbles in acting, coming-of-age, but took a while to get to the good parts, and the writing wasn't super exceptional or anything. But definitely my kind of book. "
" Enjoyable, but a little wandery. Not a huge memoir fan, so perhaps that adds something to that. "
" This book was recomended by the class of literature in Puerto Rico, one of the best book I ever read (after the Bible of Course) the thing that captive my attention was her way of narrate her life with such detail. Very remarkable "
" Demasiado como yo era cuando Almost a Woman "
" Great book about trying to balance two cultures and the experience of being "the other." "
" LOved the book and the movie....muy bonito. ;) "
Esmeralda Santiago is the author of the memoirs When I Was Puerto Rican, Almost a Woman, which she adapted into a Peabody Award–winning film for PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre, and The Turkish Lover; the novel América’s Dream; and a children’s book, A Doll for Navidades. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe, and House & Garden, among other publications, and on NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, she lives in New York.
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