American Chica: Two Worlds, One Childhood

Book Description

In her father’s Peruvian family, Marie Arana was taught to be a proper lady, yet in her mother’s American family she learned to shoot a gun, break a horse, and snap a chicken’s neck for dinner. Arana shuttled easily between these deeply separate cultures for years. But only when she immigrated with her family to the United States did she come to understand that she was a hybrid American whose cultural identity was split in half. Coming to terms with this split is at the heart of this graceful, beautifully realized portrait of a child who “was a north-south collision, a New World fusion. An American Chica.”

Here are two vastly different landscapes: Peru—earthquake-prone, charged with ghosts of history and mythology—and the sprawling prairie lands of Wyoming. In these rich terrains resides a colorful cast of family members who bring Arana’s historia to life...her proud grandfather who one day simply stopped coming down the stairs; her dazzling grandmother, “clicking through the house as if she were making her way onstage.” But most important are Arana’s parents: he a brilliant engineer, she a gifted musician. For more than half a century these two passionate, strong-willed people struggled to overcome the bicultural tensions in their marriage and, finally, to prevail.

Customer Reviews:

A beautifully written memoir of cultural dissonance and marital politics.......2007-01-31

What a generous offering from a talented writer with a keen eye for the nuances of family life! Yes, she writes her own story, but she also writes her mother's and father's stories. And her siblings, though more sparingly drawn, also command her careful observation.

She and her immediate family are described as they came up against the cultural norms, first in Peru in the 1950s, where the family spent 12 years, and then in the United States in the 1960s. Arana is a descendant of Peru's upper class, and while the story is one of growing up with economic 'privilege', we also see how that same class privilege imposes social restraints.

One of my favorite passages describes Arana's observation that it is mothers who lovingly mold their sons into "machos", the archetype of the Latin male.

A beautifully written book.......2006-06-17

This is a heartfelt book; I can't think of another book that spells out the bicultural life so clearly. Arana has cut a new path here. This is not so much about being Hispanic American as being a new and different kind of American: split, with differing loyalties, and with all kinds of doubts along the way.
I've just read the galleys of her new book, "Cellophane," which make me think that she's building something something new in her opus. This is a strong American writer with a great deal to say about what it means to be a person of the hemisphere. There is much inclusiveness here. I am struck by the largeness of her world.

Spanish deserves as much respect as English.......2006-06-10

As a native Spanish speaker and ESL/bilingual education
teacher I was surprised to find so many
Spanish mistakes in "American Chica." Given Ms.
Arana's claims of bilingualism, I don't understand how
this could have happened. A Spanish speaker, for
example, knows that the word for an indigenous person,
regardless of gender, is always indígena. Also, no
fluent Spanish speaker would omit 'te' from "Te tengo
a ti..." Nor write "proprio," "creatura," or
"estranjera." And the problems with written accents
throughout the book are serious! This is not
nit-picking. As students and speakers of Spanish
know, an accent's presence or absence can completely
change the meaning of a word.

While these mistakes were probably corrected in the
paperback edition, I find it somewhat disrespectful
that Ms. Arana took such a cavalier attitude with
Spanish, particularly in a memoir about biculturalism.
This sloppiness, as well as the author's rigid,
outdated observations about Latin America vs. North
America and all that made-for-gringos exoticism was
very irritating to this particular American chica.

A Pretentious Family Memoir.......2006-06-04

My wife grew up in Ecuador and moved to the United States 8 years ago, at age 31. I am always interested in better understanding her cross-cultural transition and that's why I picked up "American Chica". But actually this book is more of a family memoir, describing the difficult marriage of Arana's parents. The majority of the book is about her early childhood years growing up in Peru with her father's aristocratic family. The last couple of chapters do recount her family's move to New Jersey. But, while her father was miserable living the "gringo" lifestyle, Marie and her siblings appeared to make the transition quite easily - as children often do - despite facing racism as the only latino kids in their school system.

I prefer my non-fiction to be straightforward, with clear and concise writing. But Arana tends toward artsy pretentiousness, with descriptions and details that I found to be flowery and overly wordy. Obviously, many folks like her style of writing, as demonstrated by the numerous positive reviews. But, for me, it just didn't work.

Lyrical Indeed.......2005-12-27

I looked forward every night to reading Arana's way with words. Not only was the subject matter a great story -- duality on many levels, and she explored all the layers -- but she told her story with excellent prose.

Having studied Latin America for years I've always been envious of my follow classmates & friends who have multiple identities...this book opened my eyes to the deeper challenges of multicultural identity, beyond the obvious racism/segregation to the more internal challenges; Arana's description of how she developed not just her gringa identity, or her Peruvian identity but her "faking it" identity fascinated me.

I hope to see more of her work.

Poetry and Violence: The Ballad Tradition of Mexico's Costa Chica (Music in American Life)

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Poetry and Violence: The Ballad Tradition of Mexico's Costa Chica (Music in American Life)
John H. McDowell
Manufacturer: University of Illinois Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Banda: Mexican Musical Life Across Borders (Music Culture)

ASIN: 0252025881

Friday Night Chicas: Sexy Stories from La Noche

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Time Well Spent
Absolutely AMAZING
4 snaps! LOL!
From one of the Authors!
Wonderful novellas!

Friday Night Chicas: Sexy Stories from La Noche
Mary Castillo , Berta Platas , Caridad Pineiro , and Sofia Quintero
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312335040
Release Date: 2005-03-10

Book Description

Whether they're flirting en espanol, gossiping over mojitos, or dancing with their latest papi chulos, these characters prove that there is nothing quite like a night out with your chicas. Set in New York City, Miami's South Beach, downtown Chicago, and L.A., these four flirty novellas explore dating, marriage, friendship, and sex, through the eyes of four different Latina women. Mary Castillo's Friday Night in L.A.: Isela isn't looking for a one night stand; she's desperate for one last shot at saving her career. Her ticket is Hollywood's director du jour Tyler Banks but one major mistake could cost her everything.Caridad Pineiro's Friday Night in South Beach: It's Tori's thirtieth birthday and all she wants is a nice quiet night with her family and friends. However, Tori's friends have other plans and during an overnight casino cruise, Tori finds herself taking the gamble of her life!Berta Platas's Friday Night in Chicago: The once shy Cali has decided to attend her high school reunion. She slips into her slinkiest Donna Karan and puts on her highest Manolos. After all, she's out to seek revenge, Latina-style. . . Sofia Quintero's Friday Night in New York City: Gladys's friends throw her a bachelorette party at one of NYC's raunchiest male strip joints. They expected a party, but they didn't expect the not-so-blushing bride to disappear with one of the strippers!

Customer Reviews:

Time Well Spent.......2006-03-21

I usually don't have a lot of spare time, so what little spare time I do have is spent wisely. Sad to say but, if a book does not catch my interest within the first 40 or 50 pages....I usually don't ever finish it. When I read this book it had me from cover to cover. It was funny, witty, and down to earth. In most of the stories there were parts that I could relate to. I think that made it all that more humerous. I would probably read this book again in the future. When I finished it I gave it to my bestfriend to read. Needless to say she loved it to.

Absolutely AMAZING.......2006-03-08

This collection of short stories was absolutely amazing. Those who may be interested in purchasing this book need to understand that this is a collection of short storied and NOT a novel!!!

I was introduced to some amazing Latina Authors and now I am hooked. Thanks ladies. I loved it...

4 snaps! LOL!.......2006-03-07

I had to give this book four snaps! I loved it! I was first introduced to this book after reading and falling in love with Hot Tamara by the talented Mary Castillo. One of the writers of Friday night chicas. I did my research on the title as I always do before I purchase any book. I found out that they were 4 stories & 4 writers. More bang for my buck. LOL! I read the excerpt and liked was I saw. I went out and got it, read it and love it! I recommend this book to any one who would like to escape the monotony of the real world and add some spicy latin flava to their life.

From one of the Authors!.......2006-02-14

4 Stars from Romantic Times Magazine: "A delicious recipe of flavorful characters and humorous dialogue mixed with comical action makes Friday Night Chicas worth reading ... Tori, Isela, Cali, and Gladys prove that life is all about taking risks. Each story is unique, well-structured, and these Latina women exemplify poise, success and intelligent, a knockout combination."

TEMPO New York Post: "Discover how four super-Latinas encounter the dilemmas associated with dating, marriage, friendship and premarital sex as each tells her version of living la vida loca. Readers will have no problem enjoying these vicarious stories written by four writers . . . Could it be because these chicas take risks or possibly because they remind you of someone you know?

DAILY NEBRASKAN: "This (HEARTS ARE WILD). . . has a twist at the end and . . . discusses the difficulty of being taken seriously as a Latina in the business world. Piñeiro's narrative is quirky and funny and keeps the reader's interest throughout. . . Each novella includes intelligent humor and plot twists that guarantee to please."

LATINA Magazine: "In this Sex and the City-meets-chica lit collection, the authors offer you a seat at the coffee shop table for a glimpse into the lives of know-it-all Latinas."

Wonderful novellas!.......2006-02-14

This book is a collection of wonderful Latina chick lit novellas that will appeal to all women looking for a fun read. I especially enjoyed Caridad Pineiro's HEARTS ARE WILD and Mary Castillo's MY FAVORITE MISTAKE, but the other two stories were also quite good. I hope the authors bring back their characters in full length books at some point.

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I couldn't put it down...
Loved it!
Sex and the South Beach Chicas
Surprisingly Good
bueno Latina-American tale

Sex and the South Beach Chicas
Caridad Pineiro
Manufacturer: Downtown Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416514880

Book Description

ONE SEXY CITY . . .

FOUR BEST FRIENDS . . .

ONE SURPRISE ELOPEMENT . . .

FOUR MORE MOJITOS, POR FAVOR!

When Tori got lucky, she never imagined that her birthday fling would last longer than one night. But this papi chulo turns out to be "the one," and they quickly decide to elope. . . .

Sylvia has one of the hottest careers in town reporting on Miami's nightlife. But when Tori makes her shocking announcement over Monday-night mojitos with the girls, Sylvia decides it's time for some bold moves of her own, especially when it comes to her career. . . .

Juli controls the kitchen at one of Miami's trendiest restaurants, where she concocts dishes that always wow the crowds. Suddenly, hiding behind an apron isn't enough for her, and Juli's looking to stir things up. Will she step out of the kitchen and into the spotlight?

With business booming at the restaurant she runs with Juli, Adriana doesn't have time to even think about having a relationship. So why does her friend Riley look so irresistible? And why hasn't she ever noticed before?

Join the girls for fun and amor in . . .

SEX AND THE SOUTH BEACH CHICAS

Customer Reviews:

I couldn't put it down..........2007-10-11

This book was so good that I seriously could not put it down. Every chance I got I read because I wanted to know what happens next. What I truly enjoyed is it seemed so real...four women who could be your own friends with their own issues. Definitely a must read!!!

Loved it!.......2007-10-01

I loved this book! I am going to get the next book that continues Sylvia's story.

Sex and the South Beach Chicas.......2007-08-13

Victoria Rodriguez, Sylvia Amenabar, Juliana Marquez, and Adriana Martinez are best friends.

Tori is madly in love with Gil, but her demanding family and her job are making things hard for them. Sylvia is headstrong and very pessimistic about men. When she finds a potential Mr. Right, he just might be Mr. Very Wrong. Juliana and Adriana own a hotel/restaurant together. Adriana takes care of the business end and Juli is the chef. Juli wishes she had more self-confidence and was as beautiful as her three best friends, then maybe she could find the perfect man. Also, her mami doesn't know she co owns the business with Adriana, she believes she just works in the kitchen, and Juli let's her believe it.

Adriana is always in control and her life and is very organized, right down to her friendship with Riley. They have known each other since they were children. She sometimes wonders what it would be like if they were more than just friends, but when Riley announces that he's thinking of asking his girlfriend Rebecca to marry him, Adriana thinks she may have lost the only man she has ever loved.

I wished I knew more Spanish after reading Sex and the South Beach Chicas! These four Latin beauties had me laughing, crying and wanting to be their friend. They are loyal and passionate about all of their relationships. The anticipation of how each woman's story would turn out is great. One of the women is still unsure at the end, but for the rest there is a pretty good sense of closure. Sex and the South Beach Chicas is a fun, sexy and very entertaining story.

Nannette reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Surprisingly Good.......2007-01-11

The book starts off slow.... but, if you give it a chance I think you might find that it's one of the better chick-lit books available. The story revolves around the friendship of 4 women - Tori, Sylvia, Juliana, and Adriana - and the respective men in their lives. The women's lives are affected by one another, their families, their men, and the trials of life. The book is set up in such a way that each women has her own `chapter' every so often. So, we begin by learning about Tori, then Juliana, then Sylvia, back to Tori, etc. The format definitely takes a bit of getting used to, but the payoff was worth it. The characters were all well-developed, and I especially liked Sylvia and Tori - both exceptionally strong women with a soft side. The 4 friends' lives often overlap and it was interesting to read about each one of them. There is a definite Latina flavor in the book, and it's a worthwhile read. I read that Sylvia will be getting a book of her own, so I'm looking forward to the next installment.

bueno Latina-American tale.......2006-09-02

In South Beach, Florida, the four young females are best friends and have been for quite a long time. They share their secrets, their desires, and their aspirations about careers and men; though they seem to be doing better with the jobs than the hunks. The quartet also support one another in trying to keep lethal mothers mating them with every unmarried male who can breath.

Of the fearsome female foursome, Tori would probably be voted by all of them including herself, as the most prim and proper; she thrives on structure and feels uncomfortable with spontaneity. Thus when she falls in love with Gil her three pals are shocked, but not as much as when Tori moves in with him and considers eloping. Her actions to impulsively grasp at love leads Adriana, Sylvia and Julie to reconsider their lifestyles.

The quatros amigas are terrific protagonists filled with energy that pulsates as it pulls readers into their lives. Each is an individual with likes, dislikes, and woes including mamas wanting them married with children. Though at times too lighthearted, fans will enjoy the skirmishes between the two generations of Latina-Americans as the band of sisters follow the lead of the most reticent when it comes to men.

Harriet Klausner

American Chica (Spanish Language edition)

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a memoir of conflicted identity

American Chica (Spanish Language edition)
Marie Arana , and Margarita Luna
Manufacturer: Random House Espanol
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1400001994
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Book Description

From her father's genteel Peruvian family, Marie Arana was taught to be a proper lady, yet from her mother's American family she learned to shoot a gun, break a horse, and snap a chicken's neck for dinner.

Arana shuttled easily between these deeply separate cultures for years. But only when she immigrated with her family to the United States did she come to understand that she was a hybrid American, an individual whose cultural identity was split in half. Coming to terms with this split is at the heart of this graceful, beautifully realized portrait of a child who "was a north-south collision, a New World fusion. An American chica."

Through Arana's eyes the reader will discover not only the diverse, earthquake-prone terrain of Peru, charged with ghosts of history and mythology, but also the vast prairie lands of Wyoming, "grave-slab flat," and hemmed by mountains.

In these landscapes resides a fierce and colorful cast of family members who bring her historia vividly to life, among them Arana's proud paternal grandfather, Victor Manuel Arana Sobrevilla, who one day simply stopped coming down the stairs; her dazzling maternal grandmother, Rosa Cisneros y Cisneros, "clicking through the house as if she were making her way onstage"; Grandpa Doc, her maternal grandfather, who, by example, taught her about the constancy of love.

But most important are Arana's parents, Jorge and Marie. He a brilliant engineer, she a talented musician. For more than half a century these two passionate, strong-willed people struggled to overcome the bicultural tensions in their marriage and, finally, to prevail.

Customer Reviews:

a memoir of conflicted identity.......2004-03-31

Arana's memoir is poetic, colorful and powerful. The book is a moving account of Arana's childhood, split between Peru and Wyoming. She weaves father's rich Peruvian family history into the evolution of Peru and counters it with her American mother's reticence to abide by the rules of the Peruvian society. The reader is split between which society is better: family-centered traditional Peru or independent adventurous America. Arana delicately examines the two cultures in conflict through various relationships: her mother and grandmother disagree on how to raise children and treat husbands; her parents have different goals for the family and expectations of each other; and Marie's little friends, depending on what country she's in, seduce her into one culture while she struggles not to abandon the other. A sense of conflicted identity, pride in one's heritage, and confused loyalties is the result--all told while coming of age suspended between North and South America. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Great Story ... Horrible Writing!!!!
A Sweet, Smart Story for Sweet, Smart Girls
Loved This Book!!
Absolutely Fascinating
Sister Chicas Rule!

Sister Chicas
Lisa Alvarado , Ann Hagman Cardinal , and Jane Alberdeston Coralin
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0451217705

Book Description

Taina's turning fifteen-and is so dreading her Pepto-pink quinceañera, her Sweet Fifteen.What about her secret Jamaican artist boyfriend? Should she let Mami choose her escort, or follow her heart-and ignite a family riot?

Grachi must choose between being the good Chicana-and grabbing la oportunidad de la vida. Now she needs her Sister Chicas more than ever...

Leni's the rebel-with a punk style and an attitude to go with it. But as she tries to make sense of her roots with her Chicas, her life gets more complicated, especially when her childhood friend turns into a handsome rockero...

And even though Taina,Grachi, and Leni don't always agree on things-like boys, clothes, and music-nothing gets in the way of their friendship.

Download Description

Taina's turning fifteen-and is so dreading her Pepto-pink quinceañera, her Sweet Fifteen.What about her secret Jamaican artist boyfriend? Should she let Mami choose her escort, or follow her heart-and ignite a family riot? Grachi must choose between being the good Chicana-and grabbing la oportunidad de la vida. Now she needs her Sister Chicas more than ever... Leni's the rebel-with a punk style and an attitude to go with it. But as she tries to make sense of her roots with her Chicas, her life gets more complicated, especially when her childhood friend turns into a handsome rockero... And even though Taina,Grachi, and Leni don't always agree on things-like boys, clothes, and music-nothing gets in the way of their friendship.

Customer Reviews:

Great Story ... Horrible Writing!!!!.......2007-06-10

The story was great but some of the words in Spanish were just not well written. On the top of my head I remember a quote from the book, "clara que no" (as in of course not) It's translated to "claro que no". I know this book was written for teens but I'm a teacher and I teach high school, I suggest the book before reading it. We would found flaws in the book almost every other day and that was the talk about in class. I honestly think my fifteen year old students can do a better job writing a book.

A Sweet, Smart Story for Sweet, Smart Girls.......2006-08-05

In a literary marketplace dominated by the Gossip Girls and the A-list series, where are the stories for young women for whom buying shoes and chasing boys ranks low on their list of priorities? Are there any novels in which the female leads care as much about their community, grapple with their identity, and plan for their future as they might -- if not even more so -- fitting in with the "in" crowd or finding the perfect shade of lipstick? What do such girls read when they are between the works of Nicholasa Mohr and Esmeralda Santiago?

The answers to these question lie in this wonderful novel "Sister Chicas."

As diverse as they are, the Sister Chicas Taina, Grachi and Leni are bonded not only by their friendship but by their intelligence and character. Like any girl their ages, they struggle with their parents' expectations, fall in love, enjoy a good time, and attempt to find their place in the world. What makes this trio unique and refreshing is that they are also smart girls. Good girls. Deep girls. And they do not apologize for it.

Not all girls yield to the lure of casual sex, drug experimentation and mindless consumerism, and they can finally see themselves represented in the three heroines of "Sister Chicas."

Loved This Book!!.......2006-05-16

The friendship shared between Taina, Graciela and Leni is absolutely spectacular. Every teenage girl deserves to have at least one friendship like this. I (almost) wanted to be a teenager again! Reminds me of what I have to look forward to when my daughter gets a little older. I've already passed the book along to my mom (I made her promise she'd return it when she's done). Thanks for this great book.

Absolutely Fascinating.......2006-04-26

A friend told me to read this book and I'm glad she did. I learned so much about the search for identity... the identity of girls becoming women and of Latinas trying to find their place in a culture that isn't too sure it wants to include them. I'll admit that this book also made me feel a sense of relief that I am the father of two boys and not girls... I got a clear sense of the power a father has over the self-image of a daughter whereas my sons have already learned to tune me out. The characters in this book are wonderfully distinct, a feature no doubt of the different writers behind each one. While I'm sure there are people who will identify with a particular character, I was intrigued by the facets in each which begin to feel universal by the time you get to the end. By the way, love the glossary in the back!

Sister Chicas Rule!.......2006-04-07

I thoroughly enjoyed this coming-of-age tale about three young Latin women. Taina, Graciela, and Leni are well-drawn, diverse characters with unique and fascinating voices that tell the story of Taina's upcoming Sweet Fifteen party. Through their eyes, the reader learns about their individual backgrounds, their dreams, and their love for each other. We experience their fears as they encounter attractive young men and the disapproval of their parents, and we cheer with them as they achieve independence and a sense of self enviable to all. At the end of the story, I had tears in my eyes, wanting to continue on in the journey with these three special ladies. Kudos to the three authors for writing such an engrossing and heartwarming story.

The glossary in the back of the book was most helpful for learning Spanish phrases used in the text, and I also enjoyed reading the recipes included. I feel that I learned a great deal about Latin culture by reading this book, but I also feel that "Sister Chicas" transcends any genre of literature in the way it portrays love, family, and friendship. Go read it for yourself -- you will feel uplifted.

Average customer rating:

Fun read for young adults (or the young adult inside you)
Flojos Unite!!! This is a MUST read for the youth in you!
Buy this book!
A great example of being true to yourself
Hispanic Girls Will Love This Book!!!!

Honey Blonde Chica
Michele Serros
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1416915915

Book Description

Evie Gomez is one chill chica. She and best friend Raquel hang with the Flojos, a kick-back crew named for their designer flip-flops. And their habit of doing absolutely nothing.

But the return of long-lost amiga mejor Dee Dee wrecks Evie and Raquel's Flojo flow. A few years in Mexico City have transformed their shy, skinny, brunette Dee Dee into a Sangro nightmare. Dee Dee has reinvented herself as "Dela," complete with tight designer threads, freaky blue contacts, and that signature blonde hair.

When Raquel wants precisely nada to do with the new Dela, Evie finds herself caught between two very different friends. At heart, is Evie a Cali-casual Flojo chick or a sexy Sangro diva? How's a chica to choose?

Customer Reviews:

Fun read for young adults (or the young adult inside you).......2006-09-30

Ahhh, to be a teenager again; the friendships that can turn on a moment's notice, the puppy love, the parties, the self discovery... all universal themes but written about with a twist in Honey Blonde Chica. It's very refreshing to read a young adult novel where the main characters are Latino, yet the focus isn't on discrimination or financial hardships, but rather just being a teenager. Like another reviewer said, those books certainly are important and have their place, but Honey Blonde Chica is a nice change.

Flojos Unite!!! This is a MUST read for the youth in you!.......2006-09-21

Michele Serros successfully encapsulates the inner conflicts and frienship demands of adolescents with a dash of conflict and a Latinidad twist. Clever Spanish slang weaved in between teenage "hip" lingo makes for a fun read about how one girl, Evie, struggles with the pressures of high school. Her socio-economic status, surburan family lifestyle, and beachside residence illustrates a different Mexican-American youth than we are used to reading. It's refreshing! And necessary. The emphasis on Mexican culture underlying the message in this book clearly demonstrates Serros' ability to unite experiences. You will find many similarities to the characters in this book, regardless of where you're from or how long ago you were in high school. Satisfy your curiosity and buy this innovative and thoughtful novel. Read the book then buy it for your daughter, your niece and all of the Latina youth you know. They will thank you.

Buy this book!.......2006-08-28

"Honey Blond Chica" is a very thoughtful and insightful book that succeeds in offering an honest portrayal of teen-age life, and doesn't talk down to the reader. The pressures of sex are discussed openly in a chapter that articulates the fears and anxieties, but also the potent cocktail of emotions, which make up teen-aged life. Young readers will enjoy this book whether they even know what a "chica" is or not, as the teen-age experience if fairly universal. However, young second and third generation Latino readers will find bits of life with which to relate that are sorely lacking in the literary field (especially young adult novels!). Michele Serros is an excellent writer and young readers will quickly consume this novel as they anticipate the second in the series which will soon be on shelves. Kudos to Serros for writing a novel for the young Latino audiences in America. Usually books are only written that shoot for extremely young audiences or older audiences, completely missing the untapped teen-aged Latin audience. Here's to hoping that this novel is the start of a trend of young adult Latino novels!

A great example of being true to yourself.......2006-08-22

Michele Serros has always been my favorite writer, since I read her book How to be a Chicana Role Model. So it was natural for me to read her new book Honey Blonde Chica in less than a week just like I did with the other two. I love this story because anyone can relate to Evie(The main character) because I think that everyone has gone through that stage in your life where you want to be cool and fit in and sometimes you let peer pressure affect you. I love this book because it shows another perspective of Latinos, a different culture, a little bit mixed with living in the U.S. but staying true to yourself and your culture. The humor that Michele Serros uses is so cute because she speaks from a teenager point of view. I also wish I had this book when I was 16 to read and be guided by. I strongly recommend this book to everyone because it's a great book and you will have fun reading it.

Hispanic Girls Will Love This Book!!!!.......2006-08-21

Being that I'm a older hispanic girl, I really enjoyed this book! I would have liked to have this book as a teen.

The girls were true to form. About how they talk and treat friends. I thought this was just a good read. And am looking forward to the next book.

Average customer rating:

Women's Fiction / Dirty Girls? Pigeons and Doves
very funny...couldn't put it down
O K but not great.
Latina Waiting to Exhale...sort of
Perfect book for girls!

El Club Social de las Chicas Temerarias
Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 031231812X

Amazon.com

The Dirty Girls Social Club closely resembles Terry McMillan's Waiting to Exhale: a handful of young women seek real love and job satisfaction. Unlike McMillan, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez has completely thrown out any literary pretensions whatsoever, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Dirty Girls is a fun, easy, ultimately charming read, not least because the girls themselves are so appealing. Six Latina women become fast friends at Boston University and thereafter meet as a group every few months. Now in their late twenties, they're each on the cusp of the life they want. The novel is narrated in turn by each woman. Feisty Lauren has a column at the Boston Globe, but can't help falling for losers; ghetto-elegant Usnavys is trying to find a man to match her own earning power and expensive tastes; uptight Rebecca is a successful magazine publisher and an unsuccessful wife; beautiful TV anchor Elizabeth has a secret; Sara leads a Martha-Stewart-perfect life as a homemaker; and Amber is a hopeful rock musician in L.A.

The novel works because Valdes-Rodriguez has compassion for her characters; each is faulted, but none is culpable. She also has an eye for the telling detail, as when Rebecca tries to befriend her white husband's stuffy family: "His sister took step classes with me and we shopped for clothes together on Newbury Street and went to the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum one afternoon with Au Bon Pain sandwiches in our handbags." Something about those sandwiches makes the whole enterprise seem more poignant. On the down side, Valdes-Rodriguez is so eager to make things work out for her ladies, her writing sometimes beggars belief. Men actually say things like "Swear to me you're happily married, and I'll stop pursuing you." Yes, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez is, in fact, the Latina Terry McMillan. That is, if McMillan were a slighty guiltier pleasure. --Claire Dederer

Book Description

Spanish Language Edition of The Dirty Girls Social ClubA vibrant, can't-put-it-down novel of six friends-each one an unforgettable Latina woman in her late '20s-and the complications and triumphs in their livesInseparable since their days at Boston University almost ten years before, six friends form the Dirty Girls Social Club, a mutual support and (mostly) admiration society that no matter what happens to each of them (and a lot does), meets regularly to dish, dine and compare notes on the bumpy course of life and love.Las sucias are:-Lauren, the resident "caliente" columnist for the local paper, which advertises her work with the line "her casa is su casa, Boston", but whose own home life has recently involved hiding in her boyfriend's closet to catch him in the act-Sara, the perfect wife and mother who always knew exactly the life she wanted and got it, right down to the McMansion in the suburbs and two boisterious boys, but who is paying a hefty price-Amber, the most idealistic and artistic member of the club, who was raised a valley girl without a word of Spanish and whose increasing attachment to her Mexica roots coincides with a major record label's interest in her rock 'n' roll-Elizabeth, the stunning black Latina whose high profile job as a morning television anchor conflicts with her intensely private personal life, which would explain why the dates the other dirty girls set her up on never work out-Rebecca, intense and highly controlled, who flawlessly runs Ella, the magazine she created for Latinas, but who can't explain why she didn't understand the man she married and now doesn't even share a room with; and-Usnavys, irrepressible and larger than life, whose agenda to land the kind of man who can keep her in Manolo Blahniks and platanos almost prevents her seeing true love when it lands in her lap.There's a lot of catching up to do.

Customer Reviews:

Women's Fiction / Dirty Girls? Pigeons and Doves.......2007-09-21

This was a fun, quick read and I enjoyed entering the Latina world of the six Suisas and felt welcomed there--as though it were the author's intention to give the reader a group of girlfriends for the duration of the read. I use the term "read" rather than "story," because there wasn't much of one. A lot happens. There are dramatic events such as the outing of a gay news anchor, a severe wife beating and murder, a struggling performance artist hitting the big time, break-ups, marriages . . . pretty much anything and everything that can happen in a lifetime. But in spite of this, there wasn't a clear story I could sink my teeth into. It was fully character-driven, with Lauren the newspaper columnist heading each first-person, character-focused chapter, but the characters weren't entirely likeable. And in spite of their bi-annual meetings and history together at Boston College--even their professed love for one another--I didn't buy it. I didn't believe they liked one another all that much.

As for their men? One had to read very closely to find a likeable man. The individual relationships with men were focused upon more than the Suisas relationships with one another.

Luckily I read Spanish fairly well and many of the passages/communications/slang/flavor of the characters were not lost on me. (Translations don't accompany each sentence or phrase en Español.) Still, I don't think knowledge of Spanish is an absolute requirement to read or enjoy this book. It's a good effort and can certainly be dubbed a crossover book to attract women's fiction or chick-lit readers of all nationalities. Three-and-a-half stars.

From the author of "A Line Between Friends," McKenna Publishing Group.

very funny...couldn't put it down.......2007-02-09

El mejor libro que aya escrito la autora. Hacian falta libros haci que uno relaciona con su cultura. Bien por Alisa, estoy loca que escriba otro libro.

O K but not great. .......2007-01-29

I think the book was ok, but it wasn't a great read. Like many have said, something you can read on a rainy day, or a on a Sunday with some ice cream. I did notice that there were a few inconsistencies in the book, and all the Latina Spanglish jargon got to me. It was overboard, and unrealistic. My favorite character was Lauren, probably because she was more real, and not so composed. Amber was my second favorite.

Latina Waiting to Exhale...sort of.......2007-01-28

Lauren, Sara, Elizabeth, Usnavys, Amber, and Rebecca are six college friends that initially bonded because they are all of various Latina decent. Some are white, some black, and some in the middle of the color spectrum, and all have widely differing backgrounds and upbringing. But since college they have been the best of friends always making time for another suica - or dirty girl. Each also have their individual triumphs and failures that they share, either in whole or in part, as a part of their close friendship. These issues range from professional to romantic, each with their own highs and lows. This novel, with each chapter told from the perspective of one of the suicas, captures the emotions of the individuals that comprise this close group of friends.

Unfortunately, the story just did not flow in this book. Chapters with changing narrators can work extremely well to tell the same story in different ways, but here it seemed choppy and disjointed. The characters were believable in their perspectives on life, but were sometimes too whiny to be liked. Of course the story ends with happiness for everyone all wrapped up with a bow on top, but getting there was dull at times. Overall, it was a brainless beachy read or perfect for a rainy day indoors.

Perfect book for girls!.......2006-11-25

This book is amazing. You laugh and cry thoughtout the entire book. It helps if you are Hispanic and understand Spanish. This is by far one of the best books I have ever read.

Average customer rating:

South Beach Chicas Catch Their Man
Caridad Pineiro
Manufacturer: Downtown Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

United States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Friendship | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1416514899

Book Description

Four single girls + four sexy men = Trouble for one confirmed

bachelorette who just wants to hang with her amigas!

Reporter Sylvia Amenabar loves her vida loca. Just months ago, she and her three best friends -- Adriana, Juli, and Tori -- were happily single, hoisting mojitos at their weekly get-together. Now, everything's changed. All four women have sexy men in their lives -- and Sylvia's not sure she likes it that way.

Ever since handsome cop Carlos Ramirez took a bullet for Sylvia after an investigative report went south, she's been fighting their intensifying attraction. Sure, he's gorgeous and great in bed -- and nearly died for her -- but Sylvia has sworn never to let a man be in a position to break her heart the way her father did by abandoning her and her mother.

Besides, who has time for the whole relationship dance? Sylvia's got a reputation to maintain as Miami's hottest new journalist. But when her latest assignment threatens to smear Adriana's boyfriend, Riley, and too-good-to-be-true Carlos, and her mother is hell-bent on reuniting with her father, Sylvia finds that life and love and family aren't things you can control!

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