Latinas in the City

I am a Latina, but by no means does that limit my reading choices. But I have to admit ever so often it is fun to read a book that accurately reflects my unique experience. The classic book of choice in my Puerto Rican family is Esmeralda Santiago’s When I Was Puerto Rican. (Also available in Spanish!) It is a coming of age book about growing up on the island of Puerto Rico.

Reading it, I am able to better visualize how my parents grew up; in the countryside with very few material objects, but with big families and a lot of love. I have not yet read the sequel, Almost A Woman, which is about Santiago’s move to New York. I've been told this is the story that more reflects my experience being born in the States, but I haven't had a chance to read it.

One book that does stand out for me about Latinas in modern society is The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez. I think perhaps every Latina my age has read this after hearing about it from another Latina friend. It follows six women who meet as undergraduates at Boston University. Each of them has her own story about love, work and friendships, and all are different kinds of Latinas. One is a reporter, another a lesbian, another a rock singer.

I think it’s a brilliant display of the different types of Latinas that are in the American diaspora, but also a very funny and engaging story for any woman to read. The characters are loud and proud Latinas, but they are also women, and the interactions between the women are the same that women of every nationality would have, it is just spoken in Spanglish.