When I Was Puerto Rican

"When I Was Puerto Rican" is a wonderful story of growing up in Puerto Rico. The humor and frankness of the narrative touched me. I strongly recommend it!

I expect the prime reason this autobiography was published is because it's unique. However, it's only half a story - assume this is contrived in the hope of selling the other half at a later date. The author's reconstruction of dialogue is to be admired, as well as the descriptions of her life of poverty and deprivation. More to be admired is the character of her mother who managed to produce and provide for eleven children in an unmarried state, while coping with an irresponsible father. Can only recommend if you're looking for a holiday read. Very little material for book club discussions.

I became aware of this book through my mother who read it and loved it. I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down. The book made me laugh and cry, sometimes both at the same time. The picture on the cover looked so much like my mother when she was that age that I instantly took to the story. The story itself depicts the complexities of our Puerto Rican culture, the family dynamics, and our struggle to become assimilated Americans. Although I couldn't truly relate to all of the experiences, my mother was able to find a deep connection with the author. Apparently she experienced many of the poverty issues discussed within the memoir. I feel closer to my mother and that small island because of this book. I will buy her other books as well.

The novel, When I Was Puerto Rican, by Esmeralda Santiago, is a true story based on the life of the author as a child, growing up as an immigrant in the United States from Puerto Rico. Her memoir deals with many issues and conflicts she has to overcome as a child and a young adult, but she is able to develop scenes in great detail, describe her encounters with self-discovery, and draw the reader into conflicts that are emotional and powerful.
Scene in a memoir is very important because it is manipulated greatly by the viewpoint of the author. Throughout Negi, the main character's childhood, she lives with her large family in a multitude of houses in areas ranging from the dirtiest slums to upscale apartments in New York. Negi's first house in Macun was described in great depth, going right down the holes the insects burrowed under the wooden plank floors. In another instance, her family went to a relative's house to wade out an impending hurricane, and Negi goes to great lengths to describe the actions the people were performing, the foods the women were preparing, and the battering the house got during the storm. The scene is the basis for the novel, and Santiago's ability to create a strong scene lends itself to writing a great novel.
Negi is forced to assimilate into a new society while still living under the confines of her old culture in her house. Her parents are 100% Puerto Rican, and they expect their children to follow the ways of a Puerto Rican child. However, Negi is a very intelligent girl who learns how to be more American and has to constantly cope with discarding old ideas that were once important to her, but are now seen as demeaning or not applicable in American society. For example, Negi grew up as a young child wanting to be a "Jibara," which basically meant a more rural individual who lives off the land and lives a simple life. However, once she started school, classmates made fun of her and called her a Jibara, and it suddenly became a derogatory term that Negi wanted nothing to do with. Also, she discovers rather quickly on her own the nature of sexuality and how men and women interact with each other. On one occasion, Negi and her cousin exchange glimpses of each other's private areas, and Negi is shocked and taken back by things that come with puberty. Negi discovers many aspects of her new life on her own, especially since she is living life in a culture quite different from her parents.
Conflict is a big part of all memoirs, but Negi is exposed to conflicts of many sorts and sources. Negi has conflict within herself about Papi because she sees the caring and nurturing side of him, and also the lying, cheating, and irresponsible side of him. Negi has do deal with the conflict between her Puerto Rican background and her new American culture, and the differences in the beliefs and norms between the two. Her status as "casi senorita" is also a source of conflict because she is regarded as not completely adult, but not a child either. She sees no benefit of this because she has all the responsibility of an adult, but still all the rules of a child.
I feel reading this memoir has made me a better memoir writer because
I have seen how a good scene and detailed plot are formed. Santiago excels at creating scenes with great detail, and describing the emotions felt by the characters in the story. I feel this book should be offered again because it is a fairly easy book to follow and I felt like I got something out of reading this book. I would highly recommend this book, even if you aren't the reading type like I am.

I intend to read the book myself as well, but she couldn't get enough of it. She finished it in a couple of days! She is Puerto Rican (as is the author of the book) and was amazed at the similarities between her upbringing and that of the author. She doesn't even live in the same geographical area of the US that the author does, but still the cultural similarities remain. She loved it and is already looking into the author's other works.