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 Culturally Impacting Nov 19, 2009
I remember reading The House on Mango Street in school, possibly middle school. I remember thinking it was a bit boring then but I usually never forget books, no matter how dull they may seem to me. After re-reading Mango Street again I walked away with a bit more impact.
You delve into this world of Spanish culture and this girl who is basically innocent and who never wants to grow up. She is one of those that doesn't follow the crowd and that is a very likable trait. Children and no doubt teens will find this book boring. I found the book interesting and it reflected off of culture particularly well. When people read this book they should be able to walk away saying, "This is reality. Things like this really happen." Though you read about Esperanza describing her life and all the people in it, you see a beauty surrounding it all, but there is also a flipside. Young women strive to be like the women in magazines and innocently play the roles of attracting men. Mango Street and the town it resides in is corrupt. And this is something that Esperanza slowly comes to realize as she grows older, as she gets prettier. And the thing that really struck me was how real it was. Someone as young as Esperanza - I'm guessing she was in the middle school age range - has to deal with things like guys coming on to her at such a young age. She has to see women getting beaten and men working hard for their families. And with this she is innocent. She doesn't understand a lot of it.
The thing I thought was really fascinating was the ending. The author ends the chapter where the first would start off. So I sort of saw it as, Esperanza is talking about how she is going to write a book about Mango Street, which ironically is where we first begin the novel. She ends it with the beginning. We assume, as we read the beginning of the book, that Esperanza is older and that she has gone back to her family. Esperanza is the hope for her family on Mango Street. She is also the kind of hope that others could strive to be like in places like Mango Street. This book is telling you, "Hey, no matter your condition, you can get yourself out and strive to go higher".
Overall, The House on Mango Street was a good read. Not the best, but if I can learn something from a book, then I consider it good. I can understand why there are bad reviews - I can understand how the book would be boring to some people. It was to me when I was younger. But having read it again, it impacted me in a different way. And it's going to impact everyone in a different way.
 Any street Nov 12, 2009
While I believe anyone who grew up in any large city could appreciate an occasional anecdotal quip...over and over and over again in the authors self-absorbed babytalk squeaking was enough to drive me to the garbage can with this audio book! I won't ever forget to play an example of a selection before being sentenced to another audiobook.
wrong ad, wrong refund Oct 11, 2009
this seller has no books that i ordered (website shows the books). the refund was not correct for a couple of dollars short......... don't know why ??
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Grerat Service Aug 30, 2009
The order was completed and sent veryyyyy fast! i received it within a coule days and thank you very much!
2 of 5 found the following review helpful:
House on Mediocre Street Aug 28, 2009
Sandra Cisneros would deserve an A + for this book---if she'd written it as a 7th grade English student. A worthwhile book by a seasoned writer, though? Meh.
"House on Mango Street" has, however, been absorbed into the canon of American literature, not on any artistic merits, but because of its gimmicks: vignette-style; little-represented cultural group; woman author. It kept appearing on reading lists my kids brought home, but when I flipped through it, nothing grabbed me. When my youngest son's much-admired English teacher gave it an enthusiastic thumbs-up, though, I finally gave in and read it. (Which took about a minute out of my day.)
It was pretty lame.
The subject matter, in the hands of a more skillful writer, may have been interesting. Actually, in the hands of Cisneros, but with a really good editor, it may have been pretty good. As it is, I'm not only surprised it got published, but I am astonished it has been so well-received. This is the greatest contribution EVER by a Latina writer? A depressing possibility.
I hope teachers who consider this book for their students will look a little harder for more complex, challenging and well-written substitutes. All "Mango" does is reinforce the idea that "good writing" consists of nothing more than stringing a few words together to make sentences...plus a gimmick.
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