Welcome to Litsy!

#AutumnPlease! Day 18: There are #Witch(y) women in this collection of stories I read as part of our #DecolonizeReading2023 theme. There was one story that resonated with me, Eyes of Zapata, with its parallels to the Filipino manananggal – except that this one flies full-bodied, finding her ertswhile-feckless lover, her emotions allowing her to defy gravity. My full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-ovU

Reading Cisneros is a singular experience for me, because I enjoy how her writing ranges from fluidly conversational to wildly poetic, but the majority of these short stories centre topics I can't relate to or find uncomfortable. It's good to be challenged, on occasion, as long as it doesn't put you in a reading slump. 😏 Favourite story was 'Los Boxers.' Warnings for violence, misogyny, racism.

"...what they never tell you is that when you're eleven, you're also ten, and nine, and eight...You feel like you're still ten. And you are-underneath the year that makes you eleven. Like some days you might say something stupid, and that's the part of you that's still ten... And maybe one day when you're all grown up maybe you will need to cry like if you're three, and THAT'S OKAY."

"...l can't be a mother. Not now. Maybe never. Not for me to choose, like I didn't choose being female. Like I didn't choose being artist - it isn't something you choose. It's something you are, only I can't explain it.
I don't want to be a mother.
I wouldn't mind being a father. At least a father could still be artist, could love something instead of someone, and no one would call that selfish."

Another classic I took too long to read. I really enjoy Sanda Cisnero's writing style.

My only gripe with this collection, is some story ies were to short while others were too long.

Lots of this book takes place in and around my city of San Antonio. Cisneros name drops obscure but iconic SA bars, restaurants, and streets. It was cool to read a book with familiar locales casually mentioned. This makes me a little more partial to the book than I might‘ve been if it were set elsewhere. Still a worthwhile read no matter where you‘re from. Here‘s a pic of me in SA on a recent mother-daughter date, me being the daughter. 👩‍👧

...stupid are thou amongst all women.

Your real name is Coatlaxopeuh, She Who Has Dominion over Serpents. 🙏🏽

Dear San Antonio de Padua,

Can you please help me find a man who isn‘t a pain in the nalgas. There aren‘t any in Texas, I swear. Especially not in San Antonio.

reading this is like eating a watermelon. so juicy and refreshing 🤤🍉💦

#readathon-ing at an amusement park sure makes for fun photo ops

Yes you can #readathon while taking your kids to the amusement park

Welp, looks like I️ have my 2018 reading goals ready to go.

Today at work I printed the new #readharder task list (I‘ve been obsessively checking for it) and a patron introduced me to the #librotraficante aka the books that were banned by the state of Arizona‘s crusade against ethnic studies which was later deemed unconstitutional.

Train reads. Third Cisneros of the year! 💚

#readingwomenmonth

Short story collections by women that I have enjoyed.

Sandra Cisneros is one of my favorite #mexicanamrricanwriters #maybookflowers @RealLifeReading

#maybookflowers my choice for Mexican or Mexican American author! Sandra Cisneros writes such incredible short stories - I can't believe it took me this long to find her! She is also the author of House on Mango Street which I highly recommend.

(Idk about this picture. Thoughts?)

#diversebooks #diversebookbloggers #womenwriters #shortstories

#FeistyFeb Day 8 - #LatinxAuthors

One of my favorites is Sandra Cisneros, because what powerful stories she can tell in so few words!