Welcome to Litsy!

#12DaysofChristmas #May

I fell asleep so this one is a day late.

This is around the time my resolve to review books consistently fell apart as usual.

I love this one. Ana Castillo‘s writing is beautiful and poetic. Carmen, despite having polio as a child, is a renowned flamenco dancer in Chicago. I love reading about Carmen, her passionate love affairs, her relationship with her family, and her strength.

#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

This was the second in the series. It wasn‘t as good as the first. It is very light and amusing and slightly gross. The main character made many horrible choices.

#StripesOnCover 💈⏸️🟰 #BookBinge 📚❤️📚

#BookNerd 🤓💙📚

This writer puts you squarely in the midst of a character‘s experience. The story dances & you can get dizzy at times. This is a story of a flamenco dancer who despite having polio as a child is admired and respected for her skills. She is involved in 2 relationships that create issues for all involved. We see her as she ages & explores new avenues & develops a newfound respect for herself. This is the 2nd book Reggie has sent me by this author.

#MayMontage Day 14: Perfect for #MothersDay, this book is spoken through a child‘s voice describing a mother who happens to be larger than life. The child‘s gaze towards her mother is adoring and joyful with an intimacy that is well-defined and embodied with grace. I love how contemporary the sound of this narrative is: it jives with a beat, a stomp, a rhythm of its own that is distinctive and true. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-oBE

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."

Becoming Latina in 10 Easy Steps by Lara Rios

This is one of my favorites. What does it mean to be Mexican? I read this twice when I was an undergrad because it really spoke to me.

#AlphabetGame
#LetterB
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#2022Book69
Based on the cover, I didn‘t realize this story was going to be completely based in reality. That‘s not a complaint, just a comment on my own “judging a book by its cover.” Instead, this book tells the story of a young girl learning to find acceptance amongst her family, friends, and crushes. I really liked the overall story, but it felt like there was more slut-shaming and fat-shaming than necessary.