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There are currently 35 member reviews
for My Broken Language
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susannak
Review not rated
RE: Quiana's relationships with her...
Her cousins meant a lot to her. She loved them but there was a sadness with their lives. They seemed to pop in and out each with different scenarios. I found I was a bit confused and at times saddened with them all.
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kimk
Review not rated
RE: Spanish words and phonetic spellings...
I really enjoyed the Spanish that the author included. One reason was that it seemed so natural to her - that's how she talks, especially to her mom's family, slipping in the occasional Spanish word. The other reason it appealed to me is that my pandemic hobby has been learning Spanish, so I enjoyed reading words I recognized.
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acstrine
Review not rated
RE: The family elders in My Broken ...
I agree that the challenges the women faced in My Broken Language are still relevant today. The most glaring example of this, in my opinion, was the "welfare queen" debate. When a woman has a child or children and finds herself in a situation where she needs help- -SHE is the person who his vilified. It is the woman's character that is questioned and criticized. This made me think about some of the recent debate and legislation regarding abortion that seemingly punishes women but doesn't take into account that they cannot get pregnant by themselves. Why aren't we having more debates in classrooms about "deadbeat dads"?
Poverty is the greatest divider in access to good health care and education. There is a larger income gap today than when Quiara was growing up. Women are often forced to choose between a good paying, full time job and childcare--especially if they are single mothers--or choose between taking care of their children and higher education.
I'm curious about any childhood trauma that those who grow up in poverty may experience. I'm sure there is a lot of uncertainty, fear of needs not being met, fear of police in the neighborhoods, fear of gangs or drug dealers... Trauma aside, the constant stress of worrying about these things can cause serious health issues, including depression and anxiety, which may turn into full blown addiction.
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bettiet
Review not rated
RE: If your family's story is not ...
I think it is important to share family stories no matter what your cultural background is. It has been only in the last few years that I have learned of some of the remarkable achievements of some of my fore-mothers. Their stories were not passed down with the same fervor as some of the tales of the men, indeed some were not passed down at all but assumed that woman's work was not of the same caliber. I'm not certain if I would call the reaction "freeing" or "daunting" but it is certainly encouraging .
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BeeBee
Review not rated
RE: Do you agree that non-white citizens...
Yes, absolutely! We continue to be reminded of this in our daily lives and in the rich telling of stories through books.
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cassandraw
Review not rated
RE: Do you agree that non-white citizens...
Being a woman of color, I totally agree that people of color face more hurdles than their white counterparts. I recommend reading Isabel
Wilkerson’s “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” Wilkerson maintains that “Societies can be more magnanimous when people perceive themselves as having an equal stake in the lives of their fellow citizens.” Those in the dominant caste have an obligation to help those in the subordinate castes or, at the very least, not to make their lives worse.
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melissa c.
Review not rated
RE: Quiara felt that her father and his ...
Thankfully I have never been in the situation of having to "choose" with whom I identify. I agree with christinec - I would also love to know what Quiara's father thinks of the book. I'm sure such a decision is not uncommon for people who are of mixed race/religion, etc.
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