Boricuas: Influential Puerto Rican WritingsAn Anthology by Roberto Santiago

Boricuas: Influential Puerto Rican WritingsAn Anthology Reviews

• 
  Julio Pino

  I once used the term "los Anglos" with a Puerto Rican bunk mate of mine. "Who's that? he asked. "The Americans around us". If I had to choose one synecdoche for Latin America, and indeed the whole Third World, it would be Puerto Rico, with its "four-story house" of indigenous, African, Spanish and American influences. The division between the island Puerto Ricans and the "NyoRicans" on the U.S. mainland is another powerful metaphor of colonialism and the seeds of division it sows; think of Chicano/Mexican and Havana versus Havana Cubans. "Boricuas", from Boricua, the Indian name of the island, is an anthology of fiction and non-fiction writings adding up to what the Cuban author Miguel Barnet calls "testimonial literature". Here we have the memoirs of Piri Thomas, growing up in "the mean streets of New York" thinking he was white until the Anglos told him he was Black. Puerto Rican female poetry from the island, among the most famous in the canon of Latin American literature, is fittingly well-represented, along with dramatist, poet, junkie Miguel Pinero ("The Bodega Sold Dreams"). If I have one bone to pick with this volume is that the editor has omitted some fine pieces from the Seventies version of this anthology, particularly a moving essay, "Grandma, Please Don't Come!" (to the USA, that is) and "A Puerto Rican {Catholic} Mass of Liberation."
• 
  Bianca

  As a self proclaimed Nuyorican, I'm trying to read and educate myself on where my family comes from and I absolutely loved all the excerpts in this book. I want to read the full versions and continue on my journey and this was a great stepping stone. It has a bit of everything, from history to stories of love and poetry.
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  Lisa (LiteraryLatinax)

  As a Puerto Rican, I would definitely recommend anyone to read this. I love this book. One story in particular that has stuck with me all these years is "The Boy Without A Flag" by Abraham Rodriguez. I recommend this to anyone for a fun, educated great read.
• 
  Seven

  A MUST HAVE IF YOU ARE BORICUA
• 
  May Ling

  Summary: A great compilation of Puerto Rican Stories and poems. I would highly recommend for those who want a flavor of how this writing style is uniquely different/beautiful, or for those interested in working on Latin American Literature in general.
  
  Sadly, I read this on a plane, left the book for someone else to enjoy and lost where I stored the review. I remember enjoying this book and thinking it's even better if you know a bit of Spanish and Puerto Rican culture. I grew up around Boriquas so was excited when I saw a book of this nature.
  
  The topics chosen feel so "real" for lack of a better way to say it. Real to the way I grew up and the people I knew to be cultural different in a beautiful way. The writing style is uniquely different; and I think this is important to understand. There is a bit of G. Garcia Marquez in the sense of the way reality is displayed in words, but yet no. And I think that's the point. The Latin American experience, both overseas and those that write with this dual culture in America is NOT 1 thing. This book is awesome b/c it is distinctly PR. It's not even Caribbean latino. It is PR. To really appreciate this, you will want to catch that difference as you read.
  
  Super rhythmic beautiful language. Kudos for this collection of stories and poems.
• 
  Becky

  I read this book as a way to prepare for a reporting trip to Puerto Rico. I like to read about the place where I am going, but usually I choose one novel instead of an anthology. This anthology helped me really get a sense of the breadth of Puerto Rican literature and history, on the island and in the diaspora. It was published in 1995 and I am curious about what an updated edition would look like today. Reading this book I felt very aware of how little I had previously understood of Puerto Rican history both on the island and in the mainland. I'm grateful to have read it. My only complaint is that Section 5, "Urban Reality," was written entirely by men and seemed to be geared toward being as dark and gritty as possible in such a way that I did not actually believe it to be reality. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to enrich their knowledge of Puerto Rico or the varied experiences of Puerto Ricans.
• 
  Marisa Gonzalez

  I find with Hispanic writers I either love them or hate them. I found it to be true of this book also. A collection of both fiction and non-fiction stories. It featured such great writers as Esmeralda Santiago, Piri Thomas and Judith Ortiz Cofer. I wasn't too crazy about the poetry. I also didn't like the political edge of some of the stories particularly the ones that favored the "independistas" as they had a very communistic feel to them.
• 
  Jessica

  Very interesting, sociologically. Though, after a while it became to feel like a very heavy read, a downer. I thoroughly enjoyed the last full chapter, especially since it included writing about other topics outside of sociopolitical topics. Puerto Rican artists write about that but also more and are very imaginative. I did not enjoy any of the poetry, however.
• 
  Jodeen Olguin-Tayler

  I'm working (& pretending NOT to live) in Puerto Rico, so this book is an interesting look at different perspectives on the complexity of Puerto Rican identity in the context of PR's history of resistance to and acceptance of imperalism.
  
• 
  Nikole Jewell

  Rene Marquez' piece is probably the most insightful theory I've read in a long time, and "Boy Without a Flag" (possible typo) is probably one of my favorite personal essays I've read. If I hadn't read it my life would suck.
• 
  Ashley

  The book provided an amazing amount of insight into Puerto Rican culture. It was a true exploration and a trip that I needed to make in order to better grasp my own ancestry. The vast experience of these people is so mesmerizing and each chapter held so many surprises. A great read.
• 
  Marilyn Rios

  This book is a must read for all Puerto Ricans and anyone in general, it gives such a great insight into the culture and struggle of Puerto Ricans. It opened my eyes to what a rich history Puerto Rico has and the sadness of how untold it truly is.
• 
  Jess

  Filled with Great writers!
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  Jane Lopez

  love love love this book. definitely one I will reread again in the near future
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  Marilyn Pagán-Banks

  I read this on a car trip back from NY, where I attended the commemoration of the 100 years of US invasion in Puerto Rico with my daughters in 1998. Highly recommend this book!
• 
  Corwin Moore

  Excellent.
• 
  Simon

  A good overview, and it's led me to other books. I'd love to read a more current anthology.
• 
  Elizabetine

  A perfect anthology that introduces us to different Puerto Rican writers and showcases the struggles of living in the mainland.
• 
  Naomi

  Very good collection of writings! One of the best antholgies I've read in a while.
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  Melissa

  read this book like a million times