Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

My Broken Language: A Memoir by Quiara Alegría Hudes

6 reviews

sbgage's review against another edition

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funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.0


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hanhantap's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0


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strange's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0


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tilo's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.75

I was invited to a small group discussion about this book as part of the 20th anniversary of "One Book, One Philadelphia". 

[I was gifted the book but also bought the audiobook read by the author. The last 200 pages I listened to the audio version while reading simulteanously (allowing a faster read due to double speed as I was behind on pages to finish on time for the discussion). That was a fun experience and the audiobook is great.]

Being one of the few memoirs that I have read, this one made me curious about the genre. However, I do feel that a downside of this genre seems to be all the loose ends that were left by creating so many backstories to so many characters.
Nonetheless, this memoir is a refreshing insight on what issues Latinas face but focusing more on problems often overseen by white feminism such as poverty and lack of education. Interestingly enough, this book does not focus on issues caused directly by men but rather other challenges of a Latinx upbringing such as language, spirituality, and above all the question of whether one is being - in this case - "enough" Puerto Rican.

The style is beautiful and the discussion on language is fascinating. Some of the challenges of becoming an artist/writer described in this memoir comforted me in a way I was not expecting.

Again, the only but slight downside was the hinting to so many interesting sidestories that the format did not allow to be explored and the - to quote one of the members of my discussion group - "what feels like the need to include an American dream success story" which the story did not thrive upon considering all the other positive reflections on language, body, education, spirituality, and identity.

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martachbc's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but I absolutely loved it. Hudes has such a way with words (if you didn’t know from her book work for In the Heights and Vivo). She expressed a uniquely American experience, but also one that’s unique to her and her Puerto Rican family, while finding that commonality of the human experience we can all connect. I’m not sure how much more talented this woman could be! My only complaint is I prefer a more linear narrative (it’s a mixture). Come for the beautiful storytelling, stay for the learning experience.

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caseythereader's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

3.75


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