Reviews

A Cup of Water Under My Bed: A Memoir by Daisy Hernández

amandakathleen's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

tessa_sobi's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced

4.0

rest15resistance's review against another edition

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3.0

" Writing is how I leave my family, and how I take them with me"
from "A Cup of Water Under My Bed" by Daisy Hernandez

This quote describes how the author, who chooses a career as a writer, diverges away from the traditional ways of her Colombian and Cuban family heritage. She is encouraged however, as the family believes that this talent of writing will lead her to the life that they want for her without the hardships that they've had to encounter. Along the way, as Hernandez comes of age, she begins to make some untraditional choices in lovers that are unacceptable to her family. I felt that perhaps these portions of the book were the most candid as she explains what it is like to adopt a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy with your family.

Yet, through her writing, she is able to document the traditions and folklore of her family culture and the different aspects of the personalities of her mother, father, and aunts, and also the memories. As a reader, you come to know her family.

As a story teller, I think Hernandez is critical without being harsh. Honest, but not brutally. She touches on issues such as racism, immigration, welfare, unemployment, foreign relations, and homophobia just enough for you to get a sense of a certain emotion without delving too deeply.

fayebean's review against another edition

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4.0

read for book club....this was enjoyable and insightful and we had a great conversation

nanshii's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

vivian_m_anderson's review against another edition

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read for 11th grade american studies w/ kimura!

amystinereads's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

npshafer's review

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emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

lizr1111's review against another edition

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inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

phoebewerling's review against another edition

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inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

3.0