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lingfish7's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
📖🎧This Latinx anthology of essays was such a breath of fresh air. As a daughter of a Cuban Chinese immigrant I’ve always felt like I’m not Latinx enough, even though my grandmother (who I never got to meet) was born and raised in Havana. My dad’s first language was Spanish but he didn’t speak it to me so I had to learn it like everyone else in high school and college. What was so encouraging about these essays is that many of the authors experience the same Latinx imposter syndrome I do. What’s beautiful about the Latinx community is we are so diverse and represent many different cultures, races, and countries.
I read this collection using a combination of the audiobook (excellently narrated) and hardcopy and found both equally engaging. There are 15 essays total and the one that stood out to me the most was a Latina woman married to a white man who detailed her experience enduring the blatant racism and micro-aggressions her white in-laws showed her. The story ended with the woman cutting them out of her life because it was so toxic. I loved this essay so much I had my husband read it. These essays are so authentic about what it’s like to be seen as “other” as part of this vastly diverse community.
There were a couple essays written by Afrolatinx authors and I appreciated their rawness about their erasure from the community and about how confusing it can be to wrestle with being both black and Latinx. Every story in this collection was interesting and important. I wish I had access to this book a decade ago.
wanderlust_romance's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This was such a great collection of essays by writers from a variety of lived experiences across the Latin American diaspora. The variation in writing coupled with the varied themes and narration made this especially enjoyable. At first, I found my thoughts wandering into the territory of "these essays aren't really speaking to me," and on reflection that was the entire point. Once that realization happened, my reading/listening approach shifted from centering a connection to my own lived experience to one of learning how race / Latinidad was unique to each author., then pausing to reflect on the essay's message Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is very thoughtful and intentional in its inclusion of essays that center the Afro-Latine experience, one that is all too often erased or subject to anti-Blackness. These essays are wonderfully written, heartfelt, occasionally angry, sad, and poignant. Highly recommend this anthology.
My favorite essays:
My favorite essays:
- Eres Un Pocho
- #Julian4Spiderman
- Haitian Sensation
- Cuban Imposter Syndrome
- Invisible
- A Mi Orden
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
moodyromancereader's review against another edition
4.5
This is a beautiful anthology featuring fifteen voices from the Latine diaspora. Each story reminds us that the Latine diaspora and its experiences vary, yet they are all valid and uniquely yours.
Every story was solid and unique. But my favorite essays were the ones discussing dual identities and intersectionality and navigating those identities. The essays also discussed queerness, colorism, imposter syndrome, politics, and coming of age.
The stories that stood out to me were:
-The Price of Admission by Naima Coster
-Paraíso Negro by Khalil Haywood
-A Mi Ordern - A Meditation on Dichos by Elizabeth Acevedo
I switched between the book and the audiobook; both were enjoyable. I preferred the audiobook since every author reads their essays, and it felt like I was listening to a friend share their story.
caitieh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5