America's Dream

Very easy to read and entertaining. The development of the characters is impressive and you get to understand the pressures and way of thinking of battered women, without pitying them.

I've become an avid reader thanks to author, Esmeralda Santiago. After reading her 3 part- biography (1.When I was Puerto Rican, 2.Almost a Woman, 3.The Turkish Lover) I felt as if I'd known her all my life. I could not imagine not having her reading material. Then I purchased "America's Dream" in the Spanish version "El Sueño de América" and read it all in two days because I could barely put it down! This story will appeal not just to Spanish women, but to "every" woman on this planet, weather you've been a domestic violence victim or not, and/or a single-struggling-mother working hard to provide for her family. In my case, I'm blessed to live a happily married life, and to be the mother of two wonderful kids. However, as a woman it touched my heart to read "América's Dream" because although this is not a true story, the fact is that there are many "Américas" in the world! You will be caught in the story from beginning to end. At times you will cry with America, and at times you will laugh hard with her, and the situations she faces with her sarcastic-alcoholic mother. Esmeralda Santiago is a brilliant, talented Puerto Rican writer who has opened my eyes into the wonderful world of reading. I recommend this book and all books written by Esmeralda Santiago.

At first I thought this book was going to be really corny. But when I read the first page I was hooked! This book touched me on so many levels it was amazing! I recomend this book for anyone who is going through hard times with their daughters and for those who know of women being abused mentally and physically, or just know that someone is being abused period. This book touches on all kinds of topics fron alcoholism to teenage pregnancy to spousal abuse. It also shows that there is a new life after the smoke has cleared. Esmeralda Santiago makes America and her family come to life that I feel like I really know them. Este libro es buenisimo!!!! Boricuas in the house!

AMERICA SANTIAGO IS A WOMAN WHO DOES NOT ASK FOR MUCH AND UP TO THE OPENING OF THE BOOK HAS NOT RECEIVED MUCH EITHER. IF SHE WERE TO BE GRANTED THREE WISHES THEY WOULD CERTAINLY BE THAT HER ALCOHOLIC MOTHER GIVE UP HER HABIT, THAT HER DAUGHTER ROSALINDA NEVER DO WHAT SHE DID IN BECOMING A TEENAGED MOTHER AND THAT HER MASOCHISTIC BOYFRIEND WHO IS ALSO THE FATHER OF ROSALINDA STOP TRYING TO BEAT HER TO DEATH.THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK TAKES THE READER TO THE SMALL ISLAND OF VIEQUES THAT FLOATS OFF THE EDGE OF ITS MOTHER ISLAND OF PUERTO RICO. IT IS A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN BECAUSE THOUGH IT POSSESSES BEAUTY.IT IS UNDER OUTSIDE CONTROL VERY MUCH LIKE AMERICA HERSELF. THE U.S. NAVY USES IT FOR BOMBING PRACTICE AND COREA USES AMERICA FOR WHATEVER HE IS IN THE MOOD FOR AT THE MOMENT.AMERICA IS FACED WITH HAVING TO LEAVE THE THINGS CLOSEST AND DEAREST TO HER. HER PLACE OF BIRTH, HER MOTHER AND HER DAUGHTER. WHILE NONE OF THOSE THINGS BRING HER GREAT PLEASURE,THEY ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF HER. SHE WORKS AS A MAID IN A HOTEL MAKING JUST ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP GOING,HER MOTHER IS A WORRY FOR AMERICA BECAUSE SEES HER LIFE BEING DESTROYED BY DESPAIR AND TH BOTTLE. NOT TO WORRY THOUGH TOO MUCH AMERICA,ESTERS LOVE INTEREST WITH THE HOTEL OWNER FILLS HER NIGHTS WHENEVE SHE GETS IN THE MOOD. HER DAUGHTER ROSALINDA SEEMS TO BE GOING THROUGH THAT DIFFICULT PERIOD OF NEEDING TO FEEL AS DIFFERENT FROM HER MOTHER AS POSSIBLE AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO ALIENTATE HERSELF FROM HER BY ACTING DISCUSTED,DISGUSTING AND DETACHED.AFTER A DISTURBING SCENE OF COREA FLEXING HIS MACHISMO EGO AND MIGHTY FIST,AMERICA TAKES AN OFFER TO MOVE TO NEW YORK TO HELP CARE FOR A SUBURBAN FAMILY. THE PLACE IS AS CULTURALLY DIFFERENT AS SWEDEN IS TO THE SUDAN. THE DIFFERENCE IN CLIMATE IS COMPARABLE AS WELL. ITS A TOUGH LIFESTYLE FOR AMERICA BUT ATLEAST SHE IS AWAY FROM COREA. NO ONE NOT EVEN HER MOTHER KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE AMERICA IS. SHE KEEPS IN TOUCH BUT DOES NOT TRUST THAT HER MOTHER COULD KEEP THE SECRET THROUGH ONE OF HER DRINKING EPISODES. AMERICA GETS TO KNOW OTHER LATINA MAIDS CARING FOR PROFESSIONAL WHITE FAMILIES. SHE LEARNS WHO SHE CAN TRUST. SHE FINDS SOME CULTURAL NORMALCY WITH HER PUERTO RICAN COUSIN AND HER FAMILY LIVING IN THE BRONX. FROM TIME TO TIME SHE VISITS THEM WHERE SHE MEETS A YOUNG MAN VERY MUCH UNLIKE COREA WHO ADORES HER. AMERICA HAS DREAMS THOUGH AND SHE IS NOT SURE THAT SUCH A MAN CAN EXIST IT THEM. THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE BOOK IS A VERY PLAUSIBLE ONE. AT ANY RATE IT FITS WELL WITH THE STORY. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONNECTED ISSUES IN THE BOOK THAT MAKE ONE REALIZE THAT WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DREAM REALITY COULD SIMPLY BE TOO MUCH.

I just finished reading America' Dream and I highly recommend it. The main theme of the book is spousal abuse and it's consequences. America, the main character, I think, represents the many Latinas who are victims of the old, but thriving mentality of the Latino men and culture. The book gives a pretty good feel of life in a Latin American country. It also portraits what is like to be a Latina servant in the United States. The story is a descriptive and accurate portrait of a woman's anguish and suffering, and her road to self-sufficiency. As a Latino man I was never offended by the depiction of America's nemesis her lover Correa. On the contrary, I give Esmeralda Santiago praise for daring to portrait the agony that is part of many Latinas and other women's everyday lives.