Bitita's Diary: The Autobiography of Carolina Maria de Jesus: The Autobiography of Carolina Maria de Jesus

I was asked to read this book for a class. I really did not think that I would enjoy it at all. I was wrong, once I picked up this book I could not put it down. It tells of the amazing strugles of this poor girl growing up in Brazil. I was shocked and amazed to find out about the racism that occured during these times even between families. It was also moving to read this book and see the world through the eyes of a child. Just to think that a child could have the thoughts that Bitita did was moving. I must say that I am very impressed with her overcoming the hardships that she faced, she is an inspiration. I highly recommend this book.

This book was easy reading however, there a lot of true knowledge being spilled by this lady from childhood and through out her adulthood. She focuses on aspects of her life that shape her past, present and future. As she describe her family, her country, and her environment, it's unbelievable the kinds of condition and life events that she encounter. This book take you on a journey into her life and forces you to feel the pain, and sorrow of her life experiences. Another thing about this book is that you learn much more about history of Brazil, some of the social conditions, and the kind of environments that different people lived in. As you read her dairy, it not surprising to think that some of these views of the world is the views of an educated and wise adult. At the end of this book, you can only wish her auspicious future.

I think that Bitita's Diary was a very sad but interesting book. The book basically focused on how your race, class, and gender rated you according to society. For example, the blacks were treated as slaves or servants and the only way that they were treated as if they meant something was if they had money. Since Bitita was black and poor she was treated worthless, not only by people in the world but also by her own family. Because her family consisted of blacks, whites, and mulattos, everyone was viewed differently. For example, when the blacks in the family visited the whites or the mulattos they would make the saty outside, because blacks were not permitted in the house. I thought that was very unfair because they were all related and just because the color of their skin was different didn'r give them the reason to treat them badly. One thing that I liked about Bitita was the fact that she never gave up on her hopes and dreams. She always looked for a job and gave her mother money or clothes when she had it to give. I thought that Bitita's mom was using her in a way, because she would always tell her that she needed money for something and always criticized her. When Bitita gave her money dhe was happy, but when Bitita didn't have money she always talked bad about her. It seemed as if she was blaming Bitita for her own misfortune. Overall I thought that the book was very good because it showed how racism not only exists in the world, but also in families too. I highly recommend this book to other that way thay can see how this book touches the heart.

I found this book by accident in the library and proceeded to buy it. There are so few books on the life-experiences of blacks in Latin America. This moving book by Carolina de Jesus about her childhood in Brazil is astonishing. A must read!

Fans of Carolina Maria de Jesus's writings will want to read this startling translation of the black Brazilian author's autobiography of her childhood years. She was reviled because she was illegitimate and black, and when she taught herself to read she was considered to be possessed by the devil. This is an outstanding addition to the literature about Latin American rural life and its relations between persons of different races.