Soledad

At first I was attracted to this book for it's cover, but then i read it's tittle "Soledad" which means loneliness, and i thought maybe this book will keep me conected to my roots, and it did. The story about a girl that wants a different future than everybody else, she wants to separate herself from what she has known all her life, to explore new paths that may take her far away. Once she takes a new path she is forced to come back to take care of her mom who has checked out of the world. Soledad finds herself back in a place she longed to leave, she finds people she wanted to forget, but they all have something different to show her. Back in the old neighborhood she finds love where least expected, and at the end she realizes that everything she was looking for was always right in front of her.I recomend this book to people who want to learn about a part of Latin cultures in the US.

I thoroughly disagree with those reviewers of Angie Cruz's debut novel who perhaps smugly dismiss her work as being "a total mess," or "not enough story." One reviewer boldly proclaimed that Cruz "is no Gabriel Garcia Marquez." Well, really now!! Even to suggest that an initiate in the daunting art of this lofty genre must somehow (miraculously) immediately measure up to the accomplished mastery of a seasoned novelist of the rank and distinction of the Nobel Prize-winning Colombian writer Garcia Marquez or perhaps of the caliber of Chilean Isabel Allende is unreasonable at best. After all, these two writers par excellence eventually mastered their respective literary craft only after long years of painstakingly honing a (self-satisfying) writing style and ultimate artistry. Even skilled writers don't exactly tumble out of the womb being able to compose beautiful prose or poetry.So, Angie Cruz joins the growing cadre of young, gifted writers such as Nelly Rosario and Loida Maritza Perez and others who, in time, will indeed garner the accolades and wider readership that Danticat, Alvarez, Conde, Junot Diaz, Esmeralda Santiago, and yes, Allende currently enjoy. Just give her time. Angie Cruz unquestionably knows the heart and soul of Washington Heights in upper Manhattan, home to thousands of dominicanos. She feels vividly the pulse and pace of these streets and the people there. Soledad's traumatic journey (an escape, actually) to downtown is memorable and quite believable. This is a provocative story, told with imaginative grace and power. All the characters are beautifully realized. Any suggestion of "a disorganized plot" is artistically and cleverly interwoven into the realistic, yet disorganized lives of the people who struggle to survive the harshness and ugliness of those mean streets. Y es facil, Ms Cruz?Highly Recommended Reading!Alan CambeiraAuthor of AZUCAR! The Story of Sugar (a novel)

Loved this book! Loved the passion and the loyalty in which the family and neighbors have for each other. Also,the beautiful struggle to live and to love, fight and to dream. Soledad's journey is a great read. I laughed and cried, got a little wiser from the advice of the viejo's(the old ones). This book would not have been the same without the spanglish. I will miss these people, they were my crazy familia for a few enjoyable hours. Thank you Angie Cruz...can't wait to read your next novel. I highly recommend this book to latina's everywhere.

I have just finished reading this book. This book offers some insight. I also felt for the characters in the novel. However, it can be confusing if you have different people narrating. But I caught on. Again. It is a good read.

this book is wonderful It has great visuals and lots and lots of details the adventure is quite different its unsual but a good one. I love this book! The author angie is great!