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krystalicia_'s review against another edition
3.0
For me, this book was incredibly just ok. It was a pretty quick read and I do think the author did a good job of making the content easy to understand and digestible, but in doing so I almost feel like they didn’t say as much as the title would lead on. There was nothing necessarily groundbreaking about it, but I’m guessing that wasn’t the purpose.
I think this could be a really good book for Latinos that are coming into their identities and beginning to question the ways colonialism and white supremacy shows up in their lives and in their familial upbringing, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this would be a great first book. Similarly, if you are a white person and are also trying to understand the ways colonialism and white privilege have impacted and continue to impact marginalized people, then this could be a good first book for you.
One thing I did appreciate that the author talked about was Cubans that settled specifically in Miami and how the people she interacted with, including her family and herself, essentially believed they were white in that space and the lasting negative impacts of single voter groups.
town_scar's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
titalindaslibrary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
4.0
madelinedalton's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
She’s a great writer, but I wished the essays had gone deeper into the topics presented. Many felt surface level and I was left wanting more.
I also went in expecting this to be more educational about anti-racism, but it wound up being more of essays reflecting on life. Not a criticism at all—just not what I expected to read!
I also went in expecting this to be more educational about anti-racism, but it wound up being more of essays reflecting on life. Not a criticism at all—just not what I expected to read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Vomit
bookreviewswithkb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
in my time among the whites, the author explores her Cuban identity alongside her American identity, white privilege, and her experience with imposter syndrome. her writing is both witty and serious, sharp and wavering. several of the essays in this collection are extremely moving and powerful, portraying the impact of white supremacy on so many facets of American society. Crucet’s exploration of her relationship with her father is incredibly vulnerable and beautiful and i wish our society didn’t teach men that strength is found in the denial of their emotions
i did find the first selection of essays slightly less interesting than the latter or maybe they just lingered a little too long
auntbreesqreads's review against another edition
5.0
I gave this 4.5/5 stars.
This is a collection of essays by the author who is an American with parents who were Cuban refugees. Too often, we (white Americans) lump all Latinx Americans together (like this heritage month) but their experiences are so diverse. Somehow my relatives can understand why our Polish roots and our German roots are distinct but not the difference between Mexican heritage and Cuban heritage. The author explores what it means to be American and to be Cuban American.
I thought it was fantastic and will definitely be reading more by her!
This is a collection of essays by the author who is an American with parents who were Cuban refugees. Too often, we (white Americans) lump all Latinx Americans together (like this heritage month) but their experiences are so diverse. Somehow my relatives can understand why our Polish roots and our German roots are distinct but not the difference between Mexican heritage and Cuban heritage. The author explores what it means to be American and to be Cuban American.
I thought it was fantastic and will definitely be reading more by her!
bougainvillea's review
2.0
Underwhelming. I went in expecting better writing and deeper thinking than I found. I guess that's my bad.
The writer's perspective is very white Cuban which she recognizes, but I felt like she could have gone deeper into what that means. It was very interesting to read her descriptions of Miami. If I didn't know the place, I would think that only Anglo Whites and Cubans live there. Which is of course not the case at all.
The writer's perspective is very white Cuban which she recognizes, but I felt like she could have gone deeper into what that means. It was very interesting to read her descriptions of Miami. If I didn't know the place, I would think that only Anglo Whites and Cubans live there. Which is of course not the case at all.