A review by carolynf
Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx by Sonia Manzano

2.0

A lot more chaos than love, and not much Maria at all. The book ends with her trying out for Sesame Street, so there is actually nothing about her role as an actress or writer or the development of the character of Maria. That is the main reason why I picked up the book, so that was a disappointment. The majority of the book jumps from childhood memory to childhood memory. Because I'm watching The Get-Down right now the setting is interesting, but this is the Bronx a good generation or so earlier than that show depicts. Everyone is really poor, there is very little sanitation (due to poor infrastructure), and all the men in the neighborhood beat up their wives and intentionally cut their daughters off from anything that might let them get some enjoyment out of life. It is all pretty grim. Why Sonia managed to escape is a bit of a mystery since she doesn't describe herself as especially bright or ambitious. Seeing West Side Story made an impression on her and woke her up, but she didn't take any actions as a direct result of it. If you are interested in the Bronx or stories of urban life in general you may find this interesting, but all in all I think this book has a limited appeal.