Take a photo of a barcode or cover
longw_rth 's review for:
Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza
by Gloria E. Anzaldúa
Some of this book was fucking fantastic; I will be incorporating many of her essays into my future history curriculum especially to frame discussions of the colonial acquisition of Texas. I have already recommended some of these essays to some of my current students and they loved them.
But the second half of the book (which was predominantly poetry) just didn't captivate me. I think it's just a stylistic preference; I can see why and how someone would like the poetry; it just wasn't for me. Personally, I think that Anzaldua is best when she is writing mixed genres; her pieces that are part research essay, part autobiography, and part poetry are brilliant and captivating. Her poetic tone allows her theory to come through in a way that feels urgent and physically close. It's really cool.
Giving 4 stars because the essays/mixed form are so strong I think it effectively outweighs the mid poetry. If I could divide this book in two, the first half would get 5 stars and the second would get 3. Overall though, I definitely recommend it.
But the second half of the book (which was predominantly poetry) just didn't captivate me. I think it's just a stylistic preference; I can see why and how someone would like the poetry; it just wasn't for me. Personally, I think that Anzaldua is best when she is writing mixed genres; her pieces that are part research essay, part autobiography, and part poetry are brilliant and captivating. Her poetic tone allows her theory to come through in a way that feels urgent and physically close. It's really cool.
Giving 4 stars because the essays/mixed form are so strong I think it effectively outweighs the mid poetry. If I could divide this book in two, the first half would get 5 stars and the second would get 3. Overall though, I definitely recommend it.