City News

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros is very unique compared to the other books I have read. Rather than tell one story, many short vignettes make up the entirety of the book, and through reading them all, the reader learns more about Esperanza's life and Cisneros’s messages are portrayed.  Ecah vignette serves a specific purpose, highlighting major events in Esperanza’s life and using them to teach a lesson. I really like how Cisneros wrote the book, and it felt much easier to read than the other books we have read this year, due to the short length of each vignette.  I also think the way Cisneros used literary devices in every vignette made it much more fun to read and analyze. I wish, though, that the book had a little more structure or connection between the vignettes. Everything seemed independent, and I would prefer if the book felt more tied together.   

The House on Mango Street taught me a lot about how coming of age, one of the main themes of the book, can occur, as it follows Esperanza’s coming of age.  Cisneros displays how coming of age occurs through various life lessons. Many of the vignettes in this book tell the story of these learning lessons.  For example, one instance of coming of age occurs when Esperanza and her friend try on new shoes for a day. At first, she believes she will have a magical day, but unfortunately by the afternoon, “her (Esperanza’s friend) mother throws them away, but no one complains” , showing that the girls now understand more about the real world.  The girls are objectified and verbally abused, as they tragically come to understand the role of women in society, and how they are objectified by men. This vignette shows how coming of age occurs through lessons. Similarly, in our lives, many lessons of our own lead to maturity and a better understanding of reality.

The book was really revealing into issues regarding patriarchy and feminism, and what it is like to live in a world like hers, were nothing is really expected of women.  She makes her own dreams though, which is very inspiring, despite all the obstacles she has to overcome. As Esperanza states at the end of The House on Mango Street, “One day I will pack my bags [.  . .], one day I will say goodbye to Mango” .   Esperanza hopes to one day leave Mango Street, and move on and make a name for herself, as she believes she belongs somewhere else.  I recommend this book to everybody, because it is very insightful on life. Also, it is entertaining, and each little story makes for some interesting analysis.  The book is no too long, and is a really fast read. Each vignette is about one and a half pages, so you can read a bunch really quickly. They are very descriptive and paint a lot of pictures in your head, which is what I really like about it.

Check out The House on Mango Street at the Newport Beach Public Library.