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A review by celestesbookshelf
Woman Without Shame: Poems by Sandra Cisneros
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Woman Without Shame is NSFW! She is utterly raw and honest about her youth, her past and present, and most important her comfort in her own skin.
She doesn't shy away from describing the effects of gravity and age on her body, in fact she embraces them and applauds the life she's lived.
I saw her at the Texas Book Festival where she read a poem, she talked about the inspiration for this collection, the story behind the book cover, (she initially wanted it to be a nude woman), and much more. Javier Zamora, author of Solito, was the moderator and the translator, Liliana Valenzuela.
The collection is made up of desire for peace, reminiscing of simpler days having ICEE's, and most boldly her sexual experiences and expression.
My favorite poems:
- Creed - because she calls for mothers and grandmothers to put ~los machos~ in their place
- K-Mart, San Antonio, TX, 1986 - because it was relatable, as a San Antonian I've had those nights sharing nachos and ICEE's
- It occurs to me I am the creative/destructive Goddess of Coatlicue - because she has various references including "Roil like Rhys's Sargasso Sea."
- Canto for a Woman of a Certain Llanto, after Dylan Thomas, a reimagining of Thomas' "do not go gentle into that good night"
- Cisneros at the Texas Book Festival stated she is already expecting her newest poem collection to become banned and I won't be surprised! Nothing more audacious than a woman talking about her life! So I highly recommend this collection because now and always - READ BANNED BOOKS!
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