ThePENLiteraryAward-winningauthor“writeswithhonesty,intelligence,tenderness,andlove“aboutherColombian-Cubanheritageandqueeridentityinthispoignantcoming-of-agememoir(SandraCisneros,authorofTheHouseonMangoStreet).Inthislyrical,coming-of-agememoir,DaisyHern獺ndezchronicleswhatthewomeninherCuban-Colombianfamilytaughtheraboutlove,money,andrace.Hermotherwarnsheraboutenvidiaandmenwhoseduceyouwithpastries,whileonet穩abemoansthathernieceisturningouttobe“unaindia“insteadofanAmerican.Anotherauntieinstructsthatwhentwopeopleareclose,theyareboundtobecomelikeu簽aymugre,fingernailsanddirt,andthatno,Daisy’sfatherisnotgodless.He’ssimplyprayingtoacandydishthatcanbetracedbacktoAfrica.Theselessons--rootedinwomen’sexperiencesofmigration,colonization,ycari簽o--defineinevocativedetailwhatitmeanstogrowupfemaleinanimmigranthome.Inonestory,Daisysetsouttodefythedictatesofraceandclassthatpreoccupyhermotherandt穩as,butdatingwomenandtransmen,andcomingtoidentifyasbisexual,leadshertounexpectedquestions.Inanotherpiece,NAFTAshutslocalfactoriesinherhometownontheoutskirtsofNewYorkCity,andshebeginstranslatingunemploymentformsforherparents,movingbetweenEnglishandSpanish,aswellasprivateandcollectivefears.Inprosethatisbothmemoirandcommentary,DaisyreflectsonreportingfortheNewYorkTimesasthepaperisrockedbythebiggestplagiarismscandalinitshistoryandplungedintodebatesabouttheroleofraceinthenewsroom.Aheartfeltexplorationoffamily,identity,andlanguage,ACupofWaterUnderMyBedisultimatelyadaughter’sstoryoffindingherselfandhercommunity,andofcreatinganew,queerlife.
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