The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

This is the kind of book I would like to write.  Each short-short is powerful, pretty and just the right length.  I love to read slice of life, coming of age type books, and Cisneros creates this kind of style in a unique way.  These little stories involve many of the same characters, and the events and emotions overlap.  They weave together to tell us about Esparanza and her life on Mango Street.

I also enjoyed reading Cisneros introduction.  Don't skip it. I found it really insightful into her life, and therefore her writing.

Here are some samples of her writing:

"They are the only ones who understand me.  I am the only one who understand them;.  Four skinny trees with skinny necks and pointy elbows like mine. Four who do not belong here but are here..."

Or

"In English my name means hope.  In Spanish it means too many letters.  It means sadness, it means waiting.  It is like the number nine.  A muddy color..."

I love the way the words tumble out and create the mood they intend.  I think Sanda Cisneros is brilliant and very good at what she does.