Finding Yourself: Almost a Woman
Title of book: Almost a Woman
Author: Esmeralda Santiago
Date of Publication: October 1999
Publisher: First Vintage Books
Summary:
Esmeralda Santiago or Negi as her family calls her, moves from Puerto Rico at twelve to Brooklyn New York at first with her mother and two brothers and one sister. Her family moves because her little brother had gotten sick and Mami wanted to get health care. Soon Negi finds out she is Hispanic and not Puerto Rican in America. Negi just recently turn thirteen years old and she wants to have her own solitude. She had wanted a bed to herself not sharing with her little sister. Also she was missing her father who is still in Puerto Rico. Negi had to translate for Mami at the welfare office. Mami is very strict and overprotective of Negi due to being in America. Negi she just wants independence from her family sometimes. But being the oldest she has responsibilities. Negi is soon conflicted to who she is American or Puerto Rican due to people telling her otherwise Fast forward a couple of years and Negi is enrolled in New York’s prestigious Performing Arts High School. She is soon gets a starring role in the school production of Cleopatra. In school she tries to find a way for her to fuse her cultures together.
Soon Negi gets an interest in boys and Mami does not like it. Mami had told Negi she not allowed to date but Negi went on dates. The dates were just comical. After Negi goes on her series of dates, she found that being independent is had to accomplish because there’s going to be obstacles. Also trying to cut the leash from Mami who she feels like is overbearing her. Soon Negi graduates from Manhattan’s Performing Arts High School. Then Negi leaves her family house and decides to move with her first real boyfriend Ulvi to Florida. She becomes really homesick and misses her family especially her mother. Negi realizes the deep bond she has between her and Mami and how distance and time goes by it would not change it. Negi and Ulvi relationship is very unhealthy. Negi friend Iris had claimed the bracelet that Ulvi had gotten her reminded her of shackles. Negi had doubted any unhealthy relationship but soon realize how perfect her seem to her at first is not who he is now. Negi then leaves Ulvi in Florida and comes back to the family in New York. Few years later, Negi goes to Harvard University and graduated. Then, she gets a Master’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College. Recalls the time of her mother telling that she should try to fit in but don’t be too “American”. She reflects on how during her early years on arriving in American how she felt out of place and wants to feel like she belongs. Now she knows her identity and how she is Esmeralda “Negi” Santiago a Puerto Rican girl living in an America trying to find herself.
Quote:
“Love was something you get over. If Ulvi left, there would be another man, but there would never, ever be another Mami” (pg. 310).
Quotation Context:
Negi is talking to Mami when she comes back from living in Florida. She tells Mami how love is easily to get over and there can be other man then Ulvi. But Mami can never be replaced or can there be another. This is important because the bond between Mami and Negi intensify and it seems that Negi finally understands her mother more now than when she was thirteen. I personally agree and understand what Negi was telling her mother and I think not just a mother but also a grandmother, grandfather or sibling can’t be another. This quote I enjoyed about the book because it was Negi finally realizing how badly she needs Mami and thaa it time for her to get out of an unhealthy relationship.
