A Cup of Water Under My Bed : A Memoir

A coming-of-age memoir by a Colombian-Cuban woman about shaping lessons from home into a new, queer life In this lyrical, coming-of-age memoir, Daisy Hernández chronicles what the women in her Cuban-Colombian family taught her about love, money, and race. Her mother warns her about envidia and men who seduce you with pastries, while one tía bemoans that her niece is turning out to be " una india " instead of an American. Another auntie instructs that when two people are close, they are bound to become like uña y mugre , fingernails and dirt, and that no, Daisy's father is not godless. He's simply praying to a candy dish that can be traced back to Africa. These lessons--rooted in women's experiences of migration, colonization, y cariño --define in evocative detail what it means to grow up female in an immigrant home. In one story, Daisy sets out to defy the dictates of race and class that preoccupy her... The PEN Literary Award–winning author “writes with honesty, intelligence, tenderness, and love” about her Colombian-Cuban heritage and queer identity in this poignant coming-of-age memoir (Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street ). In this lyrical, coming-of-age memoir, Daisy Hernández chronicles what the women in her Cuban-Colombian family taught her about love, money, and race. Her mother warns her about envidia and men who seduce you with pastries, while one tía bemoans that her niece is turning out to be “ una india ” instead of an American. Another auntie instructs that when two people are close, they are bound to become like uña y mugre , fingernails and dirt, and that no, Daisy’s father is not godless. He’s simply praying to a candy dish that can be traced back to Africa. These lessons—rooted in women’s experiences of migration, colonization, y cariño —define in evocative detail what it means to grow up female in an immigrant home. In one story, Daisy sets out to defy the dictates of race and class that preoccupy her mother and tías, but dating women and transmen, and coming to identify as bisexual, leads her to unexpected questions. In another piece, NAFTA shuts local factories in her hometown on the outskirts of New York City, and she begins translating unemployment forms for her parents, moving between English and Spanish, as well as private and collective fears. In prose that is both memoir and commentary, Daisy reflects on reporting for the New York Times as the paper is rocked by the biggest plagiarism scandal in its history and plunged into debates about the role of race in the newsroom. A heartfelt exploration of family, identity, and language, A Cup of Water Under My Bed is ultimately a daughter’s story of finding herself and her community, and of creating a new, queer life. The PEN Literary Awardwinning author writes with honesty, intelligence, tenderness, and love about her Colombian-Cuban heritage and queer identity in this poignant coming-of-age memoir (Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street ) In this lyrical, coming-of-age memoir, Daisy Hernndez chronicles what the women in her Cuban-Colombian family taught her about love, money, and race. Her mother warns her about envidia and men who seduce you with pastries, while one ta bemoans that her niece is turning out to be una india instead of an American. Another auntie instructs that when two people are close, they are bound to become like ua y mugre , fingernails and dirt, and that no, Daisys father is not godless. Hes simply praying to a candy dish that can be traced back to Africa.#160; These lessonsrooted in womens experiences of migration, colonization, y cario define in evocative detail what it means to grow up female in an immigrant home. In one story, Daisy sets out to defy the dictates of race and class that preoccupy her mother and tas, but dating women and transmen, and coming to identify as bisexual, leads her to unexpected questions. In another piece, NAFTA shuts local factories in her hometown on the outskirts of New York City, and she begins translating unemployment forms for her parents, moving between English and Spanish, as well as private and collective fears. In prose that is both memoir and commentary, Daisy reflects on reporting for the New York Times as the paper is rocked by the biggest plagiarism scandal in its history and plunged into debates about the role of race in the newsroom. A heartfelt exploration of family, identity, and language, A Cup of Water Under My Bed is ultimately a daughters story of finding herself and her community, and of creating a new, queer life It's 1980. Ronald Reagan Has Been Elected President, John Lennon Has Been Shot, And A Little Girl In New Jersey Has Been Hauled Off To English Classes. Her Teachers And Parents And Tias Are Expecting Her To Become White--like The Italians. This Is The Opening To A Cup Of Water Under My Bed, The Memoir Of One Colombian-cuban Daughter's Rebellions And Negotiations With The Women Who Raised Her And The World That Wanted To Fit Her Into A Cubbyhole. From Language Acquisition To Coming Out As Bisexual To Arriving As A Reporting Intern At The New York Times As The Paper Is Rocked By Its Biggest Plagiarism Scandal, Daisy Hernandez Chronicles What The Women In Her Community Taught Her About Race, Sex, Money, And Love. This Is A Memoir About The Private Nexus Of Sexuality, Immigration, Race And Class Issues, But It Is Ultimately A Daughter's Cuento Of How To Take The Lessons From Home And Shape Them Into A New, Queer Life-- Condemned -- One. Before Love, Memory -- Stories She Tells Us -- The Candy Dish -- A Cup Of Water Under My Bed -- Two. Even If I Kiss A Woman -- Queer Narratives -- Que India -- Three. Only Ricos Have Credit -- My Father's Hands -- Blackout -- Despues. Daisy Hernández. "It's 1980. Ronald Reagan has been elected president, John Lennon has been shot, and a little girl in New Jersey has been hauled off to English classes. Her teachers and parents and tias are expecting her to become white--like the Italians. This is the opening to A cup of water under my bed, the memoir of one Colombian-Cuban daughter's rebellions and negotiations with the women who raised her and the world that wanted to fit her into a cubbyhole. From language acquisition to coming out as bisexual to arriving as a reporting intern at the New York Times as the paper is rocked by its biggest plagiarism scandal, Daisy Hernandez chronicles what the women in her community taught her about race, sex, money, and love. This is a memoir about the private nexus of sexuality, immigration, race and class issues, but it is ultimately a daughter's cuento of how to take the lessons from home and shape them into a new, queer life"-- Provided by publisher Scope and content: "It's 1980. Ronald Reagan has been elected president, John Lennon has been shot, and a little girl in New Jersey has been hauled off to English classes. Her teachers and parents and tias are expecting her to become white--like the Italians. This is the opening to A cup of water under my bed, the memoir of one Colombian-Cuban daughter's rebellions and negotiations with the women who raised her and the world that wanted to fit her into a cubbyhole. From language acquisition to coming out as bisexual to arriving as a reporting intern at the New York Times as the paper is rocked by its biggest plagiarism scandal, Daisy Hernandez chronicles what the women in her community taught her about race, sex, money, and love. This is a memoir about the private nexus of sexuality, immigration, race and class issues, but it is ultimately a daughter's cuento of how to take the lessons from home and shape them into a new, queer life" A Cup of Water Under My Bed( A Memoir) Hardcover DaisyHernandez BeaconPress(MA)