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Count on Me: Tales of Sisterhoods and Fierce Friendships
Beloved bestselling Latino authors, including Esmeralda Santiago, Carolina De Robertis, and Luis Alberto Urrea share moving personal stories of the many ways that sisterly bonds have powerfully impacted their lives. What would you do, where would you be, without your comadre? In Spanish, comadre is a powerful term. It encompasses many of the most complex and important relationships that exist between women: best friends, confidants, advisors, neighbors, and godmothers to each other’s children. For over a decade, Nora Comstock, President and CEO of the international organization Las Comadres Para Las Americas has been bringing Latina women together to support each other in the U.S. and overseas. Here, they collaborate with acclaimed author and editor Adriana Lopez to bring you the very best of today’s Latino writers as they illuminate the power of sisterly bonds. In twelve creative nonfiction narratives, mostly by women, the authors reflect on the importance of comadres in their lives. Writers like Fabiola Santiago, Luis Alberto Urrea, Reyna Grande, and Teresa RodrÍguez tell their stories of survival in the United States and in Latin America, where success would have been impossible without their friendships. Favorites like Esmeralda Santiago, Lorraine Lopez, Carolina De Robertis, Daisy Martinez, and Ana Nogales explore what it means to have a comadre help you through years of struggle and self-discovery. And authors Sofia Quintero, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, and Michelle Herrera Mulligan look at the powerful impact of the humor and humanity that their comadres brought to each one’s life, even in the darkest moments.
- GenresEssaysNonfiction
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2012
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101 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 8, 2016
I loved this book and I hope every woman reads it. Although, there is the obvious tie to culture. The book is most importantly about woman coming to together to help each other out, to support each other, and to enjoy each other's company. Oftentimes, we always hear about women being catty, not liking another because of her success, power, beauty, or lack thereof. It made me super thankful for the women in my life that I can share special moments with and the ones I can share mundane moments with. I feel like there should be more books like these or let's just start creating an anthology of stories women share about other women. Very rarely to books move me to tears, but this one did and I think that's what made it so wonderful.
September 28, 2012
I completely loved this book. I cried, I laughed and then I cried and laughed again. This book not only gave me inspiration but also made me look at my core of female friends and realized that they are my comadres. I recommend that you get this book ASAP!!
December 13, 2012
This review first appeared on my blog: http://www.knittingandsundries.com/20...
Well, this was a refreshing look at women, friendship, mentoring, and sisterhood. In my women's group, we just finished studying a book on the friendships of women, and here is yet another.
We need each other, we women. Women's friendships are about more than simple companionship - having great friends or even one great friend makes us healthier and happier.
In this collection of essays, we read about women and their differing friendships, whether a third-party friendship (mothers and their friends), to mentor/mentee-type friendships, to plain and simple "Oh my gosh, I MUST call my bff to tell her about THIS!" type of friendship.
There's the girl from an abusive home whose teacher invites her to come live with her and points her on the right path, guiding her through to college.
There's the young girl who, in 2nd grade, went from shy to almost mute after her parent's divorce. HER tough-cookie friend helped her open up and kept her out of the counselor's office.
There is the screenwriter who almost lost a friend due to unspoken trivialities, but she gives us a lesson in salvaging an important friendship.
Every woman can read one or more of these essays and totally relate. For me, it was an affirmation of the fact that I've let my friendships languish on the vine, and I really need to step up. Your girlfriends and comadres can make you laugh, they can be your shoulder, they can prop you up.
I really enjoyed this collection and will be passing it on to my daughters. It's important for all of us to stop and realize how very valuable and life-affirming a good friend is.
QUOTES
She sounded so sure. She looked so ill. And yet, if she had told me, in that tone, that purple dragons were going to fly down from the moon that every evening, I would have joyously believed her.
I didn't know that other friends wouldn't tell you exactly what was on their minds, all the time. I didn't know that women didn't just naturally forgive everything of each other, that not everyone felt that no offense merited the silent treatment. That I would never feel another connection that I could depend upon so fully, one that needed no explanation.
BOOK RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Well, this was a refreshing look at women, friendship, mentoring, and sisterhood. In my women's group, we just finished studying a book on the friendships of women, and here is yet another.
We need each other, we women. Women's friendships are about more than simple companionship - having great friends or even one great friend makes us healthier and happier.
In this collection of essays, we read about women and their differing friendships, whether a third-party friendship (mothers and their friends), to mentor/mentee-type friendships, to plain and simple "Oh my gosh, I MUST call my bff to tell her about THIS!" type of friendship.
There's the girl from an abusive home whose teacher invites her to come live with her and points her on the right path, guiding her through to college.
There's the young girl who, in 2nd grade, went from shy to almost mute after her parent's divorce. HER tough-cookie friend helped her open up and kept her out of the counselor's office.
There is the screenwriter who almost lost a friend due to unspoken trivialities, but she gives us a lesson in salvaging an important friendship.
Every woman can read one or more of these essays and totally relate. For me, it was an affirmation of the fact that I've let my friendships languish on the vine, and I really need to step up. Your girlfriends and comadres can make you laugh, they can be your shoulder, they can prop you up.
I really enjoyed this collection and will be passing it on to my daughters. It's important for all of us to stop and realize how very valuable and life-affirming a good friend is.
QUOTES
She sounded so sure. She looked so ill. And yet, if she had told me, in that tone, that purple dragons were going to fly down from the moon that every evening, I would have joyously believed her.
I didn't know that other friends wouldn't tell you exactly what was on their minds, all the time. I didn't know that women didn't just naturally forgive everything of each other, that not everyone felt that no offense merited the silent treatment. That I would never feel another connection that I could depend upon so fully, one that needed no explanation.
BOOK RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
March 5, 2013
When I first started reading the book, I have to admit that I felt I wouldn't relate to any of the stories in the anthology - written by 11 Latinas and 1 Latino author.
"This is the great time to be a Latina, and especially a great time to be a Latina writer," said Lorraine Lopez (one of the book's contributing authors) in an interview. Growing up, I always somehow felt ashamed of my heritage, even though my parents - who grew up in Mexico - always wanted me to be proud. I'd felt that growing up in a working class Mexican-American neighborhood had somehow been a hindrance to the life I wanted to have.
As I grew into my teenage and adult years, I came to believe that I was not like most Latinas - that I had moved past their old-fashioned, traditional ways of life, and that I had essentially become part of the melting pot.
But I was surprised that some of the stories very much rang true with me - because they were Latinas who had gone the same cultural transformations I'd gone through! I particularly enjoyed the stories by Michelle Herrera Mulligan, Carolina de Robertis, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, and by Luis Alberto Urrea (he is a long-time favorite author of mine).
Now even though I don't necessarily walk around waving a Latina flag, I completely embrace that it is still part of who I am, and I let it come out in my writing, my music playing, my mannerisms... no one ever leaves my house without being well-fed and a big abrazo.
"This is the great time to be a Latina, and especially a great time to be a Latina writer," said Lorraine Lopez (one of the book's contributing authors) in an interview. Growing up, I always somehow felt ashamed of my heritage, even though my parents - who grew up in Mexico - always wanted me to be proud. I'd felt that growing up in a working class Mexican-American neighborhood had somehow been a hindrance to the life I wanted to have.
As I grew into my teenage and adult years, I came to believe that I was not like most Latinas - that I had moved past their old-fashioned, traditional ways of life, and that I had essentially become part of the melting pot.
But I was surprised that some of the stories very much rang true with me - because they were Latinas who had gone the same cultural transformations I'd gone through! I particularly enjoyed the stories by Michelle Herrera Mulligan, Carolina de Robertis, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, and by Luis Alberto Urrea (he is a long-time favorite author of mine).
Now even though I don't necessarily walk around waving a Latina flag, I completely embrace that it is still part of who I am, and I let it come out in my writing, my music playing, my mannerisms... no one ever leaves my house without being well-fed and a big abrazo.
November 27, 2012
collection of essays defining comadres, the idea that your aunts, sisters, grandmas, friends, are there for you and no matter what, will try to help you. lots of great writers, telling lots of sad, funny and intimate stories of loving and supportive relationships. reminds me of this recent novel i read by berman, where the character karen, didn't really have a comadre, til her aunt showed up Me, Who Dove into the Heart of the World: A Novel this "count on me" has some great recipes in the back too, and author profiles for further reading and neat interview about comadres para las americas http://www.lascomadres.org/lco/lco-en...
que buen trabajo
que buen trabajo
September 9, 2016
There are some books that grip you so tight you will never want it to let you go. This is one of those books. I have always had intense friendships and I have gained something from each one. Some friendships have been temporary and others are life long, but each friendship has meant something to me and I take away so much from the memories. This is a book I will revisit every couple of years as change in my life occurs.
December 13, 2012
Skipped through the recipes and landed right at Banana and Dulce de Leche Strudel. Just the perfect "little something" for a tea party!
Book Review coming up on the Count on Me Book Tour. Sententia Vera's turn is tomorrow! Friday, December 14th.
Stay tuned!
Book Review coming up on the Count on Me Book Tour. Sententia Vera's turn is tomorrow! Friday, December 14th.
Stay tuned!
May 4, 2016
Nice collection of essays on the variety of female friendships in our lives. Most really resonated with me in some way or another, though I found the two by authors whose foremost profession is not writing to be slightly less affecting. Regardless, I'm feeling particularly grateful for my comadres.
October 28, 2012
The stories by Latino authors writing about how a "Comadre" has touched their life are very rich and inspiring. The publishing of this book celebrates the work of Las Comadres para Las Americas, a national network supporting Latinas.
December 12, 2012
Fabulous collection of essays by Latinas on the nature of friendships. Especially loved Carolina de Robertis Essay: Every Day of Her Life.
January 22, 2014
I loved this book; the stories were heart felt and moving.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews