S. Cisneros Reading
from Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003

Reading in MLB, about 200 people
here to hear MacArthur Recipient
read from new book--
lots of buzz around her--
she doesn't start on time.

Intro: Thank you Shaman Drum...
Anthro prof wears low-cut v-neck
with red and gold stripes to introduce
author.

House on Mango Street is required
reading in many places. She calls
it "naughty." There are many
high school students here.

The new book is called
Caramelo.

She grew up in Chicago.
"English was the language
to talk to dogs."
She has a little voice and is
well-spoken.

When you write a novel
you walk around in a state
between waking and sleeping.

She reminds me of Gilda.
Performing.

It is easy to be beautiful
but more difficult to appear so.

She intermingles Spanish and
& receives wholesome laughter
from audience. Storyteller
quick changes in tone of voice
reading passage about a
famous dancer...male/female
relationships.

I wish she didn't have to sell
the book so much. It doesn't
make me feel good to see her
try to sell it, yet I understand
the predicament and I don't
know what to do about it myself.

If you don't try to sell it, no one
will know about it. If you do
try to sell it, it may lose integrity.
If you don't sell it, you don't eat.
If you do sell it, you eat alone.
And you value your life, you LOVE
yourself, so
you sell it.

That 's what you do.