We Came All the Way from Cuba So You Could Dress Like This?

by Achy Obejas

Book Overview

Achy Obejas writes stories about uprooted people. Some, like herself, are Latino immigrants and lesbians; others are men (gay and straight), people with AIDS, addicts, people living marginally, just surviving. As omniscient narrator to her characters' lives, Obejas generously delves into her own memories of exile and alienation to tell stories about women and men who struggle for wholeness and love.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 093941693X
• ISBN13: 9780939416936
• Release Date: August 1994
• Publisher: Cleis Press
• Length: 116 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Moving and Strong

The title story is just devastatingly beautiful. I've read and heard many stories about coming to the United States from Cuba, but this one so vividly conveys the emotions of discovery and loss that a part of being an exile, I wept. I teach a course on US Latino Literature, and I will now ask my students to read this. And anyone else I can convince.

A great mix of fun stories

I loved this work from Obejas. It was such a fast read that I read it again. If you look beyond the surface, you see a world that many will relate to in their own lives...maybe not in whole, but at least partially.

Something for Everyone

This is a marvelous collection of stories joined together by a common thread. That thread is the feeling that life is happening TO us rather than life being what WE make of it. The characters, all trying their best to make it with the life they've been given, seem to rely heavily on those around them to make the pieces fit. I would be hard pressed to select my favorite among the tales that Obejas writes in this book. She did an excellent job of touching on what it means to be an immigrant, and what it means to look for a place to belong. This book runs the gamut; featuring both male and female characters, those obsessed with love or love lost, to those wondering if they were responsible for the death of one they loved. Writing with a realistic style, Obejas allows the reader to connect with the characters, understand their situations and in some cases even identify with how they are handling their current situation. If you're looking for a quick read that isn't the usual lesbian fiction, seek out this book. It's a tough one to find!