A short epistolary novella about female friendship and memory. Three young women leave behind their home countries to start a new adventurous life in Paris, that city of ambitions and dreams. But the dreams don’t work out for them and they embark on different separate lives elsewhere. One day Corina unearths a letter from Martita and re-reading it brings back the memories of those heady days in Paris. It’s a pretty inconsequential piece of writing. Reflective and meditative about youth and friendship, but I didn’t feel it amounted to much more than that. The characters remained undeveloped and the plot, such as it was, merely a series of vignettes. I wondered what the point of the book was, to be honest, and I certainly wasn’t engaged by it. What I did like was the fact that it’s a dual language edition, a real bonus for those familiar with Spanish as well as English. Such a good idea. I wish more translated novels could include the original. So, a pleasant enough read but nothing more.

I thought that the prose was beautiful, but I didn't really feel like I knew the characters all that well when I finished the story. I just wish that the book was just a bit longer to really flesh out everything because I think that the story of connection and time is important.

("spoilers" are no more than what's on in the cover blurb*)

Somehow, I have not gotten around to reading Cisneros prior to this title. The list is always too long to get to everything you plan, I suppose. I'm not sure if going into this without any previous expectations made me an easier critic or a harsher one, but nevertheless: I get it.

Martita, I Remember You is a rather simple story, but Cisneros' prose absolutely floats off the page and practically swirls in front of you. It's hypnotizing. We follow native Chicagoan Corina (affectionally dubbed Puffina) through her early days living abroad in Paris, her idyllic launchpad from where she plans to become a successful writer. Puffina has hurled herself full force to Paris practically only by her youth and hunger, but most of the part of her story shared with the reader portrays her as the less romantic, physical kind of hungry. Her visa is on the brink of expiration and her money has nearly run out. She's not ready to leave, but she can't make this work much longer.

Enter: Martita and Paola.

Puffina crossed paths with many other starving artists hoping to make it big, but none of them clicked with her the way Martita and Paola clicked with her. The three became fast, close friends as they slipped between countries, jobs, and lovers. Their lively friendship grew more complex as different paths opened for each of the women. Even if they were kept apart, they stayed in touch. Until they didn't.

And here's where Cisneros begins her tale. Time slipped by. One move too many. Life happened, and the girls drifted apart. Years later, Puffina unearths a letter from Martita that brings these memories flooding back.

This poetic set of vignettes beckons the reader to experiencing the passionate women's formative friendship through their past correspondences. It's short and sweet and sometimes a little sour -- much like any good friendship. The work is suspended in time, visible only in reflection to Puffina. Arguably, it somewhat lacks trajectory, but that doesn't negate the joy in suspension.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy.

Corina is a young woman when she leaves her Mexican family in Chicago to go after her dreams in Paris. Her dream is to become a writer. But everything was more beautiful in Paris then in real life. In real life being a writer in Paris means running out of money and lining up with other immigrants to call home from a broken pay phone befriending panhandling artists in the subway, sleeping on crowded attic floors, and dancing the tango at underground parties. She makes friends with Argentinian Martita and Italian Paola. But over the years the three of them fall out of touch as they move to different parts of the world. But then Corina She finds a letter that Marta ("Martita," fondly) wrote her years after they left Paris, ending with the line, "Don't forget me." This letter brings back all the memories of their time in Paris, and everything they experienced there.

This short story that exists of letters is half in English, half in Spanish.

Let's just start with the fact that it took a little time for me to figure out who the main character was and how she was related to the other two. There was also not a specific time era the story was set in, so that made it a little unclear at some points. The story itself, if you can call the letters that, was thin, it was mostly about what the three of them experienced during their time in Paris; stealing something from the Galeries Lafayette department store, eating baguettes, sitting on a bench at the Promenade des Anglais, showering with a bucket in Marta's disgusting apartment and some more. It all was a recollection of what they did, but further than that the story doesn't really go. Therefore it lacked length, I was surprised when the book suddenly ended, it really didn't felt like a finished story for me.

It’s beautiful to sit with Cisneros’s words again, as her work holds such a key place in my heart as a reader. Known for beautiful and straightforward prose, Martita, I Remember You brings the warm, inviting voice of Cisneros that I’ve missed. It tells the story of Corina, who leaves her home to pursue her dreams, but Cisneros does not shy away from the harsh reality she faces as an immigrant. The letters within the story hold the most heart and resonance, situating the reader squarely in the emotions of each moment. It’s a short read and I appreciate that it’s presented together in both languages—English and Spanish. It’s a read I’d recommend for a short travel day or a wistful afternoon. I wanted more from the narrative, but Cisneros still does the work of creating a rich emotional landscape while making you think about the sharpness of the world.

Corina leaves her family in Chicago and travels to Paris seeking inspiration for her writing. When her career doesn’t take off and she runs out of money, she ends up on the streets. She becomes good friends with Paola and Martita who are in similar situations. This is a series of letters. I usually enjoy this format. Though this was very short, I had trouble getting into it. I could not become invested in the characters. Though it wasn’t a successful read for me, I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Beautifully written novella, mostly epistolary, about realising what's important, and what gives you happiness. The narrator stumbles upon some old letters from a friend, and is transported back to a year in her life when she lived in Paris and tried to make it as a writer, and most importantly, her friends Marta and Paola. Lovely writing, and takes you through hers and her friends' early 20s seamlessly through the evocative letters they write to each other. The ending of the book leaves you wanting to know more about these compelling women, and wishing they would get back in touch. Lyrical and moving, it's a perfect weekday read

A connection of the past is brought back into attention with the re-reading of an old letter from back in the day. I have enjoyed several of Ms. Cisneros books in the past, and dearly wanted to enjoy this one, but must admit I struggled a bit to stay focused. Too much jumping between time and friends I got derailed at times. Still though, it has merit and parts are good, so would recommend. Just prefer some of her other books more.

A letter sparks remembrance of old friends who have led different lives.

While poetic, it didn't connect like earlier and more famous works. Felt like a conversation between two people and I was left as the outsider not understanding the stories being told.

Love the story, the concept and the execution! Reading this both in English and Spanish was such a special experience! This truly has earned a place in my heart and once it's out, in my shelves!

This was a very good short story. It documents the journey of three young women as they navigate there way through Paris and what happens after they part ways.

I could not finish this book. I found myself struggling to engage the text and eventually rereading to figure out what was going on. I just couldn’t get into this one sadly. She has other beautiful books.

Sandra Cisneros has a magical way of using colorful sensory details to immerse us in a moment. In her typical fashion, she is able to have us relive a lifetime in a short story. We know so much about the relationship among Paola, Marta and Corina even though their story was told through episodes and letters. There is so much emotion, too. It just amazes me how much we are able to feel for these characters even though we barely know much about them. Cisneros is a genius with the short story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is definitely worth reading!

Sad to say this novel didn't hold my interest. Mostly, I had a tough time connecting with the characters. Whether it was the format or the writing itself, I never got to know the characters and that makes it tough to hold my interest or care about what happens to them.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest.

Reminiscing over a letter, Corina recalls the hopeful, chaotic, intense time she spent in Paris with friends Martita and Paola. This novel in epistolary form, containing both English and Spanish versions, is brief and almost dreamlike. The letters are tender and sweet, almost poetic in their poignancy and simplicity. The book feels reflective of the sense of youth, adventure, and longing of early adulthood, and the wistfulness it evokes is appealing to me. However, I felt the characters lacked depth, and there was a sense of despondency throughout much of the story.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review

When middle-aged Corina comes across a letter written to her friend Martita, it unleashes a pack of memories about the year Corina spent in Paris in her youth. Told in a stream-of-conscious style, the narrator records her memories of meeting Martita and Paola in Paris.

Each memory evokes another one, and the narrator shares without regard to chronological order. The memories slowly fill in the details of a youthful, yet life-changing adventure where three young women bond over their shared desire to go against the societal expectations for their era.

Cisneros paints a beautiful picture of friendships forged in adversity. The reader comes away feeling nostalgic about her own intense, youthful friendships and adventures. One also gains an appreciation of how an older generation of women had to fight for things a younger generation takes for granted.

While the stream of conscious narrative isn’t my favorite, Cisneros pulls it off masterfully.

This is a sweet short story about the power of memory, brought to life by the discovery of some letters from a powerful coming-of-age friendship. Through the tiny window of these letters, we catch glimpses of the lives of three friends during a very short, but significant period in their lives. A bit nostalgic, and both happy and sad. We are left wondering about the futures of the friends but see glimpses of Carina's current life.

A lovely, almost poetic recounting of a moment in time shared by three young immigrant women, strangers to Paris, who engage in a brief, bonding friendship. Cisnero’s story telling is poignant and elegant with themes of hope, friendship, struggle and recovery so eloquently told.

2.5 stars
Very artistic, but also fairly uninteresting. This one seems to suffer from the same thing that haunts extremely autobiographical works: there is not enough connection for an outsider.

The biggest flaw for me is the epistolary structure. It is disjointed and just so trendy that I’ve had enough, regardless of how effective Cisneros may be with it. She has doubled down on minimalism and insinuation to a spot just before poetry with each entry. I would actually be happier with a book of poems. Instead, I am left with no narrative and no fully developed poetry.

This one will be a hit with trendy fans of creative nonfiction, as it echoes some of those patterns. Personally, I’m glad it was short. Thank you to Sandra Cisneros, Vintage Books, and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sandra Cisneros presents us here with one of her more personal books. It is a series of letters in quick prose with incredibly beautiful moments, great humor, and entertaining stories. Her incredibly unique and mesmerizing voice comes through from start to finish.
I very much recommend this book to anyone who likes her writing or wants to be transported to her wonderful world.