Hunger of Memory: An Autobiography of Education by Richard Rodriguez Jr.

Walter Mazil: It paralles my own experience except I wasn’t as successful as the author.

United States on Dec 25, 2023

fatma: alte Edition aber in guter Verfassung

Germany on Nov 02, 2023

Kindle Customer: This book should be read by every student who is the first person in their family to go to college. Particularly if they grew up speaking a language other than English. These students lose their native culture by choice to become "American" and often their children want to regain the family's culture that their parents have lost.
I taught English as a second language and saw many families fall apart as the children went on to college and almost felt ashamed of their hard working but uneducated parents. Sad!
This is one boy's experience of how this happened to him. It is well written and illuminating.

United States on Jun 25, 2023

Amazon Customer: I bought it for a friend's birthday present. I haven't read this but I admire the writer.

Canada on Apr 07, 2017

Vincent: This book was introduced to me by one of my English Teachers. Rodriquez offers a fascinating perspective that some of us non-native American speakers can relate to. This experience has a hidden but major impact on Rodriquez's life and occurs between the time of transition from his Spanish speaking life into the public language of English. As Rodriguez's progresses through his life, he makes us contemplate the effect of the public language into his Education and how it distanced his intimate relation with his parents.

United States on Jan 18, 2016

Fronteraboy93: My older brother, a recent graduate from George Washington Law School, recommended me this book. Richard's autobiography had me captivated from the first word to the last. I don't know if it was the similarities between my own life with his, or because he spoke the very truth of affirmative action. Either way, this is a must read for all Mexican-Americans who want something to relate to, or for someone who wants to garner more knowledge of a middle-class Chicano living in this great country!

United States on Jan 08, 2015

Paisley Princess: They say that English is one of the hardest languages to learn. However, it is much harder to navigate the language of culture, which Richard Rodriguez mastered well. Rodriguez's story plays out the same as way many second-generation Americans; he begins his educational career in parochial school, where he only knows 50 words of English. He is forced by Nuns to assimilate to American culture and learn the language, in doing so he leave some of his own Hispanic upbringing behind. His parents feel the pressure by Nuns as well, who insist that the Rodriguez's speak English at home. Rodriguez succeeds in school, goes to Stanford University, and begins a teaching career. He doesn't make himself visible in the Chicano studies program nor is he a supporter of Affirmative Action, which he feels designates persons of color as needing preferential treatment because they can't compete because of their race. Throughout his life he struggles to master remaining true to his roots, but understanding how his education leaves him out of touch from other Hispanics who never had the breaks Rodriguez had. As a first-generation college graduate I can relate to the struggles Rodriquez experienced,...

United States on Apr 16, 2014