Customer Reviews

Hungry Hearts

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I opened up this book by Anzia Yezierska and fell in love. I fell in love with the words of a writer who is present and accountable and alive in every sentence. Never before have I been so disarmed by the passion and fire contained within and behind the words of any writer. It's as though she couldn't wait to get each word down, attacking the paper in describing her immigrant experiences, her neighbors, her family, herself. Because Anzia Yezierska was not afraid to expose her soul, I was taken on a journey that walked me though the life of one proud, passionate, immigrant woman. I was able to hear her fears, triumphs, pain and disappointments through her authentic and authorative voice. Passionate and real. I would recommend this book to anyone.

It's good to see Yezierska getting so much attention these days, and even better to see her books back in print. Hungry Hearts is the collection which earned Yezierska a Hollywood contract and gave her the title "Cinderella of the Tenements," but her skills with the short story are not as strong as her skills with the novel. If you are just getting interested in Yezierska, I'd recommend Bread Givers or Salome of the Tenements, both of which have also recently been reprinted.

AnziaYezierska's short stories sketch a moving picture of the simple dreams of the poor European (would-be) immigrants into the US at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century: `For hundreds of years the persecuted races all over the world were nurtured on hopes of America ... the far-off golden country.'
These dreams get over the top when messages from overseas are reporting real fairy tales. However, the realities encountered in that golden country turn out to be all too grim. The immigrants have to work in sweatshops, are exposed to blood-sucking landlords or can find a job as maid for all trades in family households.
In `The lost Beautifulness', a landlord raises the rent after a tenant painted her flat anew with her own hands and money. She complains.
In `Wings', a young girl meets her `beau', but sees he more in her than a poor little immigrant?
In `Hunger', a young girl leaves her uncle for work in a sweatshop, `a hope - it lifts me on top of my hungry body - the hunger to make myself a person.'
In `The free Vacation House', a family is confronted with the bureaucracy of charity.
In `The Miracle', parents sell the family jewels to buy a ticket to the US for their daughter.
In `Where Lovers Dream', a father tries to force his son to break with his girlfriend: `Marry yourself into that beggar house!'
In `Soap and Water', a school wants to withheld a diploma for a girl because of her poor appearance. She had worked at night to pay her tuition: `drops of sweat and blood from underpaid laundry work.'
In `The Fat of the Land', a mother fights for a better life for her children. But when those get rich, they are ashamed of her `fish smell' and are insulting her for their poor childhood. She leaves her beautiful country house, but will she come back?
In `My own People', a writer finds her true inspiration in daily life.
In `How I found America', the author sees freedom around her, but also `how the fear for bread had dehumanized the last shred of humanity' and `thousands upon thousands crushed by injustice'.

These lively and sometimes very bitter short stories continue to shine through their `human touch'.
Not to be missed.