Customer Reviews

Loose Woman

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"Loose Woman" is a collection of poetry by Sandra Cisneros. Throughout the book Cisneros revels in a sort of "bad girl" image: the overall persona is that of a passionate, sexual woman who's had her share of both joy and disappointment. At times she sounds like a Latina soul sister to Charles Bukowski and Allen Ginsberg.

The book is mainly in English, but peppered with Spanish words and phrases; there is one poem entirely in Spanish ("Amorcito Corazon"). Cisneros writes about love, womanhood, Latina identity, and creativity.

Some of my favorite selections from "Loose Woman": "You Bring Out the Mexican in Me," a Whitmanesque celebration of both the speaker's lover and of her own ethnic identity; "Dulzura," with the memorable opening line "Make love to me in Spanish"; "Down There," which celebrates menstruation with vibrantly graphic language; and the title poem, in which the speaker declares "I break laws, / upset the natural order."

The book is throughout spiced with a colorful medley of multicultural references: Dolores del Rio, Nebuchadnezzar, Mohammed, Houdini, the gargoyles of Notre Dame, Sir Walter Raleigh, Marilyn Monroe, etc. Cisneros' language is often raw and sexual, sometimes playfully elegant; I loved her phrase "the origami of the brain" (from "Night Madness Poem"). Definitely a worthwhile collection of poetry from an intriguing Latina voice.

Sandra Cisneros is a good sign that poetry is alive and well. Here we get no "inspirational" poetry, no Hallmarkian reflections on love, no long-winded naturalist devotions. Cisneros' poetry is hard-nosed and insidious, humorous, erotic, emotional, and full of verve.

Her poetry is young and strong, dealing with issues surrounding Cisneros' gender identity as well as her ethnic identity. It's laced with feminism as Cisneros discusses her sexuality, spirituality, and guilt.

I especially liked the "You Bring out the Mexican in Me," "I am So in Love I Grow a New Hymen," and "Heart, My Lovely Hobo."

Great, fantastic, wonderful poetry!

Ay! Sandra is amazing. Amazing, fantastic, loud, bawdy, passionate, intense, erotic, and hilarious. I know that as a Chicana who has lived in Texas I probably get a couple more references than the average woman but no matter what nationality or age or any other inconsequential thing that a woman is sub-classified as being... I can read them a line or two of Sandra and if they haven't felt it themselves well then their best girlfriend has confided it over a cup of cafe, a shotglass of tequila, or a frozen margarita. Sandra's cadencences and images are Latina in flavor but the emotion is pura mujer. Pure woman. Salud.

As someone who is always looking for the perfect book of poetry, and always disappointed with long winded words on nature and simplified heartbreak, Cisneros's Loose Women is a welcome relief. I'm not Mexican, but "You Bring Out the Mexican In Me" whole-heartedly brought out the woman in me (for which my boyfriend is very greatful). A must-have for every woman.

Again, Sandra Cisneros paints the poetic sky with her lyricism and word play. What other poet possesses such gift and style? Cisneros's poem titles in LOOSE WOMAN (1994) such as "I Am on My Way to Oklahoma to Bury the Man I Nearly Left My Husband For," "Down There," "Original Sin," "A Man in My Bed Like Cracker Crumbs," and "You Bring Out the Mexican in Me" speak for themselves.

For their originality and fire, I recommend this volume of poetry by the brave and thundering Sandra Cisneros.

Sandra Cisneros' collection of poetry is wonderful. Fun to read and very real, down to earth, very chilled out.

This book is perfect for both beginners and long-time poetry readers. It doesn't take long to "figure out" what Cisneros is trying to say, mostly because she spits it out like a bullet and doesn't beat around the bush. She tackles tough subjects and doesn't flinch a bit. She's right in your face telling you "how it is."

I don't know much about Cisneros, but I can guess she's an incredibly beautiful, sexy, fiesta Latina. She writes about sex and love and race and life like a woman who has lived through it all. Her book is hot and spicy and will keep you on your toes.

As usual Sandra you hit the spot...you put your finger on my heart....I have memories i forgot...till you refreshed them..

"Red Wine" is great! This is what makes me proud to be chicana..Ms C ('seh') has such a way of revelaing us latins... remarkable ...in our unique way of experiencing life.

Ever since the first time I read My WIcked WIcked Ways, I knew that there was soemthing special and unique about Miss. Sandras writing. She has a provocative style, measuring up to the filail piety of a "erotic" poet.

She has a loud voice, with silent words, and nails emotion like a new born baby. Her screams of love, life and secret deeds...makes all want to kee reading her work. Her world seems like a very interesting place to be, and I almost wonder if she will be one of the GREATS one day. I love her masculine, and feminie varients between living and loving...I think she is great at evoking emotion.

My favorite poem from this book is about her "period". A time when woman hood is at its peak, and you are maturing. It has an honest and vigilent ring that most people would cringe at. I LOVE HER WORK! I have read the house on Mango Street and whatever books of ghers that I have, enjoying them all!

I'm not sure I can really articulate how amazing Sandra's work is. She goes beyond modernism, beyond the language poets, and straight into the language of the heart, soul, and body.

Being a poet, it is highly refreshing to come across a woman with such a strong and developed voice such as Cisneros. After reading "Loose Woman" in one sitting I began to feel a connection to her more than any other poet I have ever had the pleasure to have read. This book allows the reader into the mind of a lyrical poetess with a voice that seems to follow and holler with such sexy and spicy charm