Customer Reviews

Raising Raul

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Maria Hinojosa captures the anxieties and the rewards of deciding to have a child in the 90s. Her intimate descriptions of her relationship with her husband and her mom, were very movings. Her stories of wrestling with her identity as a mexican-american are told with great humor and wisdom. I loved her details of life in New York City, the great melting pot, where people from so many different backgrounds come together. Her book is a sociological and personal portrait that made me feel more prepared to take on fatherhood.

Men have no reason to feel uncomfortable about reading and appreciating this book. I love Maria Hinojosa's memoir because it is easy to empathize with her efforts to become pregnant after past near misses. She writes about so much more than just pregnancy and motherhood, though. The book's richness resides in how honest and open she is about her struggle; and its impact on her relationships with her parents, husband, and friends. Even when she discussed painful topics and incidents, I detected no bitterness or sense of blame. Most of all, I appreciate Hinojosa's acknowledgement of spirituality as a constant pillar of her development. This is a rich, down to earth, and moving invitation into one woman's experience of parenthood, marriage, friendship, culture and love. Do not miss it!

Raising Raul was such a refreshing book to read because of Hinojosa's ability to keep me glued. I read it in two days. How did she manage to do that?? Her struggle to achieve motherhood is narrated in such a frank manner,with such flavorful intimate details;you just can't help but be drawn into her world. While the book in itself is wonderful I did have an objection. The name, Raising Raul, is a bit of a misnomer. I thought the book spent too much time on Hinojosa trying to conceive Raul rather than focusing on when she did have him which is what the title suggests.

I wasn't able to put his book down. It is a great memoir. The way Maria Hinojosa describes everything makes you feel as if you were there, experiencing it right along with her. I myself am an immigrant, so I can relate to alot of things in this book. I think everyone who reads this book will be able to relate to it in some way (even if you aren't an immigrant, Latino, or a woman). This book is full of life and emotion, and you'll never want it to end!

I read this book a few years ago and loved it so much that I am looking to buy a new copy so I can read it again. The writing is so VIVID and above all so HONEST, that you feel like she's sitting right in front of you. This book is definitely one of my favorites of all time and I would recommend it to everyone.

I frequently listen to Maria Hinojosa on NPR (Latino USA) and really enjoy her commentary. Her book is just as enjoyable, particularly since she went through a similar experience to mine (mentally and physically) with trying to get pregnant. I'm thoroughly enjoying reading about the aspects of Latin culture she describes since I am not Hispanic myself, just an interested "gringa".

My mother gave this book to me right after my son was born. She liked the general mothering idea it proposed - sort of a "whatever you do, so long as you do your best, all will be OK." It was wonderful to read Maria's thoughts on motherhood (and all of it's ups and downs) while I was still adjusting myself. I read most of it while breastfeeding (the early months can be marathon feedings)!

Initially I thought this book would be focused more on parenting, in the traditional sense. But this book is so much more: Maria's inner struggle as a Latina in America- wanting more of her own culture, and wanting to succeed here in America at the same time; finding a man who helped her know herself... how all of this and more molded her as a parent.
I am buying a copy for a friend who is not even a mom because I know she will enjoy it.