Identity Lessons: Contemporary Writing About Learning to Be American (Paperback)

~ Maria Mazziotti Gillan (Editor), Jennifer Gillan (Editor)
Key Phrases: skinned grandmother, identity lessons, The Commodore, Miss Colon, Sterling Williams (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In stories and poems that explore how our society shapes us, Identity Lessons features a wide array of ethnic perspectives on growing up in America. Leading the reader into the living-rooms, boardrooms, classrooms, and movie houses of America, distinguished writers from all points of the American ethnic landscape shed light on the space between conformity and difference, and examine the struggle between the need to belong and the pull of one's cultural roots. With insight, wit, and poignancy, the contributors to this anthology recall their attempts to reconcile family from the old country with the powerful messages about race, gender and class confronting them in their new surroundings. A collection of superb and moving writing, Identity Lessons deconstructs conceptions of personal and national identity, and forms an indispensable primer for understanding our cultural selves.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140271678
• ISBN-13: 978-0140271676
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #723,796 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent anthology of poems on learning about one's self., August 5, 1999

By	Thomas P. Suchenek (Calumet, MI USA) - See all my reviews

The mother and daughter team of Maria Mazziotti Gillan and Jennifer Gillan have put together an excellent anthology of poems, essays and stories about growing up and learning about one's self. The anthology was used in a college class I took, but I found myself reading other selections whenever I got a chance. The selections really dig to the marrow, the pain, sorrow and joy, of each writer's existence. I especially liked the writings of Marie Howe, Afaa M. Weaver and Walt McDonald. With each selection I read, I could make connections to situations in my life that were similar, but I hadn't been able to fully verbalize. I would reccomend this book on one hand as an excellent collections of poems, essays and stories, but on another level, as a revealing book on the inner workings of one's self. The book is not as the subtitle says, "Contemporary Writing about Learning to be American", but contempory writings about LEARNING TO BE with all the emotional highs and lows associated with living in such a diverse country as America.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ AND MUCH NEEDED TEACHING TOOL, May 3, 2002

By	AN EDUCATED READER (New York City) - See all my reviews

It is a crying shame that some so-called reviewers disguise their vitriolic, biased opinions as cogent reviews. Have they read the same book? At a time where there needs to be more understanding in a greatly divided world there is a need for anthologies such as "Identity Lessons". I think the Gillans should be highly commended for being some of the few literary editors with the guts and conscience enough to put anthologies together that truly reflect the great poetry and prose being produced by a myriad of artists, activists and thinkers alive in this country today. As an educator in the school system of New York City, I find that my young students have responded tremendously and enthusiastically to the varied voices presented in "Identity Lesson". It is an important text that speaks to what they are living, thinking and feeling NOW, today!!! Don't listen to the "player-hating" neighsayers who must have some sort of personal (or political) axe to grind against the Gillans, who are doing the much needed cultural work that is so lacking in our society today. Please keep up the good work!!! We educators desperately need more books like this to reach our students and excite them with language and ideas from every aspect of our varied humanity. "Identity Lessons" deserves twice the amount of stars alotted here in this review. BRAVO!!!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Insights, May 5, 2002

By A Customer

IDENTITY LESSONS was a great learning experience for me. Not only did I learn about my own heritage but about many others, what America is all about. This collection of work is honest and thoughtful. I have used it in the classrooms and students have raved about it. It's good to know learning can happen using beautifully creative work.