Sirena Selena: A Novel
Product ID: 46568996
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From the author of Urban Oracles comes Mayra Santos-Febres's Sirena Selena : s omewhere between "The Blue Angel" and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" rises the legend of Sirena Selena, the diva-siren of the Caribbean whose boleros seduce and torment whoever dares listen. Discovered by Martha Divine in the backstreets of San Juan, picking over garbage, drugged out of his mind and singing boleros that transfix the listener, a fifteen year old hustler is transformed into Sirena Selena, a diva whose uncanny beauty and irrisistable voice will be their ticket to fame and fortune. Auditioning for one of the luxury hotels in the Dominican Republic, Selena casts her spell over Hugo Graubel, one of the hotel's rich investors. Graubel is a powerful man in the Republic, married with children. Silena, determined to escape the poverty and abuse s/he suffered as a child, engages Graubel in a long seduction in this mordant, intensely lyrical tragi-comedy - part masque, part cabaret - about identity (class, race, gender) and "the hunger and desire to be other things." Review: Great - Great novel. Had me reading late at night. Just the ending is confusing. I was assigned this book for a class. Review: Great look at locas from inside out - I loved this book. It has the feel of an anthopological study on street living and the glamour that is always elusive and fleeting. Martha is indeed divine, as a character and the wisdom that she imparts. A great look at a very vibrant part of society which most of us don't know. It has many tragic and unjust moments, but it all goes towards making that perfect performance. Great book.
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,085,464 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #5,898 in Humorous Fiction #8,716 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction #30,666 in Literary Fiction (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 80 Reviews |
K**Y
Great
Great novel. Had me reading late at night. Just the ending is confusing. I was assigned this book for a class.
"**"
Great look at locas from inside out
I loved this book. It has the feel of an anthopological study on street living and the glamour that is always elusive and fleeting. Martha is indeed divine, as a character and the wisdom that she imparts. A great look at a very vibrant part of society which most of us don't know. It has many tragic and unjust moments, but it all goes towards making that perfect performance. Great book.
A**R
Trata con simpatía del mundo del trans en Puerto Rico
Este libro nos dio a nuestro club de lectores bilingues un buen discurso sobre los efectos de la pobreza y la falta de oportunidades a la gente ya aislada por ser 'diferente.' Bien escrito y nos afectó.
J**L
Sirena Selena
A wonderful novel. I found it difficult to stop reading this beautifully written & translated book. The story is told in a way that brings vivid visuals to mind. It takes you on an entertaining rollercoaster ride through the emotions associated with romance, friendship, and self-discovery. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed "Like water for chocolate" or "Love in the time of cholera".
S**S
Had to read for class
Not my type of literature. However it is well written by a talented author. I would not recommend this as a read for pleasure. I had to read it for a lit class
J**A
I love how Mayra writes
I love how Mayra writes. The ending was a bit of a disappointed, only because I always want that happy ending.
K**R
Very descriptive
This book is an easy read and very descriptive which can be good or unnncessary at times. It is very easy to get into and paint a picture in your head.
A**7
Worst book EVER written
This book was a recommended read for an Ethnic literature course. I fail to see its relevance because I didn't realize that tranvestites qualified as an ethnicity. The entire book was about the homosexual abuse of an underaged boy and went into horrifyingly graphic details. I was shocked and appalled, and wish I could open up my head and scrub this book out of my brain. DON'T READ IT!!!!
J**Y
incredible
A dark but brilliant novel about the life of drag queens, Dominicans, and the impact of sex tourism. Definitely worth a read.
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