Podcast
On Being with Krista Tippett
This memoir, discussed in relation to Virginia Woolf's work, explores the author's journey to establishing independence and a creative space. Cisneros reflected on her younger self and the sacrifices she made to support her writing.
Sandra Cisneros' books include The House on Mango Street, Caramello and a memoir, A House of My Own.
— Episode: Sandra Cisneros — A House of Her Own
Episode: Sandra Cisneros — A House of Her Own
This memoir, discussed in relation to Virginia Woolf's work, explores the author's journey to establishing independence and a creative space. Cisneros reflected on her younger self and the sacrifices she made to support her writing.
Sandra Cisneros' books include The House on Mango Street, Caramello and a memoir, A House of My Own.
So you wrote for the 25th anniversary edition, you wrote this house, a house of my own essay, which appears in other places. But this is the kind of preface to the book.
I think a writer has to come into her voice. I think a woman has to come into her voice because everyone speaks for us.
And I just, well I had to make all those stupid mistakes otherwise I wouldn't be who I am now. But it breaks my heart when I look at her and I think how she was used and things that she allowed to happen to her.
Episode: [Unedited] Sandra Cisneros with Krista Tippett
This book of essays was discussed, particularly the essay reflecting on the author's younger self and the journey to finding her own voice. The author also discussed the significance of having one's own space and the importance of silence for creative work.
Well, if you've had to share a house with eight other people who make a lot of noise and make a big mess, you want your own house. You don't want to share it and you don't want to clean someone else's mess. So you know, it's different if it's your mess.
And also, if you're a writer, you need silence and most people can't understand that. Like my brother will come to visit and say, why don't you turn the radio on or why isn't this on? Why don't you turn the television on? You know, that has its time and its place.
I think a writer has to come into her voice. I think a woman has to come into her voice because everyone speaks for us. And we lose our public voice, and sometimes we don't even have a genuine private voice.
And for me, when I was asked to write the introduction, I was studying that photograph. And I knew- And you were studying your younger self. Yeah, I said that's not who I am now. But that's who I was when I was working on these pieces.