Fifteen-year-old Ana Cancion never dreamed of moving to America, the way the girls she grew up with in the Dominican countryside did. But when Juan Ruiz proposes and promises to take her to New York City, she has to say yes. It doesn’t matter that he is twice her age, that there is no love between them. Their marriage is an opportunity for her entire close-knit family to eventually immigrate. So on New Year’s Day, 1965, Ana leaves behind everything she knows and becomes Ana Ruiz, a wife confined to a cold six-floor walk-up in Washington Heights. Lonely and miserable, Ana hatches a reckless plan to escape. But at the bus terminal, she is stopped by Cesar, Juan’s free-spirited younger brother, who convinces her to stay.
As the Dominican Republic slides into political turmoil, Juan returns to protect his family’s assets, leaving Cesar to take care of Ana. Suddenly, Ana is free to take English lessons at a local church, lie on the beach at Coney Island, see a movie at Radio City Music Hall, go dancing with Cesar, and imagine the possibility of a different kind of life in America. When Juan returns, Ana must decide once again between her heart and her duty to her family.
In bright, musical prose that reflects the energy of New York City, Angie Cruz’s Dominicana is a vital portrait of the immigrant experience and the timeless coming-of-age story of a young woman finding her voice in the world.
The readings will take place on Wednesdays, April 07, 14, 21, 28, & May 05, 2021, between the hours of 07:00 p.m. and 08:30 p.m.
To register, please visit here.
To purchase the book, please visit here.
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About The Book Club & One Book One Bronx
Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education invites neighbors to come together and (re)spark a love of reading. The book club normally meets in its 6th floor Gallery and hosts vibrant community-focused conversations that build a love of books and reading. The Casita Maria Book Club is presented in partnership with One Book One Bronx.
One Book One Bronx is a new style book club that inspires, encourages, and delights readers. Every week, we meet to discuss books that reflect the people of the Bronx. The book club seeks to build a culture of reading and is free to join. Please visit here for information on starting a book club at your community-based organization.
Discussions are free and open to the public. By registering you are giving the hosts permission to possibly use your image on our social media platforms. Book club discussions are held in English only at this time.
One Book One Bronx is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, donations, and Citizens Committee of New York City.
About Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education
Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934.
The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages.
Casita Maria creates a safe and welcoming community, enriching and uplifting youth and families towards success, through shared cultural, art and educational experiences and programs.
Location:
Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education
928 Simpson Street
Bronx, NY 10459
Tel.: 718-589-2230
E–mail: info@casitamaria.org
