Peel My Love Like an Onion: A Novel Paperback – September 12, 2000

An interesting novel about a woman overcoming disability and achieving success in midlife. Carmen is probably one of the most honest characters I've encountered in some time. The sections about her mother and family were portrayed sensitively. I don't want to give away the story completely, but the relationships with Agustin and Manolo were believable. As a native of Chicago, I enjoyed the references to familiar places.

I am always on the lookout for English language flamenco novels, of which there don't appear to be many. This one was interesting because it takes place in the United States and also brings attention to the fact that people who have "had" polio can experience it again after years of remission. The Gypsy culture, while transplanted, remains the same as I've read in non-fiction books about those in Spain. The heroine goes through some intense highs and lows. The cover blurb indicated some of her experiences would be humorous; personally, I didn't find anything amusing. Interesting book, good characterizations.

I like the author's run of descriptive language which almost feels like stream of consciousness at some points...however I expected more at the end...it was too easy, too predictable...

This may be one of my favorite books now. A required read for a class became a love affair for words. This books reads beautifully, the characters dancing off the pages, taking your hand and spinning you through the various chapters of their lives. A must read for anyone.

As described. Don't know specifics, as the book was for my son.

Exactly as described.

There's nothing more sensual, audacious, and fascinnating as a woman in Ana Castillo's books—and this one really is outstanding. It is the story of a woman who, despite contracting polio, becomes a flaminco dancer, bringing her fame and two lovers, the young one the godson of the old one. But it is mainly about women and love, women who are spirited and unsure, fickle and loyal, motivated by instinct, passion, and moments of self-doubt. It is also about the mothers and grandmother and sisters/women friends. As she matures into her 40's, her polio symptoms resume, but with encouragement and her past success, she is asked to sing; and finds herself again famous, her lovers still to be loved and/or rejected—and she, outrageously independent and in charge.

Sandra Cisneros described it best in her review: this book is like a Chicana telenovela. Well, probably not the most melodramatic and tangled one, but a telenovela all the same. You have a crippled woman who rose above her disability to become a renowned flamenco dancer. You have her lover/mentor, a man who helped her get her bearings in the world of dance but runs around with other women--and runs back to his wife--but with whom she spends 17 years. You have the young, charismatic dancer who enthralls her--but who is the godson of her lover. You can probably guess how things can get so complicated, but you have to read this book to know that it's not merely about a love triangle.