How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water
- Downloads：1338
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-10-03 05:51:51
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Angie Cruz
- ISBN：1250208459
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITOR'S CHOICE · REVIEWED ON THE FRONT COVER
From GMA BOOK CLUB PICK and WOMEN'S PRIZE FINALIST Angie Cruz， author of Dominicana， an electrifying new novel about a woman who has lost everything but the chance to finally tell her story
“Will have you LAUGHING line after line。。。Cruz AIMS FOR THE HEART， and fires。” —Los Angeles Times
"An endearing portrait of a FIERCE， FUNNY woman。" —The Washington Post
Cara Romero thought she would work at the factory of little lamps for the rest of her life。 But when， in her mid-50s， she loses her job in the Great Recession， she is forced back into the job market for the first time in decades。 Set up with a job counselor， Cara instead begins to narrate the story of her life。 Over the course of twelve sessions， Cara recounts her tempestuous love affairs， her alternately biting and loving relationships with her neighbor Lulu and her sister Angela， her struggles with debt， gentrification and loss， and， eventually， what really happened between her and her estranged son， Fernando。 As Cara confronts her darkest secrets and regrets， we see a woman buffeted by life but still full of fight。
Structurally inventive and emotionally kaleidoscopic， How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water is Angie Cruz’s most ambitious and moving novel yet， and Cara is a heroine for the ages。
From GMA BOOK CLUB PICK and WOMEN'S PRIZE FINALIST Angie Cruz， author of Dominicana， an electrifying new novel about a woman who has lost everything but the chance to finally tell her story
“Will have you LAUGHING line after line。。。Cruz AIMS FOR THE HEART， and fires。” —Los Angeles Times
"An endearing portrait of a FIERCE， FUNNY woman。" —The Washington Post
Cara Romero thought she would work at the factory of little lamps for the rest of her life。 But when， in her mid-50s， she loses her job in the Great Recession， she is forced back into the job market for the first time in decades。 Set up with a job counselor， Cara instead begins to narrate the story of her life。 Over the course of twelve sessions， Cara recounts her tempestuous love affairs， her alternately biting and loving relationships with her neighbor Lulu and her sister Angela， her struggles with debt， gentrification and loss， and， eventually， what really happened between her and her estranged son， Fernando。 As Cara confronts her darkest secrets and regrets， we see a woman buffeted by life but still full of fight。
Structurally inventive and emotionally kaleidoscopic， How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water is Angie Cruz’s most ambitious and moving novel yet， and Cara is a heroine for the ages。
Reviews
Tina
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This is a delight。 Quirky characters and a unique style。 I've heard the audio is amazing as well。 This is a delight。 Quirky characters and a unique style。 I've heard the audio is amazing as well。 。。。more
Debbie
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This book was a great read！ A simplistic style of inserting various "Documents" informs the reader of what is going on with unique flair。 Cara is an indomitable spirit living an ordinary life until two cataclysmic life events take her off course: Her only son deserts her， and she loses her job。 Her very sense of identity， steeped in the roles of mother and employee， is rocked to the core。 Now she has to sit across from an unemployment counselor weekly to explain why she hasn't taken any of the m This book was a great read！ A simplistic style of inserting various "Documents" informs the reader of what is going on with unique flair。 Cara is an indomitable spirit living an ordinary life until two cataclysmic life events take her off course: Her only son deserts her， and she loses her job。 Her very sense of identity， steeped in the roles of mother and employee， is rocked to the core。 Now she has to sit across from an unemployment counselor weekly to explain why she hasn't taken any of the meager job offerings available to an immigrant around the age of 60 with some remedial schooling and a sharp wit。 A topsy-turvy relationship with her sister and childhood traumas only vaguely referred to round out Cara's current situation。 Then there is Cara herself， imbued with slight delusions of grandeur and an uncommon servant's heart。 Despite her tendency to self-sabotage these qualities arise to the surface again and again， elevating this character and helping the reader believe in her basic goodness。 A very fresh take from a young， gifted author。 。。。more
Lindsey Thomas
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Cara Romero feels like a real person， flaws and all， and this book is sitting down with her and getting to know her。 At first she’s a little annoying， seems to have a grandiose view of herself， seems like she’s trying to get out of work， etc。 But over the course of 12 workforce counseling sessions， you get to see the pain and insecurity that she’s covering up with her bravado。 She will worm her way into your heart and nestle in， like a kooky abuela or tia that you just can’t help but love despit Cara Romero feels like a real person， flaws and all， and this book is sitting down with her and getting to know her。 At first she’s a little annoying， seems to have a grandiose view of herself， seems like she’s trying to get out of work， etc。 But over the course of 12 workforce counseling sessions， you get to see the pain and insecurity that she’s covering up with her bravado。 She will worm her way into your heart and nestle in， like a kooky abuela or tia that you just can’t help but love despite her faults。 I insist you listen on audio。 The production is great and immersive， and I don’t think the humor and heart would translate well to print。 。。。more
Monisha
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Another insightful view into the challenges immigrants face especially during challenging times。 Loved Cara's candor， humor and fierce spirit despite everything that was going on。 Good reminder to keep things in perspective。 Another insightful view into the challenges immigrants face especially during challenging times。 Loved Cara's candor， humor and fierce spirit despite everything that was going on。 Good reminder to keep things in perspective。 。。。more
Angela Lashbrook
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A truly special book—formally inventive， emotional， poetic。 A feat。
Colleen
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The audio was well done， two narrators and many sound effects。 Definitely a production。The protagonist is from the Dominican Republic。 It seems to me that the author is using the 50-something female stereotype to the extreme for humor。 I'm not Dominican， don't know any Dominicans。 But all my corporate America diversity training must be working to some degree， because this book was a little too much for me。 Although the last couple chapters were definitely among the best， so I'm glad that I did f The audio was well done， two narrators and many sound effects。 Definitely a production。The protagonist is from the Dominican Republic。 It seems to me that the author is using the 50-something female stereotype to the extreme for humor。 I'm not Dominican， don't know any Dominicans。 But all my corporate America diversity training must be working to some degree， because this book was a little too much for me。 Although the last couple chapters were definitely among the best， so I'm glad that I did finish How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water。Thank you to NetGalley， Angie Cruz the author， Kimberly Wetherell and Rossmery Almonte the narrators and to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review the advance listen version of the audio in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Liz Fedor
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3。5 actually I think that the counselor did Cara a disservice by not teaching her how to answer job and citizenship applications。 Cara did go off on tangents and those told us a lot about her life but it was up to the counselor to get her on the right track。
Amy G。
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DNF @ 50%。 Totally lost interest。 Started strong。
Suzieh
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Such an entertaining and quick read。
Shannon
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3。5/5
Tanisha
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This book was one of my most anticipated books of the year， and I'm just going to go ahead and claim it now as my favorite （fiction） book of the year。 I love Angie Cruz and the character's she brings to life through her writing。 I loved Cara and all her stories。 She was funny， witty， and full of chisme！ She's a woman who has unapologetically lived life the best way she knew how with the cards she was dealt。 Although flawed in many ways， she realizes over time the mistakes she's made in life and This book was one of my most anticipated books of the year， and I'm just going to go ahead and claim it now as my favorite （fiction） book of the year。 I love Angie Cruz and the character's she brings to life through her writing。 I loved Cara and all her stories。 She was funny， witty， and full of chisme！ She's a woman who has unapologetically lived life the best way she knew how with the cards she was dealt。 Although flawed in many ways， she realizes over time the mistakes she's made in life and learns painstakingly the harm in following the same generational patterns from her own traumatic upbringing。 I loved watching her growth and how she learns from past mistakes to become a better mother， sister， friend-as well as an overall better version of herself。 Favorite Cara-isms:"I did it because I wanted to change my life。 That's what we have to do。 We step in the shit on purpose so we're forced to buy new shoes。" -p。 15"Desahogar: to undrown， to cry until you don't need to cry no more。" -p。 35"You stay ignorant or you educate。 Punto。 -p。 38"When you need each other to survive。 You forgive。" -p。 47"If you try to fix something that somebody do not want to fix they will hate you for it。 To offer help is OK。 To push， no。" -p。 74"The less you say， the more people listen。" -p。 94"She's only una ninita and has to concentrate on school so she can get a good job with health insurance。 Stay away from the drugs and drinking。 That's all any mother wants。" -p。 112"I learned the difficult way that you have to be gentle with your children， or you can lose them forever。" -p。 113"A children's mistake is a mother's responsibility。" -p。 123"Sometimes we need help to not drown in a glass of water。。。it's good to have people to remind us that we have survived a lot more than this。" -p。 139That's why I get angry with Angela， because she always wants to remind me of what happened when we were children。 This happened， that happened， Mama did this， Mama did that。 Ay！ Why talk now？ We can't change it。 Dejalo。But she says， We must talk or else we will get sick。 To hold things inside makes us sick。 But what am I going to do？ I grew up different。 If we don't talk about something， it goes away。 -p。 151"。。。we must not wait to live the life we want。 Find a way to be present with the people you love。" -p。 168"Freedom is being able to live your truth without having to apologize for it。" -p。 174"In this world all you need is people to give you a chance。" -p。 183"But I understand her jealously。 It is difficult to be happy for others when you have many problems。" -p。 184 。。。more
Suellen
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• ModernMrsDarcy。com 2022 Fall Book Preview #MMDSummerReading #MMDBookClub
pam aceituno
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i cried in public several times and i think that's all i have to say。 what a powerful read to kick off hispanic heritage month <3 i cried in public several times and i think that's all i have to say。 what a powerful read to kick off hispanic heritage month <3 。。。more
chantel nouseforaname
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Incredible。 I loved this story。 Definitely one of the best books that I've read this year。 Cara Romero is a character that you won't forget， maybe because you know her or you've met her in your life somewhere along the way。 The layout of the story was fascinating， the escalating sessions and the momentary revelations。 The complexity of a woman， a survivor， a mother， a sister。 Angie Cruz did something special with this one。 I can't wait to read it again， this time I've got to get the audio！ Incredible。 I loved this story。 Definitely one of the best books that I've read this year。 Cara Romero is a character that you won't forget， maybe because you know her or you've met her in your life somewhere along the way。 The layout of the story was fascinating， the escalating sessions and the momentary revelations。 The complexity of a woman， a survivor， a mother， a sister。 Angie Cruz did something special with this one。 I can't wait to read it again， this time I've got to get the audio！ 。。。more
Martinex
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This was absolutely amazing。 Highly recommend the audiobook。 The format is interesting and funny and heartbreaking。 Cara Romero was the best。 I’m a fan ❤️
Rochelle Weinstein
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Original， fabulous storytelling。 Listen on Audible for a real treat！
mari
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this was funny and entertaining but triggering as hell when fernando was painfully relatable
Gretchen
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Audiobook
M4cGirl
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I was able to listen to How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz （Narrated by Kimberly M。 Wetherell; Rossmery Almonte） by Macmillan Audio and Netgalley who provided me with an arc this audiobook in exchange for an honest review。Is about Cara Romero who thought she will work in the factory of little lamps for the rest of her life。 She loses her job during the great recession and is forced back into the job market for the first time。 She gets setup with a job counselor and instead of tal I was able to listen to How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz （Narrated by Kimberly M。 Wetherell; Rossmery Almonte） by Macmillan Audio and Netgalley who provided me with an arc this audiobook in exchange for an honest review。Is about Cara Romero who thought she will work in the factory of little lamps for the rest of her life。 She loses her job during the great recession and is forced back into the job market for the first time。 She gets setup with a job counselor and instead of talking about work she talks about the stories of her life （no spoilers）。 Cara has a habit of drinking water so when she talks to the counselor during her 12 sessions she always ask for a glass of water， she takes a sip， you can actually hear how she takes the sip of water。 This audiobook was amazing and funny。 Is about being a woman， aging， enjoying and learning about life。 You can definitely listen while drinking a glass of wine。 。。。more
Shannon
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Wow， cleverly and genuinely written。 Had I the time， I could have easily read this in one setting。 Cruz's narrator， Cara， is an inviting voice that brings you into a story told in layers in a series of conversations （though only her side is given） in an employment agency。 Between each conversation session is an application of sorts to complement the narrative of lay-offs， gentrification， language requirements， and other forms of encroachment into the vulnerable life of a working-class immigrant Wow， cleverly and genuinely written。 Had I the time， I could have easily read this in one setting。 Cruz's narrator， Cara， is an inviting voice that brings you into a story told in layers in a series of conversations （though only her side is given） in an employment agency。 Between each conversation session is an application of sorts to complement the narrative of lay-offs， gentrification， language requirements， and other forms of encroachment into the vulnerable life of a working-class immigrant broaching the age of retirement （but without the funds for such an option）。 Her neighbors and acquaintances are in similar situations， and it is through mutual assistance and unconditional friendship that they keep each other afloat。 Cara's voice is strong， stubbornly optimistic， and celebratory in the trials through which she finds small but fierce victories。 。。。more
billy bob
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I will never forget Cara Romero
Diane
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What an enjoyable little book。 I felt as if Cara was talking to me， and I loved listening to her。 The book was funny， sad， heartbreaking and uplifting。 A perfect read while Ian makes its approach to Sarasota。
Mary
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This was a beautiful experience。 It sounded authentic to me， certainly the pieces related to government forms。 As for the protagonist narrator it sounded heartbreakingly true。 This story is beautifully portrayed on audio， which I highly recommend。 Finally this story has humor， deep caring， acceptance， and shows how culture and tradition influences as much as a new environment。 I look forward to my Latina friends to confirm my assessment。Ps， as a Capricorn， she has some hilarious observations of This was a beautiful experience。 It sounded authentic to me， certainly the pieces related to government forms。 As for the protagonist narrator it sounded heartbreakingly true。 This story is beautifully portrayed on audio， which I highly recommend。 Finally this story has humor， deep caring， acceptance， and shows how culture and tradition influences as much as a new environment。 I look forward to my Latina friends to confirm my assessment。Ps， as a Capricorn， she has some hilarious observations of people with the sign 。。。more
Roslynne Levine
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Short， fast， easy read。 Charming and uplifting。
Mary Favret
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Very moving story that is beautifully written！ All immigrants will identify with the core messages， and all mothers as well。
Lisa
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Fast read of Dominican immigrant。 After 15 years in a gated community， living in NYC has opened my eyes to the struggles of so many people。 Yet this was an upbeat novel-poverty light…。
Stephanie
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This book feels so recognizable， familiar but definitely a different style， that was digest-able and engaging。 I actually love that the Spanish words are not italicized and translated。
Jessi
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An incredibly unique audiobook experience。How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water is a story about self-reflection， generational trauma， immigrant life in the United States， and - most importantly - perseverance。 While the experimental structure of the book wasn't my favorite， I'm glad I took the time to listen。Our main character， Cara Romero， looks back on her life through a series of interview-styled chapters。 She is so unfiltered and honest that， as a reader， you sometimes feel like a fly on the An incredibly unique audiobook experience。How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water is a story about self-reflection， generational trauma， immigrant life in the United States， and - most importantly - perseverance。 While the experimental structure of the book wasn't my favorite， I'm glad I took the time to listen。Our main character， Cara Romero， looks back on her life through a series of interview-styled chapters。 She is so unfiltered and honest that， as a reader， you sometimes feel like a fly on the wall。 Hesitant at first， I quickly grew to love Cara's stubbornness and sense of humor。Altogether， I love how Cruz explores the complexities of human existence through the lens of a genuinely relatable character。 。。。more
Chelsea Hilton
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Loved this - I highly recommend the audiobook！
haley ⊹
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