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In a new memoir, the award-winning novelist, poet, and beloved author of The House on Mango Street, shares over three decades of true stories, essays, talks, and poems to offer a richly illustrated compilation of her storied life and career. Opening doors onto the Chicago neighborhoods where she grew up, her abode in Mexico haunted by her ancestors, a Greek white-washed island, a borrowed guest room, her purple house in San Antonio, and more, Cisneros sheds light on the real and imagined places that inspired her writing even as she struggled to define her own idea of home. Reflecting on the private journey of a life in writing, ALOUD welcomes Cisneros to the stage for a reading and conversation.

This will be offered as a bilingual program. Interpretation between Spanish and English will be provided by Antena Los Ángeles.

Sandra Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros is the author of two highly celebrated novels, a story collection, two books of poetry, and, most recently, Have You Seen Marie? She is the recipient of numerous awards, including National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, the Lannan Literary Award, the American Book Award, the Thomas Wolfe Prize, and a MacArthur Fellowship. Her work has been translated into more than 20 languages. Cisneros is the founder of the Alfredo Cisneros Del Moral and Macondo Foundations, which serve creative writers.


Reyna Grande

Reyna Grande is an award-winning author of the novels Across a Hundred Mountains, Dancing with Butterflies, and most recently, the memoir, The Distance Between Us, which was a National Book Circle Critics Award finalist. Born in Guerrero, Mexico, Reyna entered the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant at age 10, and later went on to become the first person in her family to graduate from college. Grande currently teaches creative writing at UCLA Extension and is at work on her next novel. She is the recipient of many awards, including an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlán Literary Award, and the Latino Book Award.


Reservation Policy for Free Programs:
As most ALOUD at Central Library programs are free of charge, it is our policy to overbook. In the case of a FULL program your free reservation may not guarantee admission. We recommend arriving early. Space permitting, unclaimed reservations will be released to standby patrons at approximately 7 PM.

Standby Policy

Standby numbers are distributed in person only one hour before the program, on a first-come, first-served, basis. There is no advance wait list for full programs. Standby patrons will be admitted subject to availability. Most programs will be available via podcast.

Main image credit: Bo Insogna