Marlena Maduro Baraf

"... Three Poets, Marlena Maduro Baraf, Carmen Bardeguez-Brown, and Julio C sar Paz ...a unique collection of poetry that is an act of kinship and a compelling documentary of language in time. These three voices rally the power of poetry in a global way, from New York to Hanoi to Chiang Mai."-Elaine Sexton, author of Drive"The fact that three Latino poets collaborated on this work gives the book a nuanced and more complex vision. These poet-travelers offer us a feast of images from their adopted societies. They present us with what is new and different while remembering that which was left behind." -Dhalma Llanos-Figueroa, Author of Daughters of the Stone, A Woman of Endurance, and Indomitable. "Three beautiful poets, connected by history and by their love of words have given us this unusual, memorable collection of friendship, and of understanding." -Esther Cohen, Poet, New York.

With sensitivity and candor, Baraf examines mental illness, immigration, forgiveness, and community - all framed within the precocity of her life's circumstances.' - Ms. Magazine 'At the Narrow Waist of the World is a compelling account of what it is like to live through turbulence and come out on the other side.' - Foreword Clarion Review 'Deftly written, impressively candid, insightfully presented, At the Narrow Waist of the World is an extraordinary and memorable read.' - Midwest Book Review 'By the end of At the Narrow Waist of the World, we have come to know, admire and even cherish its author in a way few memoirists manage to achieve ... . ' - Jewish Journal Raised by a lively family of Spanish Jews in tropical and Catholic Panama of the 1950s and 1960s, Marlena depends on her many tios and tias for refuge from the difficulties of life, including the frequent absences of her troubled mother. As a teenager, she pulls away from this centered world - crossing borders - and begins a life in the United States very different from the one she has known. This lyrical coming-of-age memoir explores the intense and profound relationship between mothers and daughters and highlights the importance of community and the beauty of a large Latin American family. It also explores the vital issues of mental illness and healing, forgiveness and acceptance. At the Narrow Waist of the World examines the author's gradual integration into a new culture, even as she understands that her home is still - and always will be - rooted in another place.

Like corny song lyrics, love is all around, and sometimes we're lucky enough to share some, to give some, to receive some. But love is different from marriage, and, while they may go together like ... well, like a horse and carriage, these are two very different things that also exist quite independent from each other. This collection of personal stories collected by Read650's Edward McCann were originally performed live for a full house at Sarah Lawrence College. Read650 shows on wide-ranging topics are produced at venues around the country, and you can learn about submission deadlines and upcoming events on our website or Facebook page. Please help spread the word about the spoken word.