Entry Questions
What topics would like to see included in the upcoming conversation with Amina Gautier? Is there an aspect of her writing practice or publishing trajectory that you are interested in?
“Bodega” and “Only Son”
The interlinked stories show the fractures in a Puerto Rican family living in Brooklyn, their clashing expectations in the diaspora, and their cultural/emotional barriers. They are all in the search of roots while dealing with their own loss, regret, fear, and anger. We saw in “Bodega”, that deli owners Nelida and her husband left San Juan specifically to give their only child a chance at a “better life.” But as a young adult the son Esteban asks what is a “better life”? Why do I need to follow the family path? Why must this path be found in New York City and the states? Am I tied to my parents’ sacrifices? Is it possible to experience authentic Puerto Rican culture in the states?
Discuss in Pairs
After reading “Only Son,” do you identify more with Esteban or with his parents? Do you think that there are valid reasons for Esteban’s abandonment? How could they thrive as individuals and as a family? Does diasporic life need to be always centered around sacrifices?
Presentation(s) by:
Group Discussion-Chain Reaction
Elaborate on how Gautier presents ONE of the following set of themes in the story.
.Geographical and cultural longing
.Death, heritage, and legacy
.Patriarchal failures
.Family, dispersion, and reunification