A Cup of Water Under My Bed
A Memoir
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
A Cup of Water Under My Bed
Buy for $21.84
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Daisy Hernández
-
By:
-
Daisy Hernández
About this listen
The PEN Literary Award-winning author “writes with honesty, intelligence, tenderness, and love” about her Colombian-Cuban heritage and queer identity in this poignant coming-of-age memoir (Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street).
In this lyrical, coming-of-age memoir, Daisy Hernández chronicles what the women in her Cuban-Colombian family taught her about love, money, and race. Her mother warns her about envidia and men who seduce you with pastries, while one tía bemoans that her niece is turning out to be “una india” instead of an American. Another auntie instructs that when two people are close, they are bound to become like uña y mugre, fingernails and dirt, and that no, Daisy’s father is not godless. He’s simply praying to a candy dish that can be traced back to Africa.
These lessons—rooted in women’s experiences of migration, colonization, y cariño—define in evocative detail what it means to grow up female in an immigrant home. In one story, Daisy sets out to defy the dictates of race and class that preoccupy her mother and tías, but dating women and transmen, and coming to identify as bisexual, leads her to unexpected questions. In another piece, NAFTA shuts local factories in her hometown on the outskirts of New York City, and she begins translating unemployment forms for her parents, moving between English and Spanish, as well as private and collective fears. In prose that is both memoir and commentary, Daisy reflects on reporting for the New York Times as the paper is rocked by the biggest plagiarism scandal in its history and plunged into debates about the role of race in the newsroom.
A heartfelt exploration of family, identity, and language, A Cup of Water Under My Bed is ultimately a daughter’s story of finding herself and her community, and of creating a new, queer life.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2024 Daisy Hernández (P)2024 Beacon Press AudioCritic reviews
“Warm and thoughtful, Hernández writes with cleareyed compassion about living, and redefining success, at the intersection of social, ethnic and racial difference. Personal storytelling at its most authentic and heartfelt.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Journalist, feminist, and first-time memoirist Hernández presents a coming-of-age story that dives into the complexities of language, sexuality, and class. … An accessible, honest look at the often heart-wrenching effects of intergenerational tension on family ties.”—Booklist
“This book is a compelling glimpse into the life of a young Latina struggling to hold onto her background and make her way in a world she often finds difficult to embrace. Hernandez's use of language is often poetic, especially when intermingling Spanish and English, with the cultural tones of each.”—Windy City Times
Related to this topic
-
Always a Bridesmaid
- By: Erin Clark, Laura Lovely
- Narrated by: Andrew Eiden, Krystal Hammond
- Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 755
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 749
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 749
Meet Randi Burnett—she’s brilliant, she’s beautiful, and she works for the bride. Missing groom? Intoxicated in-laws? Crying ring-bearer? You name it, she wrangles it. Too bad her personal life isn’t thriving like her side gig as a bridesmaid for hire. Recently dumped, Randi throws herself into her biggest challenge yet when she’s hired as a maid of honor and pretend best friend for an ice queen bride. There’s just one problem—the best man is infuriating, overprotective, and anti-marriage.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Cutesy lil rom com
- By Kindle Customer on 02-13-25
By: Erin Clark, and others
-
The Picture of Dorian Gray
- By: Oscar Wilde
- Narrated by: Russell Tovey
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,012
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,103
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,070
A disturbing tale of a young man's uncanny ability to remain both young and beautiful while descending into a life of heartless debauchery, The Picture of Dorian Gray was considered proof of both Wilde's genius and his perversion. Oscar Wilde's scandalous best seller of 1891 was one of the most damning pieces of evidence used against him in the trial that brought about his downfall.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A twisted tale of vanity and poisonous people
- By Shantastic on 10-02-19
By: Oscar Wilde
-
Top Secret
- By: Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy
- Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Christian Fox
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3,314
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,066
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,062
Best-selling authors Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy return with their first Male/Male romance in 3 years. LobsterShorts, 21. Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF. SinnerThree, 21. Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF. LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome. SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app. LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy? SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You? LobsterShorts: [crickets!]
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫
- By ❤️Cyndi Marie❤️🎧Audiobook Addicts🎧 on 05-31-19
By: Sarina Bowen, and others
-
Anyone but Me
- By: JD Frost
- Narrated by: Javi Wilder, Simon Dornet
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 25
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 23
Oakley Farrow is your typical high school senior. He stays up late, cramming for finals. He has impossible deadlines to meet. He worries about his future as graduation lurks just around the corner. He has to defend himself from his abusive uncle. He has to keep his sister safe. He has to survive the constant torture from his bully, Asher Brooks—the seemingly arrogant and cruel star quarterback. Okay… so maybe not your typical high school senior.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A happily ever after that was needed.
- By Kindle Customer on 02-22-25
By: JD Frost
-
Songbirds of Sedona
- By: Lise Gold
- Narrated by: Tessa Stavers, Abby Craden
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 23
When Lori Hawthorne trades her high-powered city life for the unexpected inheritance of her late aunt's neglected fruit farm in Sedona, Arizona, she soon realizes that mending a broken orchard is only half the battle. Seeking a chance to rewrite her story, she's determined to breathe new life into both the farm and her own existence.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Songbirds of Sedona
- By MLTU on 02-16-25
By: Lise Gold
-
Bad Wrong Things
- By: C.P. Harris
- Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Liam DiCosimo
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 216
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 196
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 196
The day Clint sees his son, Joey, off to basic training, the young man he’s devoted his life to extracts one promise from him: spend the summer doing something selfish for a change. The request seems harmless enough until Joey puts his best friend, Raven, in charge of seeing it through.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
This was BAD and WRONG
- By VA on 04-28-23
By: C.P. Harris
-
Always a Bridesmaid
- By: Erin Clark, Laura Lovely
- Narrated by: Andrew Eiden, Krystal Hammond
- Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 755
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 749
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 749
Meet Randi Burnett—she’s brilliant, she’s beautiful, and she works for the bride. Missing groom? Intoxicated in-laws? Crying ring-bearer? You name it, she wrangles it. Too bad her personal life isn’t thriving like her side gig as a bridesmaid for hire. Recently dumped, Randi throws herself into her biggest challenge yet when she’s hired as a maid of honor and pretend best friend for an ice queen bride. There’s just one problem—the best man is infuriating, overprotective, and anti-marriage.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Cutesy lil rom com
- By Kindle Customer on 02-13-25
By: Erin Clark, and others
-
The Picture of Dorian Gray
- By: Oscar Wilde
- Narrated by: Russell Tovey
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,012
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,103
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,070
A disturbing tale of a young man's uncanny ability to remain both young and beautiful while descending into a life of heartless debauchery, The Picture of Dorian Gray was considered proof of both Wilde's genius and his perversion. Oscar Wilde's scandalous best seller of 1891 was one of the most damning pieces of evidence used against him in the trial that brought about his downfall.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A twisted tale of vanity and poisonous people
- By Shantastic on 10-02-19
By: Oscar Wilde
-
Top Secret
- By: Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy
- Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Christian Fox
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3,314
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,066
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,062
Best-selling authors Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy return with their first Male/Male romance in 3 years. LobsterShorts, 21. Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF. SinnerThree, 21. Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF. LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome. SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app. LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy? SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You? LobsterShorts: [crickets!]
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫
- By ❤️Cyndi Marie❤️🎧Audiobook Addicts🎧 on 05-31-19
By: Sarina Bowen, and others
-
Anyone but Me
- By: JD Frost
- Narrated by: Javi Wilder, Simon Dornet
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 25
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 23
Oakley Farrow is your typical high school senior. He stays up late, cramming for finals. He has impossible deadlines to meet. He worries about his future as graduation lurks just around the corner. He has to defend himself from his abusive uncle. He has to keep his sister safe. He has to survive the constant torture from his bully, Asher Brooks—the seemingly arrogant and cruel star quarterback. Okay… so maybe not your typical high school senior.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A happily ever after that was needed.
- By Kindle Customer on 02-22-25
By: JD Frost
-
Songbirds of Sedona
- By: Lise Gold
- Narrated by: Tessa Stavers, Abby Craden
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 23
When Lori Hawthorne trades her high-powered city life for the unexpected inheritance of her late aunt's neglected fruit farm in Sedona, Arizona, she soon realizes that mending a broken orchard is only half the battle. Seeking a chance to rewrite her story, she's determined to breathe new life into both the farm and her own existence.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Songbirds of Sedona
- By MLTU on 02-16-25
By: Lise Gold
-
Bad Wrong Things
- By: C.P. Harris
- Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Liam DiCosimo
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 216
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 196
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 196
The day Clint sees his son, Joey, off to basic training, the young man he’s devoted his life to extracts one promise from him: spend the summer doing something selfish for a change. The request seems harmless enough until Joey puts his best friend, Raven, in charge of seeing it through.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
This was BAD and WRONG
- By VA on 04-28-23
By: C.P. Harris