SKU: 370651042

Fish Out of Agua: My Life on Neither Side of the (Subway) Tracks

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Fish Out of Agua: My Life on Neither Side of the (Subway) TracksA voice from the loudspeaker blared, "Will the family who brought the little redheaded white girl to the Puerto Rican Day parade please come to the bandstand to pick her up." I looked around. Wait a minute. I am at the bandstand. I am that lost girl Michele Carlo, a redheaded, freckle faced Puerto Rican raised in the Polish section of the Bronx, grew up as a permanent outsider. Too white for her proud, Spanish speaking relatives and a mystery to her

A voice from the loudspeaker blared, "Will the family who brought the little redheaded white girl to the Puerto Rican Day parade please come to the bandstand to pick her up." I looked around. Wait a minute. I am at the bandstand. I am that lost girl

Michele Carlo, a redheaded, freckle-faced Puerto Rican raised in the Polish section of the Bronx, grew up as a permanent outsider. Too white for her proud, Spanish-speaking relatives and a mystery to her schoolmates, Michele braved a search for identity that was a long, rough and tumble ride. . .

By turns heartbreaking and humorous, she recalls the family calamities, fumblings of first love, and all the people and events that shaped her. From her "playground battlefield" in the not-so-wholesome summer of '69 to many adrenaline-fueled, graffiti-filled afternoons and her emergence as an artist with a unique and alluring voice, Michele's story is an homage to a New York City gone by. . .and an iconically American, unforgettable portrait of growing up.

"Warm and insightful. . .Michele's take on life as a Latina is the most original I have ever seen." --Linda Nieves Powell, author of Free Style

"Michele's humor, heart--and every sweet and razor-sharp note of her writing--reach far beyond the edges of this island." --Dan Kennedy, author of Rock On

"Poignant, funny, and authentic." --Janice Erlbaum, author of Girlbomb

Michele Carlo is a writer, performer and comedic storyteller who has lived in four of the five boroughs of New York City and remembers when a slice of pizza cost fifty cents. Her stories have been published in Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul, Lost and Found: Stories from New York and Smith Magazine. She has often appeared with The Moth and other NYC storytelling communities. Like almost every other writer in NYC, Michele is a Brooklynite (since 1988) with no plans of leaving anytime soon.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Citadel Press
Published: 08/01/2010
ISBN: 9780806531465
Pages: 319
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.40w x 0.90d

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SKU: 370651042

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Z. Ed
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Finally, a dress shoe that actually feels like a sneaker!
Size: 8.5, Color: Dark Brown
I was honestly super skeptical about buying shoes on Amazon, especially "dress sneakers." Usually, they either look incredibly cheap in person or they completely destroy your heels within an hour. I am so glad I took a chance on these Bruno Marcs. I commute to campus and take the bus almost every day, so I end up doing a ton of walking. I needed something that looked sharp and put-together, but I absolutely refused to sacrifice comfort for a long day on my feet. These completely hit the mark. Right out of the box, there was zero break-in period—no stiffness, no pinching, and no blisters. They are incredibly lightweight, and the material actually looks premium, not like that shiny, fake plastic you sometimes get at this price point. The traction on the bottom is surprisingly good too, which is a lifesaver when I'm rushing to catch my bus on rainy mornings. If you’re on the fence, just get them. It’s rare to find a shoe that balances looking professional with feeling exactly like your favorite weekend sneaker. Easily one of the best wardrobe purchases I've made in a while!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2026
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Milagros Ramos
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 4
High quality, perfect color and very nice price!
Size: 14, Color: Brown, Size: 14, Color: Brown
I bought this shoes for my husband's Christmas present, so he didn't try yet. So far, the color is perfect! I feel like he can wear this shoes with different outfits, for the price it seems hight quality, it is not heavy at all. The shoe features a soft, comfortable lining and the sole is perfect because it is non-slip.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2025
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effie
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Squeaky
Size: 8, Color: Black
They look incredible. But they're a little squeaky. Otherwise my husband loves the comfort. They go with any outfit
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Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2026
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Boito
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
These fit very nicely, are comfortable, and work for my wide feet!
Size: 12 Wide, Color: Brown
Once I learned while shoe shopping in my youth that I needed wide-sized shoes, I wasn't able to easily choose from any shoes I saw in the store. I usually have to go find the wide widths and have to deal with the limited styles they have. Shopping online has been hit and miss, too. Sometimes, shoes are advertised as wide width, but end up still being too narrow. These shoes fit me just right. They were not too tight at the toes, gave good width at the arch, and the opening was large enough that I didn't have to undo every single lace just to get my foot in. They also look nice, and I'm sure will take a decent polish. Also, note that this does say it's an Oxford shoe, but it does have the open lacing and is more of a derby-style shoe. This also helps with sizing for my wide feet. If I didn't already have a pair of black shoes, I'd look at picking one of these up. My only reservation with these is that the soles are not dark-colored to complement a more formal style. I feel the white makes them a little more casual. The sole is also more transparent/opaque coloring at the heel and underneath, which you can kind of see-through, so keep that in mind. It's not fully clear, but is kind of transparent, which I was not expecting. I think it also shows where it picks up dirt as you wear it. Just more of a style cue one way or another. As a reference, I buy the 4E wide and Extra Wides in New Balance and Skechers. I also have a hard time getting any good fit in Nike shoes.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2023
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Michelle sealock
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Looks and feel good
Size: 10.5, Color: Black
Shoes look dressy but feel comfortable. They are stiff but very comfortable.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2026

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