Little Man

Hombrecito 

by Santiago José Sánchez

“He kisses her again, with more conviction this time, the way she kisses his cuts and bruises, as if love were something tangible, a balm to spread over every injury.”
― Santiago Jose Sanchez, Hombrecito






Hombrecito is a lyrical, queer coming-of-age story that delves into immigrant identity, familial trauma, and desire. It has a palpable emotional intensity combined with exquisite prose. The novel follows a young narrator, also named Santiago, from his childhood in Ibagué, Colombia, to his life as an immigrant in Miami and, eventually, New York City.
The title ("little man") alludes to the narrator's childhood role as he navigates a complicated relationship with his mother, who frequently "forgets she is a mother" and disappears for long periods of time.
Sanchez's writing is passionate and electrifying. The novel's focus on minute, visceral details—such as the smell of fried plantains or the texture of a mother's dress—is one of its greatest strengths. The narrative structure is nonlinear, and it can occasionally feel like a series of photographs rather than a continuous stream of events. Overall, it was a fascinating read.


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