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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I receieved an eARC edition of this novel courtesy of Hachette Children's Group/Orion Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know what to think of this book, it was honestly strange, the story felt disjointed and I really didn't know whether to continue reading at a few points but I guess I'm glad I did ?
I think the story definitely got better as the book progressed, I even felt for the main character at the end and nearly shed a few tears.
But I did also find him annoyingly irresponsible, he knew fully well what was going to happen and the fluctuation between him berating himself for the stupid things he was doing (and about to do) and him doing the things anyway for some godforsaken reason, multiple times. I mean I'd understand if he made the same mistake once, maybe twice, but multiple times in the same night? That's just pushing it a little. Although in saying that, I do realise that that is the sort of vibe Sedgwick had wanted the character to have, so I guess kudos for achieving that?
I found the concept of Santa Muerte being such a huge part of Mexican culture incredibly interesting, I felt as though without it, the book wouldn't have been as interesting. The blind faith that the MC had in her was eerie to read about, mainly because I just can't imagine putting so much trust into something that technically wasn't real (although, it seemed like in a lot of cases they treated her as a real entity), enough trust to literally gamble away your life; the book brought the "sinister guardian" part of the synopsis to life and took it beyond that... The concept of that was slightly crazy and eluded me a little, but it was an interesting thing to read about nonetheless.
I also thought that Sedgwick did the right thing in showing the dark reality faced by Mexicans through their eyes, it made a change from what the media usually presents them as, especially in current American political standings in the current elections.
I did really like the fact that the book introduced me to a completely different culture, despite it being a disturbing one, it was well researched and well written, and only lost me because I did not really know much about Santa Muerte herself to begin with (I'd say it's a good idea to read up on her a wee bit before beginning to read the story) and also that I just couldn't for some odd reason, connect with the MC on the level at which it should have been possible. Although overall, I'd definitely say that this book is still very much worth the read.
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars
I don't know what to think of this book, it was honestly strange, the story felt disjointed and I really didn't know whether to continue reading at a few points but I guess I'm glad I did ?
I think the story definitely got better as the book progressed, I even felt for the main character at the end and nearly shed a few tears.
But I did also find him annoyingly irresponsible, he knew fully well what was going to happen and the fluctuation between him berating himself for the stupid things he was doing (and about to do) and him doing the things anyway for some godforsaken reason, multiple times. I mean I'd understand if he made the same mistake once, maybe twice, but multiple times in the same night? That's just pushing it a little. Although in saying that, I do realise that that is the sort of vibe Sedgwick had wanted the character to have, so I guess kudos for achieving that?
I found the concept of Santa Muerte being such a huge part of Mexican culture incredibly interesting, I felt as though without it, the book wouldn't have been as interesting. The blind faith that the MC had in her was eerie to read about, mainly because I just can't imagine putting so much trust into something that technically wasn't real (although, it seemed like in a lot of cases they treated her as a real entity), enough trust to literally gamble away your life; the book brought the "sinister guardian" part of the synopsis to life and took it beyond that... The concept of that was slightly crazy and eluded me a little, but it was an interesting thing to read about nonetheless.
I also thought that Sedgwick did the right thing in showing the dark reality faced by Mexicans through their eyes, it made a change from what the media usually presents them as, especially in current American political standings in the current elections.
I did really like the fact that the book introduced me to a completely different culture, despite it being a disturbing one, it was well researched and well written, and only lost me because I did not really know much about Santa Muerte herself to begin with (I'd say it's a good idea to read up on her a wee bit before beginning to read the story) and also that I just couldn't for some odd reason, connect with the MC on the level at which it should have been possible. Although overall, I'd definitely say that this book is still very much worth the read.
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars
This is a book that will stick with me for awhile.
It follows the story of a boy named Arturo who is from a neighborhood in Mexico called Anapra, a poor neighborhood near the bigger city of Juarez. Arturo tries to help his friend Faustino who is in trouble from the drug gang in the city. It follows what Arturo goes through the next two days in order to help his friend. The reader does not only witness the fear and danger that folks live in due to the drug gang but also the realities of industrialization by foreign companies (mainly American companies because of NAFTA), and the barely livable wages that factory workers (women mostly) make, climate change because of those companies, and these very institutions that are built so that the poor remain poor, and the rich remain rich through money, drugs, American government given guns, violence, and power.
Meanwhile, the current administration is adamant in creating stricter immigration laws against the very lives that they are destroying themselves.
I had so many feelings while reading this book, but also afterwards for a really long time. It made me angry, frustrated, at times hopeful. You went through a roller coaster of emotions, the same way Arturo goes through them as well. By the end, I was nearly to tears because you know stories like these just don't have happy endings.
It follows the story of a boy named Arturo who is from a neighborhood in Mexico called Anapra, a poor neighborhood near the bigger city of Juarez. Arturo tries to help his friend Faustino who is in trouble from the drug gang in the city. It follows what Arturo goes through the next two days in order to help his friend. The reader does not only witness the fear and danger that folks live in due to the drug gang but also the realities of industrialization by foreign companies (mainly American companies because of NAFTA), and the barely livable wages that factory workers (women mostly) make, climate change because of those companies, and these very institutions that are built so that the poor remain poor, and the rich remain rich through money, drugs, American government given guns, violence, and power.
Meanwhile, the current administration is adamant in creating stricter immigration laws against the very lives that they are destroying themselves.
I had so many feelings while reading this book, but also afterwards for a really long time. It made me angry, frustrated, at times hopeful. You went through a roller coaster of emotions, the same way Arturo goes through them as well. By the end, I was nearly to tears because you know stories like these just don't have happy endings.
Definitely really different from the kinds of books I usually read, in large part because of the setting that I would consider the backbone of the story. It's not a happy story in any sense; that, as well as the ending, are to be expected from the title and summary - the inescapable inevitability and simultaneous sanctity of Death and other unstoppable forces. The reader is put in a similar position to the characters', because ultimately .
Spoiler
the characters are just as powerless to stop events from unfolding as the do, as the reader is
Saint Death follows Arturo, a young man living in a shack on the border between US and Mexico. Living hand to mouth in an impoverished city, the story follows Arturo as he struggles to save himself and childhood friend from a dangerous situation and a poverty-stricken life.
From the moment I began reading I could tell this book was something special. Sedgwick describes the harsh, grim day-to-day life that poor Arturo battles through. The seamless writing flows between Spanish and English and lends its self perfectly to the setting.
I could tell there was more to the book than the simple, verging on non-existent story line, there was definitely a meaningful deeper message to the story, but unfortunately it was lost on me. I do love exploring books outside my usual choice of dystopian YA, but this book, although I knew it was something special it did go over my head.
I tried, honestly I did... But I just could not get into it, as much as I tried. As a general rule I always give a book 100 pages before I pass any form of judgement... and I did, I read about half of it.
I am not saying its a terrible book by any means, I have seen tons of good reviews for it. It just wasn't the book for me... I found the writing (although interesting) too hard going and the deep messages were lost on me.
This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
From the moment I began reading I could tell this book was something special. Sedgwick describes the harsh, grim day-to-day life that poor Arturo battles through. The seamless writing flows between Spanish and English and lends its self perfectly to the setting.
I could tell there was more to the book than the simple, verging on non-existent story line, there was definitely a meaningful deeper message to the story, but unfortunately it was lost on me. I do love exploring books outside my usual choice of dystopian YA, but this book, although I knew it was something special it did go over my head.
I tried, honestly I did... But I just could not get into it, as much as I tried. As a general rule I always give a book 100 pages before I pass any form of judgement... and I did, I read about half of it.
I am not saying its a terrible book by any means, I have seen tons of good reviews for it. It just wasn't the book for me... I found the writing (although interesting) too hard going and the deep messages were lost on me.
This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The story in this book, about a young man named Arturo is just a backdrop for the author to explain the political situation on the Texas/Mexico border. He uses his main character, who lives in abject poverty and has an old friend who becomes involved in the drug trade to explain the drug trade. The main character's mother worked for a maquiladora, a Mexican sweatshop owned by Americans,which is explained in the book as well. The story of Arturo is the story of many poor people in Mexico whose lives are ruled by those who have money and power. The book is quite political.
This book does a wonderful job commenting on the darker parts of our cultures, and displays what happens when greed and vanity corrupts ones life. Definitely an eye-opening read!
Complete review available: Saint Death
Sedgwick is back, folks! And I don't just mean that he's written another book after a while of quietness, but that the author I first enjoyed with strong writing and unique plots has returned after a series of works that missed the mark for me. Saint Death is not among them and is a worthy contender on this year's Carnegie shortlist. I did fear near the end that it was all going to become a little too predictable, nice and easy, but Sedgwick kept the reader on their toes, twisted, turned and then drove home the message hard. Sure, it felt at times as if the weird insets (what is with the Carnegie nominees and weird insets this year?) were just info-dumps, but sometimes they worked and as a whole it didn't prove distracting from the plot at all. Had it not made the shortlist, I don't think I'd have picked it up because after the last six or so years I'd just about given up on Sedgwick.
This, though, this is his redemption.
Sedgwick is back, folks! And I don't just mean that he's written another book after a while of quietness, but that the author I first enjoyed with strong writing and unique plots has returned after a series of works that missed the mark for me. Saint Death is not among them and is a worthy contender on this year's Carnegie shortlist. I did fear near the end that it was all going to become a little too predictable, nice and easy, but Sedgwick kept the reader on their toes, twisted, turned and then drove home the message hard. Sure, it felt at times as if the weird insets (what is with the Carnegie nominees and weird insets this year?) were just info-dumps, but sometimes they worked and as a whole it didn't prove distracting from the plot at all. Had it not made the shortlist, I don't think I'd have picked it up because after the last six or so years I'd just about given up on Sedgwick.
This, though, this is his redemption.