Reviews

Cantoras by Caro De Robertis

haudurn's review against another edition

3.0

Fascinating premise of lesbians in Uruguay living in the dictatorship of the late 1970s/early 1980s and how these women "grow up" and their lives progress as their friendship remains. I would have liked this more if the characters were more defined - this may be a function of the translation but I had a hard time separating the women as they all had similar personalities. This book will assume you have some historical understanding of the politics and the zeitgeist.

amandawhit's review against another edition

This wasn't bad, but I just couldn't get into it. I'm not a fan of constant POV changes mid-chapter, but this is something I would possibly pick up again in the future.

madsmacmath's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is why I don’t listen to audiobooks…

because it took me 4X as long to get through it and it is such a beautiful, meaningful, heartbreaking book that I now have to go out and buy, because I can’t imagine not reading it again.

renbarletta's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

bibliobrandie's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book so much and haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished. The writing was exquisite (I wrote down so many quotes) and I particularly enjoyed the epic storyline that spanned decades, featuring five strong female characters. The story was set in Uruguay, beginning in 1977 under dictatorship and ending in 2013 during democracy. The novel follows the lives of the five 'cantoras' (lesbians) and portrays the challenges they faced in hiding their love and sexuality due to fear of police retaliation. I was rooting for all of them and didn't want to leave their world. The book was so beautiful and captivating that I immediately started reading the first chapter after finishing the last page. I am already planning my vacation to Cabo Polonio.

drlove2018's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

caseyae96's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

purplepierogi's review against another edition

3.0

the writing was too effusive for me :( but I did appreciate the historical setting, repression in several forms, etc, and of course sapphic found family themes are >>

desilou4's review

Did not like the narration in Spanish. She reads it better in English. 

lois_2001's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0