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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I have never read anything quite like this book, and even if I didn't love it, it gets all the points for being different, creative, and thought-provoking. Luiselli weaves the threads of many different stories into the overarching narrative of this book - one family's road trip across the US interspersed with stories of migrant children crossing the border. Not only that, but this book also incorporates references to other literary works, music, and photography to build the narrative.
Slows down at the end, but the writing is absolutely gorgeous!
emotional
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:
Yes
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I had read reviews criticizing the author's insistent reminders of how tough the border crossing is on children. I disagree. However, if that had been the case, I don't think I would have been bothered in these times when empathy towards refugees is severely lacking.
What this story is about is the dissolution of a family unit. It deals with many topic in ways that can be at times sublime. Luiselli has a gift for creating memorable characters and the four protagonists of this book are no exception. I encourage you to follow along on their road trip and learn about what each one values most in life.
What this story is about is the dissolution of a family unit. It deals with many topic in ways that can be at times sublime. Luiselli has a gift for creating memorable characters and the four protagonists of this book are no exception. I encourage you to follow along on their road trip and learn about what each one values most in life.
Struggled to see what the author was trying to do here at times. Impressed with the familial story, less so with the broader scope.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
«I bambini impongono ai genitori di andare in cerca di un segnale preciso, di uno sguardo, di un ritmo, della maniera giusta di raccontare una storia, pur nella consapevolezza che le storie non aggiustano nulla e non salvano nessuno ma forse rendono il mondo più complesso e tollerabile. E a volte, soltanto a volte, più bello. Le storie sono un modo di sottrarre futuro al passato, il solo modo di fare chiarezza col senno di poi.»
This book broke my heart! It is beautifully written, a hard hitting narrative handled with such a delicate and intelligent touch. I thought it was a very unique way of presenting the current immigrant crisis in the US by tying it to history and with literary references. The way the parallel stories of Geronimo's band as well as the fictional "Eulogies for lost children" are tied into a road trip narrative of a family at crossroads made the narration very engaging. The mother's character is brilliantly portrayed and is immediately relatable with her deep rooted love and empathy as well as her selfishness and flaws in pursuit of her needs. The kids are endearing, smart and insightful in the way only kids can be and also funny and vulnerable. Through the road trip, we get glimpses into small town America. It is also an ode to books, literature and the recording of histories through words and stories. The change in narrator midway to a child's perspective was a very clever idea. And his effort to record and document their journey for his sister and the circumstances that make him do it really tug at your heart. I really forgot the rest of the world while I was reading the book - it is really something to completely immerse yourself in!
I have seen SO MANY glowing 4 and 5 star reviews for this book... well either those people are much more patient (willing to be bored) than I am, into literary writing that is writing in a way specifically designed to be prize worthy (over complicated, detached and lacking in the basic concepts of a story) or they are just as confused as I am and willing to lie about it because they were confused by this book and don't want to admit it because of the hype and the prize nominations.
A prize nomination is not the be all and end all of a book being good. I am more disillusioned with them with every year that passes (mainly the ManBooker) as they often value literary, and what I would consider exclusive, literature over an hones to goodness story that makes you FEEL something. This could have been that, but the heart of this book is stripped away by the way it is written, the strange determination never to name characters as though it's The Road even though that makes no sense in this narrative, the ridiculous way that one sentence takes an entire chapter and the fact that half way through the narrative shifts and you get the exact same plot points told in the exact same ridiculous (completely over stylised) way which made me realise the author made no effort to give the characters different voices at all.
This book wasn't readable in any enjoyable way. I'm sure it would be interesting as a text to study, but for me, for the first time, I feel strongly let down by the Women's Prize longlist.
A prize nomination is not the be all and end all of a book being good. I am more disillusioned with them with every year that passes (mainly the ManBooker) as they often value literary, and what I would consider exclusive, literature over an hones to goodness story that makes you FEEL something. This could have been that, but the heart of this book is stripped away by the way it is written, the strange determination never to name characters as though it's The Road even though that makes no sense in this narrative, the ridiculous way that one sentence takes an entire chapter and the fact that half way through the narrative shifts and you get the exact same plot points told in the exact same ridiculous (completely over stylised) way which made me realise the author made no effort to give the characters different voices at all.
This book wasn't readable in any enjoyable way. I'm sure it would be interesting as a text to study, but for me, for the first time, I feel strongly let down by the Women's Prize longlist.