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solouncapitulomas's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
4.7
“How many women get to choose who to marry and can truly dictate their own life? As God is my witness, my daughter will have choices.”
It is one thing to read a book about a culture you are learning about, a country you do not know and haven't even seen. It feels like fiction somehow and, to me, it is a way to escape. But this book, god, it felt so real...I know this places...even tho I've never been to New York I understood all the Dominican references, the fact that it was only last year when they finally prohibited child marriage in this country, the fact that there are many Ana's in this country, suffering with no one to tell their story makes this book such a jewel.
The talk about all the shit happening after Trujillos's death and April's battle, holy shit. It reminded of something I read form Neruda:
Cuarenta y cinco mil hijos de perra,
Bajaron con sus armas y sus cuentos,
Con ametralladoras y cuchillos
Con objetivos claros y concretos:
"Poner en libertad a los ladrones,
Y a los demás hay que meterlos presos". –Versainograma a Santo Domingo
I will truly recommend this book to everyone but specially if you grew up here in DR of if you grew in New York...give it a try
'kay, I'm out
Bye
“How many women get to choose who to marry and can truly dictate their own life? As God is my witness, my daughter will have choices.”
It is one thing to read a book about a culture you are learning about, a country you do not know and haven't even seen. It feels like fiction somehow and, to me, it is a way to escape. But this book, god, it felt so real...I know this places...even tho I've never been to New York I understood all the Dominican references, the fact that it was only last year when they finally prohibited child marriage in this country, the fact that there are many Ana's in this country, suffering with no one to tell their story makes this book such a jewel.
The talk about all the shit happening after Trujillos's death and April's battle, holy shit. It reminded of something I read form Neruda:
Cuarenta y cinco mil hijos de perra,
Bajaron con sus armas y sus cuentos,
Con ametralladoras y cuchillos
Con objetivos claros y concretos:
"Poner en libertad a los ladrones,
Y a los demás hay que meterlos presos". –Versainograma a Santo Domingo
I will truly recommend this book to everyone but specially if you grew up here in DR of if you grew in New York...give it a try
'kay, I'm out
Bye
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Racism, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
fitsntricks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
agameofbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
Normally I'm not a big fan of heavily character-driven books, but this one managed to capture my attention and interest very well.
Ana is my hero, and I still rooting for her even after finishing the book.
Ana is my hero, and I still rooting for her even after finishing the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Misogyny
elliebrom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
criverareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism
bouebooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Violence
annreadsabook's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Dominicana is such a powerful and stirring read—I tore through it over the course of 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down! The novel begins with Ana Canción, a fifteen-year-old girl living in the Dominican Republic when she is married off to a 32-year-old man, with whom she moves to New York City. We watch from afar as the Dominican Republic descends into sociopolitical upheaval, and we feel Ana’s despair at being so far removed from the land and people she loves. This book is a close look at life as a young immigrant, the struggles of learning a new language and navigating a new country, and what it means to be a girl subjugated to the whims and wills of men. Despite her young age, Ana is forced to grow in self-confidence and independence; I mourned that she was forced into early adulthood due to the significant trials and hardships she faced.
Similar to Severance, something that took a lot of getting used to was the lack of quotation marks. For one thing (and this may just be a personal problem), I found it difficult to distinguish when people were speaking from narration or internal thoughts. Stylistically, however, I think it actually lends itself to a more internalized way of engaging with the narrative—you are in Ana’s head almost completely. The lack of quotations, for me, additionally reflected the isolation Ana felt in a foreign country combined with her forced marriage to an abusive man.
Overall, this was such an excellent and challenging read—it’s not very long, but it holds a lot.
Similar to Severance, something that took a lot of getting used to was the lack of quotation marks. For one thing (and this may just be a personal problem), I found it difficult to distinguish when people were speaking from narration or internal thoughts. Stylistically, however, I think it actually lends itself to a more internalized way of engaging with the narrative—you are in Ana’s head almost completely. The lack of quotations, for me, additionally reflected the isolation Ana felt in a foreign country combined with her forced marriage to an abusive man.
Overall, this was such an excellent and challenging read—it’s not very long, but it holds a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Racism and Death
Minor: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts
lis_alouny's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Subtle and empowering, a thoughtful and personal account of a voice reflecting many of its kind, on a generation of women who sacrificed everything to give their future generations the chance to chase their dreams.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Mental illness
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual violence
sorrymom94's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence
knkoch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a rather resonant portrait of womanhood and immigration, set in a coming-of-age format. There were some very lovely and emotional parts, as well as great hardship, pain, and fear. I learned in the acknowledgements that this is loosely based on the author's mother and her story of immigrating to New York, with detail from other Dominican folks the author interviewed, as well.
The story was well told and realistic. All the characters were well realized and carried through the entire novel, giving me a great window into a life I have not lived. I especially felt grounded in the sense of place (the farm, the apartment, the neighborhood, and all the small commercial areas nearby) and sense of food. Ana spends a great deal of time in one place, and I could really feel the sort of hyperattention to detail that comes from great observation of one's surroundings. Especially after some time spent in quarantine this year, I relate to that. The sensory experience of food was also rich. I felt I could taste all these dishes I'd never heard of before.
Be mindful of my content warnings, however.
The story was well told and realistic. All the characters were well realized and carried through the entire novel, giving me a great window into a life I have not lived. I especially felt grounded in the sense of place (the farm, the apartment, the neighborhood, and all the small commercial areas nearby) and sense of food. Ana spends a great deal of time in one place, and I could really feel the sort of hyperattention to detail that comes from great observation of one's surroundings. Especially after some time spent in quarantine this year, I relate to that. The sensory experience of food was also rich. I felt I could taste all these dishes I'd never heard of before.
Be mindful of my content warnings, however.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Racism, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Sexual content, and Child abuse
The domestic abuse features heavily, so be careful there.