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jmutschler88's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved it. The characters were so authentic and well-written, it was easy to fall into this book.
cami19's review
I didn't find it that interesting and then it became due at the library.
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
4.0
To be rated/reviewed
My book club didn't end up meeting in March to discuss this one and we didn't end up going back to discuss it when we had a virtual discussion in April. I must admit that I had a difficult time concentrating on the book due to all of the COVID19 news and probably would've set it aside for another time if I hadn't been trying to finish it as a book club read. This was one of my picks, so I was bummed about my inability to focus while I was reading it and wish the timing had been better. I know I would've enjoyed it even more if I'd been in a better reading frame of mind. I started the book as a hard copy read, but switched to an ebook version in anticipation of my local library closing (which happened the same day I returned the physical book!).
I wish I'd discovered the family tree that appeared at the end of the ebook version earlier on in my reading since I kept setting the book aside when I realized I wasn't digesting the words on the page. The start and stop nature of my reading made it difficult for me to keep the characters straight, but I got over that once I started reading it more consistently. The story was a little heavier than I was expecting, but that might have been due to my inability to fully concentrate while I was reading since there were definitely laugh-out-lout moments in the story. I probably would've given this a 3.5-star rating if that were possible but I rounded up since I suspect that was more because due to the timing of when I read it. I will definitely seek out other works by this author in the future though.
My book club didn't end up meeting in March to discuss this one and we didn't end up going back to discuss it when we had a virtual discussion in April. I must admit that I had a difficult time concentrating on the book due to all of the COVID19 news and probably would've set it aside for another time if I hadn't been trying to finish it as a book club read. This was one of my picks, so I was bummed about my inability to focus while I was reading it and wish the timing had been better. I know I would've enjoyed it even more if I'd been in a better reading frame of mind. I started the book as a hard copy read, but switched to an ebook version in anticipation of my local library closing (which happened the same day I returned the physical book!).
I wish I'd discovered the family tree that appeared at the end of the ebook version earlier on in my reading since I kept setting the book aside when I realized I wasn't digesting the words on the page. The start and stop nature of my reading made it difficult for me to keep the characters straight, but I got over that once I started reading it more consistently. The story was a little heavier than I was expecting, but that might have been due to my inability to fully concentrate while I was reading since there were definitely laugh-out-lout moments in the story. I probably would've given this a 3.5-star rating if that were possible but I rounded up since I suspect that was more because due to the timing of when I read it. I will definitely seek out other works by this author in the future though.
ezreaadingo's review against another edition
5.0
What a fantastic book! I hope I’m not giving away too much when I say that this book takes place over the course of TWO DAYS! Yes, and entire novel, two days. I partially fell in love with this book because some of the places and experiences really resonated with me and took me back to my childhood. Two cultures, two countries, many worlds live inside this book. Love, hostility, culture, family, humor, deep sadness, and whimsy all live inside this book!
ndyl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lizzie_a's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful writing and touching story, but it was sometimes hard to follow because of how many characters there were.
jenniferstringer's review against another edition
4.0
A Mexican-American story about love, forgiveness, grace, mortality, time-and-what-we-do with it. All the elements that actually make it a story about the human condition as experienced through one Mexican-American family. Enjoyed it.
barbaraskalberg's review
3.0
3.5
As the family is gathered together to celebrate the patriarch's last birthday (he's in end-stage cancer) their stories unfold in bits and pieces going back to the beginning. Interesting story telling device.
As the family is gathered together to celebrate the patriarch's last birthday (he's in end-stage cancer) their stories unfold in bits and pieces going back to the beginning. Interesting story telling device.