Reviews - L.A. Weather | The StoryGraph

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

901 reviews for:

I wanted to like this so bad! The times when it shines is when Escandon is describing L.A., as a native angeline is always nice to read writers that get that the city's complexity and contradictions are part of its charm. I also enjoy a good scene featuring the 405 freeway. Two things I got from this novel was that Escandon was clearly inspired by telenovelas and wanted a different way to represent Latinx - specifically Mexican - outside of immigrant narratives. The telenovela influences specially show on the plot-twists and turns the narrative takes, as well as how easy everyone get off and moves on from their troubles, which works sometimes and it doesn't in others. But by trying to avoid the "tired" narratives of Latinx folks trying to Make It in America and giving us third-generation wealthy main characters, the narrative quickly turns into "rich people problems". I also had trouble differentiating the sisters? It wasn't until I was a few chapters in that I realized there were 4 different characters. Definitively not my cup of cafecito.

acanderson's review against another edition

4.0

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

Slow to get into but i really enjoyed how this book came together.

think_read_do's review against another edition

4.0

Told in a straightforward, honest prose, the story of an American family—Mexican Catholic and Jewish descent—unfolds in mostly short-burst calendar entries over the course of a year.

There’s no single, unifying conflict here, but rather peaks and valleys that roll along together. The individual strands of family member’s stories unspool like that calendar, marching forward in tragedy, betrayal, and triumph. I laughed out loud multiple times—the dialogue is often snappy and quick-witted. And the characters are delightfully complex.

Also a treasure for foodies. The food plays as much a central character here as the weather.

Much to enjoy here.

yurika1216's review against another edition

2.5

slow-paced

Loveable characters: No

It took me a long time to keep the characters straight. They simply weren’t remarkable.

clanflan's review against another edition

3.0

This is an LA county book selection I saw advertised on a bus. The book is set up as what happens in each month for a family. The amount of things that happens is about ten years all packed into one. Very California in its politics and dismissive of the rest of the country. Very extreme all the way around.

kaja_sample's review against another edition

2.0

This one was just ok for me.

iamtracy's review against another edition

3.0

Interesting book. Held my attention. But where is the story?? This is like the beginning of 10 different stories, and none of them fleshed out. Ending was like... it just ended!!