Reviews

Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home: Stories by Ana Castillo

caroline_hutchison's review

slow-paced

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

2.5

cativazquez's review

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

thatski's review

It was good!! But my loan at the library was way overdue and I needed to return it before I could finish it. Didn’t occur to me to renew the loan ahead of time 🫣

kathsinclair's review

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

oknicky's review

4.0

I haven't read Castillo in over a decade, and this book is like drinking coffee with an estranged friend who is still the same despite time passing. Chicago, Mexico, dancing, women's sexuality, ghosts, food, generations, mothers getting things wrong. Many of the stories end somewhere in the middle, which I like. Secrets revealed. Older women struggling and triumphing.

tigger89's review

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

undisciplinedbeing's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

karinam12's review

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

I picked this book up not knowing much about it and wow was I pleasantly surprised. The author has a way of transporting you to in each of these stories. These characters will stick with you long after you’ve finished the book.

•Cuernacava - 3/5
•Ven - 4/5
•Ada and Pablo - 3/5
•Tango Smoke -3/5
•The Girl in the Green Dress - 5/5
•The Night at Nonna's - 4/5
•Dona Cleanwell Leaves Home - 5/5

madalynw's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

I have been really loving short stories lately and this collection was wonderful.  This collection explores the experiences of women, particularly Mexican/Mexican-American women.  My favorite stories were The Girl in the Green Dress and Cuernacava; I really enjoyed the supernatural/ghostly elements of these two stories. I also really enjoyed the exploration of motherhood and "bad" mothers in Ven and Dona Cleanwell.  I highly recommend this collection. 

Cuernacava - 5/5
Ven - 4/5
Ada and Pablo - 3/5
Tango Smoke -3/5
The Girl in the Green Dress - 5/5
The Night at Nonna's - 4/5
Dona Cleanwell Leaves Home - 4/5

Thank you HarperVia and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

bertolino's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0