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jedore's review against another edition
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
4.5
“…she feigned strength, as she would do for a long time, and by feigning it she would end up believing it, and by believing it, she would make it a reality.”
Segovia's writing is simply stunning. Just like Isabel Allende, she weaves a rich and slow-burning story with a bit of magical realism and fascinating characters that stick with you even when you’re not reading.
Narrated by an elderly man recalling his childhood growing up with his adopted brother in Linares, Mexico, the story is mostly touching, sometimes tense and sad, and ends on a seriously bittersweet note.
The book came so close to making my all-time favorites list…the only reason it didn’t is because I was inexplicably reluctant to pick it up at times despite adoring it. I blame social media for speeding up my brain!
Read this book! It’s absolutely beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Classism, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
baearles's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Grief, Death, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Animal death, and Stalking
jennipiccalo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Classism, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Stalking, Death, Rape, Abandonment, Child death, and Pandemic/Epidemic
elliereadsthings's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
As many before have said, having read the English translated version, I can only imagine the amount of magic in the original Spanish. It was translated so well - including the Spanish titles (e.g. Nana, Sra., Sr.) and the occasional Spanish word helped keep me immersed in the location.
I will say, the one dislike I have - or rather had - was the first (and maybe second) POV change at the beginning of the book (the ones in first person). Once you go through a couple of them and you start to learn who this narrator is, they’re much less abrupt and much more welcomed. The first one definitely unimmersed me but because it’s so early in the book it didn’t divert me from continuing. And, as you can probably guess, I’m glad I did.
I will say, the one dislike I have - or rather had - was the first (and maybe second) POV change at the beginning of the book (the ones in first person). Once you go through a couple of them and you start to learn who this narrator is, they’re much less abrupt and much more welcomed. The first one definitely unimmersed me but because it’s so early in the book it didn’t divert me from continuing. And, as you can probably guess, I’m glad I did.
If you are reading this book, stuck in the first couple chapters, I URGE you to keep reading.
“-and the house left its own echos in me. I carry them inside me still. I’m certain I carry my mama and papa in my cells, but also the lavender, the orange blossoms, my mother’s sheets, my grandmother’s calculated footsteps, the toasted pecans, the clunk of the treacherous tile, the sugar caramelizing, the cajeta, the mad cicadas, the smells of old wood, and the polished clay floors. I’m also made of oranges—green, sweet, or rotten; of orange-blossom honey and royal jelly. I’m made of everything that touched my senses during that time and entered the part of my brain where I keep my memories.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Murder, Ableism, Abandonment, and Bullying
atamano's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment and Blood
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