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amyvl93's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-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? Yes
3.75
I really enjoyed Angie Cruz's Dominicana when it was nominated for the Women's Prize, so I was excited to come across another one of her books in an independent book store I was browsing a few months ago.
Let in Rain Coffee is her second novel, and follows Esperanza whose desire for the American Dream (as displayed on the TV show Dallas) propels her, her husband Santo and their children to New York where there's never enough money. The family is placed under greater strain when Santo's father Don Chan arrives to live with them after the death of his wife; beginning a push and pull between the US and the Dominican Republic.
I really enjoyed this. The whole Colon family are painted in all their shades of complexity; Esperanza who care for her family but fritters money on fancy things, Santo who is unable to stand up to his father, Bobby & Dallas the two children (named again...for the TV show) who have to adjust to growing up in their complicated neighbourhood and Don Chan, orphan-turned-revolutionary left with his memories in his old age. The only character I felt was slightly underdeveloped was Mirabel, she's important to the novel for many reasons, and her presence has a hint of magical realism about it but I didn't feel close enough to understand her motivations (view spoiler).
Every place also feels vividly drawn; every scene that Cruz described I felt I could see as I was reading. I also felt that the amount of issues she tackles her; from Dominican history, what the 'right' way of responding to government is to debt and low-income working, to young pregnancy and crime; didn't feel excessive or eye-roll inducing. Instead, it felt entirely possible that these issues could touch and circle the family.
I think I may have found a new favourite author in Cruz and I'm excited to read her other two novels.
Let in Rain Coffee is her second novel, and follows Esperanza whose desire for the American Dream (as displayed on the TV show Dallas) propels her, her husband Santo and their children to New York where there's never enough money. The family is placed under greater strain when Santo's father Don Chan arrives to live with them after the death of his wife; beginning a push and pull between the US and the Dominican Republic.
I really enjoyed this. The whole Colon family are painted in all their shades of complexity; Esperanza who care for her family but fritters money on fancy things, Santo who is unable to stand up to his father, Bobby & Dallas the two children (named again...for the TV show) who have to adjust to growing up in their complicated neighbourhood and Don Chan, orphan-turned-revolutionary left with his memories in his old age. The only character I felt was slightly underdeveloped was Mirabel, she's important to the novel for many reasons, and her presence has a hint of magical realism about it but I didn't feel close enough to understand her motivations (view spoiler).
Every place also feels vividly drawn; every scene that Cruz described I felt I could see as I was reading. I also felt that the amount of issues she tackles her; from Dominican history, what the 'right' way of responding to government is to debt and low-income working, to young pregnancy and crime; didn't feel excessive or eye-roll inducing. Instead, it felt entirely possible that these issues could touch and circle the family.
I think I may have found a new favourite author in Cruz and I'm excited to read her other two novels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Death, Dementia, Murder, War, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Grief and Gun violence
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
So I was lowkey afraid this was going to be too similar to Dominica (the book Angie Cruz published after this one) but thankfully neither books are that much alike in terms of plot. While I do believe a lot of Dominicans seem to view New York as a Mecca, maybe it was because this was one of the view states where a Spanish community were able to “thrive” or at least have a secure job compared to other states? I always wondered why not Florida or somewhere closer but 🤷🏽♀️
Anyways, this book did a great job at having Spanish interwoven with English but the Spanish made sense like other authors who sprinkle it in for no real discernible reason. We really get a sense of the confusion and loss Don Chan experiences when he struggles to live in a brand new place after living the majority of his adult life in DR. We see the struggles his son and his daughter in law face with their children. Death is somewhat predictable but rebirth is also possible. A slice of life about making it in America and wondering what went wrong with DR politics. A lot of flashbacks to the 60’s/70’s ish era before “present day” mid 1990’s.
Anyways, this book did a great job at having Spanish interwoven with English but the Spanish made sense like other authors who sprinkle it in for no real discernible reason. We really get a sense of the confusion and loss Don Chan experiences when he struggles to live in a brand new place after living the majority of his adult life in DR. We see the struggles his son and his daughter in law face with their children. Death is somewhat predictable but rebirth is also possible. A slice of life about making it in America and wondering what went wrong with DR politics. A lot of flashbacks to the 60’s/70’s ish era before “present day” mid 1990’s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: War and Pregnancy
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