Reviews tagging 'War'

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

21 reviews

sparklingpynk's review against another edition

This is absolutely beautifully written and tells an important story that is very relevant even today. My heart broke for Ana through each chapter of her journey. Listening to the author explain the inspiration for this book at the end, gives this so much more meaning and importance. I can tell this story will stick with me for a bit and that is a testament for how well this is written. Aside from touching on very important topics throughout history and the struggles of a young woman immigrating to NY, this story flows so easily and each character adds so much depth to Ana's story. Highly recommend! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, War, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Hate crime, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

leahkarge's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Violence, Rape, Racism, Sexual violence, Blood, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Classism, and Colonisation

Moderate: Antisemitism, War, and Police brutality

siobhanward's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

This book fell a bit flat for me - I think it just felt like it wasn't telling a fresh story. I was hoping that since I've not read a whole lot about the Dominican Republic, that it would offer something new, but it just didn't. In terms of immigration stories, Patsy , which I read earlier in the year offered a more interesting and powerful narrative, so I would consider reading that before reaching for this one.

However, there were some solid aspects to the story. Ana was a well-written character, especially for a 15 year old trying to navigate immigrating, learning a new language, abuse, relationships, etc. I think Cruz setting the story during wartime in the Dominican Republic while having the bulk of the story taking place in the United States added a lot and really reinforced Ana's feelings of isolation. I think I just struggled because for so long Ana just feels so helpless and it was hard to read. The story was well-written, but I just don't know what it offered.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: War, Pregnancy, and Death

sarahelem's review

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

Went into this not knowing what I was getting into. This is heavy. I cried. Still, I think this book sheds light on an important narrative that I think we should all hear.

Take note: this book is very trigger heavy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: War, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Minor: Deportation, Colonisation, Antisemitism, Hate crime, Gun violence, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Incest, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Infidelity

ksuazo94's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Violence

Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexism, and War

readbycarina's review

emotional sad tense fast-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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Blood, War, Misogyny, Death, and Abandonment

Minor: Police brutality, Grief, and Body shaming

sammyb's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Xenophobia, War, Violence, and Pregnancy

litliz's review

challenging emotional sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This book took me a bit to get into but once I was in, I was in all the way. Ana grows so much during the course of the book, which begins in the Dominican Republic but quickly takes her journey to Washington Heights. There are some really lovely passages that depict different things - one of my favorites essentially shows her disassociation in the wake of receiving tragic news after experiencing a series of traumas. Another fascinating chapter discusses the challenges faced by Dominicans in the US during the Civil Rights movement, and the idea that black people would resent Dominicans or perhaps feel that they had the market cornered on oppression and prejudice. I felt like the novel really highlighted the strength of its protagonist Ana’s spirit, the complicated dynamics between mother and daughter, and the very mixed feelings Ana has for almost every person she consistently interacts with, particularly her abusive husband, Juan, whom she feels both a strong loathing but also indebted to. Ana’s voice in particular felt very authentic and real to me and is the reason this book was so powerful, in my mind. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Medical content, and Misogyny

Moderate: Fatphobia

Minor: Ableism, Deportation, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Miscarriage, Violence, Vomit, War, Excrement, and Xenophobia

absolute_bookery's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

A true reflection of what it means to be an immigrant. There is so much emotion in here but it's written so subtly and beautifully! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and War

vale_reading's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Racism, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Rape, and Misogyny

Moderate: Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Toxic friendship

Minor: War