Reviews

This book had all the elements that I usually love in a book: family history, cultural heritage, a moving immigration story. Sadly it just didn't work. The story gets bogged down in detail and it goes back and forth in time. I like novels that are told in multiple viewpoints but it became very complicated to keep track of which character was telling the story. He introduces so many characters that I found it hard to keep them straight and I found that I had less time to become familiar with each one, which resulted in an unsatisfying read. I wouldn't have finished it if I didn't have to read it for book club. I really wanted to love this book.

rolanda's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

book_concierge's review against another edition

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3.0

Digital audiobook performed by the author.
3.5****

A large Mexican-American family plans a get-together for the patriarch’s birthday. He’s dying of cancer and wants to gather everyone around him one more time. But as the big day approaches, Big Angel’s own mother dies (at nearly 100 years of age), so now there will be two celebrations in one weekend. One of the guests is Big Angel’s half-brother, known as Little Angel. As the weekend progresses, the brothers come to grips with how different their lives have been; while they shared a father, they did not share a life.

I have read two of Urrea’s novels previously, and am a fan of his writing. He peoples the work with a wide variety of characters – colorful, cautious, steadfast, reckless, proud, shy, angry, happy, broken or successful. He balances tender scenes against highly comic ones or anxiety-producing tragic occurrences.

I do wish I had had a family tree handy, however. Many of his characters go by more than one name, and the Mexican tradition of referring to every relative, no matter how distant, as “cousin” or “uncle” makes it even more challenging to keep the relationships straight.

I listened to the audio, which Urrea narrates himself. He is a wonderful performer of this work! But I think I will have to go back and read the text to fully immerse myself in this big, messy, loud, loving family.

iambranchingout's review against another edition

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5.0

I listened to the audio of this book and loved having the author bring to life his great big cast of characters for me.

This is a story about family, belonging, fitting in, immigration, cultural differences and human nature.

I was moved by the members of this enormous family and their relationships with each other, it was a very good listen.

nevenamartin's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

kathoward's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

juliewheat1's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful 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

5.0

The ending was poignant.

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