Reviews

On a Night of a Thousand Stars by Andrea Yaryura Clark

rpych2's review against another edition

4.0

I don’t know much about Argentinian history, so this was a super interesting and informative book. The story started out a bit slow, but when I got into it I couldn’t put it down. I loved both of the alternating timelines equally, the way that the reveals in both of them played off each other was fantastically done. I’m a little mad at myself for letting this one sit on my shelves for so long.

ashleysilver7's review against another edition

4.0

This book started slowly, but in the end I found it very eye-opening and enjoyable. The setting is Buenos Aires, Argentina, both in the 1970s and in 1998. Paloma is 21 years old, an Argentinian-American who has lived a very privileged life in New York City (or thereabouts). In the summer before her senior year in college, her father is asked to be the UN Ambassador for Argentina, and her family travels there to receive this honor. However, she meets a woman named Grace, who knew her father during his university days and learns he has a secretive past. Learning about her father's past, inevitably, leads Paloma to learn the truth about her past and the turbulent times in Argentina from 1976-1983.

Before reading this book, the most I knew about Argentina was from Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical "Evita," which (unsurprisingly) is not too factual. I also knew that many high-ranking former Nazis settled in Argentina...and that probably has something to do with Juan Peron (Eva's husband). The author of this novel did a great job of telling the story and (at least to me) shedding light on many atrocities that happened in Argentina. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

klavah's review against another edition

fast-paced

3.75

carollynnw's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.0

Interesting story on the stolen children from those who were disappeared during Argentina’s dirty war. I’ve heard of this topic and of the mothers/grandmothers protesting to learn the fate of their children and grandchildren. I like the dual timelines as the story unfolded but not sure Paloma (the MFC) grows while her mother shows no growth and her father’s courage during the war did not resonate with his current actions. 

2.5 stars rounded up to three since this is a debut novel. 

adholmes3's review against another edition

informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

barbaraskalberg's review

3.0

3.5
Interesting. I've never read anything on the political situation in Argentina.

smalltownbookmom's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this dual timeline historical fiction novel set during the beginning of Argentina's "Dirty War" in the 1970s as one young couple falls in love and is later torn apart. Fast forward to 1998 and Paloma is a young college student helping her father celebrate a new diplomatic appointment. A trip to Buenos Aires leads Paloma on a search into her past where she uncovers family secrets that will change her life forever. It was great getting to learn more about Argentina's history. I didn't know much at all plus the added family saga was an extra layer that gave the story more depth. Great on audio and highly recommended. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

kategci's review against another edition

3.0

Thank you to BookBrowse and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC of this title. This review is published as well on the BookBrowse site. This dual timeline historical novel tells the story of Argentina from the early 1970s through the mid 1980s, prior to the military dictatorship and when people were disappeared through a law student and then in 1998 through his daughter. I was interested in the place and what happened and I found the first timeline much more interesting, although I am still not too sure of which government was better for the citizens (or neither?). Santiago is privileged and falls deeply in love with Valentina, but marries Lila. He would prefer to keep his student days a secret. His daughter Paloma seems happy enough, but goes digging into the past, uncovering secrets she is not sure she wants to know. She is not really all that interesting and Franco, whose parents were disappeared and murdered, is not all that interesting either. In the end, this was probably not the book for me.

katiez0314's review against another edition

3.0

This story was captivating and kept me reading (daughter searches for answers to her father’s past and role in Argentina’s Dirty War), but overall it was just okay.
I was eager to learn more about the War and desaparecidos but so much of it was skimmed over. I usually say some books could be 100 pages shorter, but this one could’ve been 100 pages longer. More history and details would’ve added much more to the story than the unlikely romance that felt forced. I was bummed with this one.

janae's review

I’m just not really interested in the story. Characters keep having guilt about being rich which I can’t relate to. The historical aspect might be interesting but I’d rather just look g it up or find a different book. Writing style wasn’t bad