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nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I never knew what to expect next with this one. It starts off slow and then picks up in the weirdest, sometimes unsettling ways, then slows down again. It's a story about three generations of women in a family, but also about Cuba and its weird, sometimes unsettling history. I really loved the reflections on memory: its mutability, its lasting echo on people within a family and also in a nation, and how it twists and shapes great love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Sexual violence
Minor: Suicide attempt and Abortion
sofipitch's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
I really loved this book. It's hard for me to Express why I love books because I love so many different books for different reasons. This book I loved bc I felt seen, so many details feel like they were ripped directly from my life. Lourdes reminded me sooo much of my dad it's not even funny.
I really love how this book deals with the political scene in Cuba. When it comes to Cuba ppl can't act normal, ppl lean to one extreme or the other. Any government assistance is communism and will leave the ppl starving. Or Cuba is perfectly fine and the only ppl who suffered were wealthy plantation owners. The author shows how divisive Cuba is and by showing the extreme beliefs of the characters you get something closer to the truth, inbetween.
Also Storygraph recommended this book to me so their recommendations may be onto something
I really love how this book deals with the political scene in Cuba. When it comes to Cuba ppl can't act normal, ppl lean to one extreme or the other. Any government assistance is communism and will leave the ppl starving. Or Cuba is perfectly fine and the only ppl who suffered were wealthy plantation owners. The author shows how divisive Cuba is and by showing the extreme beliefs of the characters you get something closer to the truth, inbetween.
Also Storygraph recommended this book to me so their recommendations may be onto something
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Antisemitism and Body shaming
stephsz's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Rape, Miscarriage, Suicide, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, and Body shaming
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