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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
This one is reminiscent on a smaller scale to Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s writing. Many Latinx characters. It felt at times to this reader as if I needed to take notes to keep their stories straight. Alma is an accomplished writer nearing her later years. When her father passes away, she takes an undesirable parcel of land as her portion of the estate. There she creates an unfinished stories cemetery to lay the stories she could not finish to rest. She hires an artist to design headstones and a caretaker to do menial labor while listening to the stories which come on the wind. There are several flashback stories which give historical background to the DR, NYC, and Toronto. The language is rich. The stories full of dark overtones. The author leaves much untold, just as her cemetery holds unfinished stories.
Pretty good, but hard to follow audiobook-wise, especially bc she didn’t change her voice at ALL for the man. It took me over halfway through to realize it even was a man; I was like wait “my wife” ???? I also couldn’t keep track of the timeline jumping. Otherwise, the stories were beautiful and the writing itself was gorgeous. I loved all the classic Julia Alvarez DR connections and context.
The story dragged aqay fromthe main character and I couldn't understand where it was going anymore. I don't like when this happens.
A famous writer builds a cemetery in the Dominican Republic to bury her unfinished manuscripts, but some of her characters decide they aren't ready to say goodbye. What a great hook! Julia Alvarez writes gorgeous sentences that really dig into you, but I do wish the magical realism element had felt a little more vivid and immersive. I wanted more interaction between the characters, but overall, a unique and evocative story full of beautiful writing.
emotional
reflective
fast-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
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Alvarez has a gift.
The complicated love between sisters is beautifully captured. (Not the focus of the story, but something that is staying with me.)
The complicated love between sisters is beautifully captured. (Not the focus of the story, but something that is staying with me.)