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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I have a lot of issues with this book and the way it portrays WV. I read it in part because I was interested in the viewpoint of a Latina growing up near my hometown. The first 1/4 to half was a little slow and also sometimes annoying, then the third fourth was pretty good, and the last fourth can go to hell. Three stars is too generous, changing to two.
Spoiler
The cousin shit. Just eff right off with that. The slashed tires. C'mon, but I did like that she went through the box then. And the end. WTF was that? I'll keep the property and "Just don't do a tracking chip again, honey, and all is good."
This book was very captivating and I enjoyed the majority of it. Castro has a deep well of vocabulary that she manages to infuse into her writing without sounding wordy or like she's trying too hard. I also enjoyed her understanding of art and the artist, and all of those struggles. Castro's characters are interesting, conflicted, and well developed. It is a perfectly timed tale, where she discusses the 2016 election and how most of us felt the morning after election day that year: shocked and scared. A good "fall" read and it's free on Kindle this month. I was, however, disappointed in the ending.
Current issues, lots of drama, romance
This is such an ambitious book with so many current issues discussed and included. I give it 3.5 stars because it was all just a bit too much for me to find believable. And yet, I really appreciate the attempt to get folks to think about rural poverty, the effects of coal mining on communities (In my youth I was a surface coal mine inspector - a truly naive one.), the pervasiveness of drugs, the lack of opportunities, and the hopelessness in those communities. The threats of violence were by no means exaggerated. If anything, that was underplayed. I have never had a cousin make and sort of sexual advance, but have had a first cousin marry a second cousin several times removed. I suppose that aspect was included to increase our main character's alienation from West Virginia, but it was a stereotype I wish had not been included.
I really, really liked the inclusion of information about Haiti. That is a subject also dear to my heart. I taught ESL to adult immigrants for seventeen years, including a number from Haiti. The immigrants come here to work in my community 's numerous poultry processing plants. My part of semi rural America has a large immigrant population. Haitian immigrants live across the street from me and Hispanics next door without major problems. Personally, I think that while America continues to send aid to Haiti, we also need to allow more Haitians to immigrate.
The romance was truly the stuff of dreams.
This is such an ambitious book with so many current issues discussed and included. I give it 3.5 stars because it was all just a bit too much for me to find believable. And yet, I really appreciate the attempt to get folks to think about rural poverty, the effects of coal mining on communities (In my youth I was a surface coal mine inspector - a truly naive one.), the pervasiveness of drugs, the lack of opportunities, and the hopelessness in those communities. The threats of violence were by no means exaggerated. If anything, that was underplayed. I have never had a cousin make and sort of sexual advance, but have had a first cousin marry a second cousin several times removed. I suppose that aspect was included to increase our main character's alienation from West Virginia, but it was a stereotype I wish had not been included.
I really, really liked the inclusion of information about Haiti. That is a subject also dear to my heart. I taught ESL to adult immigrants for seventeen years, including a number from Haiti. The immigrants come here to work in my community 's numerous poultry processing plants. My part of semi rural America has a large immigrant population. Haitian immigrants live across the street from me and Hispanics next door without major problems. Personally, I think that while America continues to send aid to Haiti, we also need to allow more Haitians to immigrate.
The romance was truly the stuff of dreams.
It’s a fine book. Took me a bit to get into, got hooked in the middle, but the ending was just meh. Like yes everything was wrapped up, but in what came off as a simple way. I’m not mad I read it, but I don’t think it’s a must read.
2.5 stars
There were times this book grabbed me, and times it lost me. The first person narration gives great perspective but in the author's attempt to leave some mystery around the story, gaping holes were left with little to no context leading to more confusion than suspense. There were great moments of the narrator's character development, but overall it felt a little self-indulgent. Supporting characters were left flat and underdeveloped. A somewhat entertaining read with a lame ending.
There were times this book grabbed me, and times it lost me. The first person narration gives great perspective but in the author's attempt to leave some mystery around the story, gaping holes were left with little to no context leading to more confusion than suspense. There were great moments of the narrator's character development, but overall it felt a little self-indulgent. Supporting characters were left flat and underdeveloped. A somewhat entertaining read with a lame ending.
3.5 or 4 stars. I did enjoy this book. The writing was great and really emotive, but something was just missing for me—especially in the last fifty pages. I would’ve liked a little more time to flesh out the relationships with Della and Jon. Or maybe I’m being dishonest about the Della part…what I really wanted was for Della to have some sort of reckoning for how she treated Isabel. Either way, I needed a little more of *something.*
It's really 4.5 stars...I loved this whole story but hated the ending, which felt rushed and too neatly tief together after an entire book of simmering tension. Isabel has spent so long keeping her before and after lives fastidiously separate that when they suddenly crash together, it's especially jarring for her. Castro's beautiful writing weaves a new spin on the adage that your past will come back to haunt you, despite all your best efforts.
I really enjoyed this book until the last few pages when everything kind of wrapped up way too quickly. I still
Enjoyed the ending, it just didn’t match up with the pace of the book.
Enjoyed the ending, it just didn’t match up with the pace of the book.
I think I read this on the plane. Just two weeks later, I honestly cannot remember the book even after reading others’ reviews. Ugh - what a long, dry spell of reading for me!
I read this book in a matter of hours, absolutely could not put it down! What an incredible tale of staying true to who you really are, not what everyone else wants you to be. I would love a sequel of Isabel’s life after figuring out herself and her own happiness!
This book is not for close-minded, far right wing conservatives who get upset at the mention of their beloved tRump. Leave this book alone, so the rest of the sane population can enjoy it and not have to read garbage reviews of it that are untrue.
This book is not for close-minded, far right wing conservatives who get upset at the mention of their beloved tRump. Leave this book alone, so the rest of the sane population can enjoy it and not have to read garbage reviews of it that are untrue.