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sarzaga's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
srod910's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent, Deportation, Physical abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Gaslighting
Minor: War
karlijntje_mandarijntje's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
aishoka's review against another edition
Too much trauma! Tried to carry on for book club but couldn't do it.
mandamnyc's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
vwojtowicz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cecarson's review against another edition
4.0
An inside look at immigration from the perspective of women from different generations. I found it a little tricky to remember who was who, but overall very eye opening and depressing.
mrpitmansgranddaughter's review against another edition
5.0
This book to me is a work of art. It's written with both delicacy and power, its story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. A book covering a generational family story that packs an incredible punch in only 204 pages. It will make you both question how life can be so cruel and be strangely thankful that for some, that cruelness drives them to the depths of desperation to change their outcomes.
Each character has a definitive voice using what in my humble reader's opinion is an incredible writing style, some chapters feel incredibly poetic while others seem to be stifled and purposely clunky, fitting well with each character and moment. Everything intertwines perfectly, not too cliche and not too Hollywood. It's full of reality with a tiny sprinkling of hope. Oh, and did I mention that this is a debut? It is impressive, it's not often that writing like this is combined with a well-paced, multi-character perspective, covering such an important and painful topic, and executed with what seems like a level of experience that a debut couldn't possibly have.
Garcia within the first 50 pages uses several metaphors that will make you stumble and wonder at the cleverness of her writing but also the truth of them, and their meaning in the wider story. So within 50 pages, you are mesmerised and you can be assured that neither the story nor the writing lets up. You feel like you are with the characters for years but in book terms, it's been no time at all.
This book with have you holding your breath, willing characters, wanting to reach out to them and finishing emotionally spent. It's beautifully poignant, it will leave you with something, even if it is simply the appreciation for how much this debut achieves.
Each character has a definitive voice using what in my humble reader's opinion is an incredible writing style, some chapters feel incredibly poetic while others seem to be stifled and purposely clunky, fitting well with each character and moment. Everything intertwines perfectly, not too cliche and not too Hollywood. It's full of reality with a tiny sprinkling of hope. Oh, and did I mention that this is a debut? It is impressive, it's not often that writing like this is combined with a well-paced, multi-character perspective, covering such an important and painful topic, and executed with what seems like a level of experience that a debut couldn't possibly have.
Garcia within the first 50 pages uses several metaphors that will make you stumble and wonder at the cleverness of her writing but also the truth of them, and their meaning in the wider story. So within 50 pages, you are mesmerised and you can be assured that neither the story nor the writing lets up. You feel like you are with the characters for years but in book terms, it's been no time at all.
This book with have you holding your breath, willing characters, wanting to reach out to them and finishing emotionally spent. It's beautifully poignant, it will leave you with something, even if it is simply the appreciation for how much this debut achieves.