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novabird's review against another edition
4.0
The author's fresh voice is like a welcome breeze on a hot summer's day when people involved in a car accident start physically fighting over blame.
hailbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was different than anything i've ever read before and I don't think the synopsis fits it at all. I loved how all the characters were flawed but had a purpose that made you want to forgive those flaws. I also think the use of the title in this book was masterful!! and omg the black box tape left me with goosebumps. The writing was really well done and the story was really engaging. Overall a great nove!!!
mostrengo's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
revisins's review against another edition
3.0
Okay. So, the novel has evocative moments and some poignantly rendered insights. Unfortunately, for me, there isn't a lot to connect those flashes of brilliance together.
The story is a slice of life piece. It's meditative. It's reflective. It just kind of ends. It doesn't build to any resounding conclusion. It just ends with a PTSD afflicted asshole of a man looking at the shards of his life and maybe, possibly, hoping to build a better life from them.
It's a selfish story. It's indulgent. It just didn't work for me. I know why it would work for many others--intensely well written. As mentioned--the craft of the novel is piercing and needs to be considered.
Craft isn't everything though. It's important to do something with it.
The story is a slice of life piece. It's meditative. It's reflective. It just kind of ends. It doesn't build to any resounding conclusion. It just ends with a PTSD afflicted asshole of a man looking at the shards of his life and maybe, possibly, hoping to build a better life from them.
It's a selfish story. It's indulgent. It just didn't work for me. I know why it would work for many others--intensely well written. As mentioned--the craft of the novel is piercing and needs to be considered.
Craft isn't everything though. It's important to do something with it.
isajervis's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lauragomezbot's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
emybooksandcoffee's review against another edition
4.0
A very captivating, interconnected story-within-a-story which captured succesfully the portrait of a whole generation falling apart - if not a whole country. Actually there were a lot of stories orbiting around the main narrative - a man trying to find clues and missing pieces of the puzzle of a tragedy that affected him personally. I didn't expect the writing style to be that good, but it was lyrical, whimsical and melancholic. This vague feeling of melancholy, of lost dreams, of things falling apart, of grief, seeped throughout every page. The plotlines were woven into the main story very intricatelly, the details never felt overdone, the central themes (past and present and how the former affects the latter, and how our experiences affect our memories and vice versa) were explored with sensitivity and care. The ending left me satisifed but also simoultaneously wanting more, and I think that's an indication of a really good book.
dom_jones's review against another edition
4.0
Liked the premise, and a great translation. A foreign-driven drug trade leading to violence is the story is so many Latin American nations and cities.
I did find the narrator Yammara very unlikeable though, despite early scenes with his trauma, and early fatherhood that showed his vulnerability, and commitment to Aura, his child’s mother.
The narrator’s behaviour at some points didn’t make sense - his obsession with Leverde, and his complete abandonment of his partner for his pursuit of answers about a man he barely knows.
Visibly cringed at the line “so it’s my fault then” when Aura tells Yammara she thinks his attitude and trauma could be affecting their daughter.
Yammara sleeping with Maya at the end of the book, and attempting to justify it with idealistic terms also was weird. The day before he’d reassured his “girls”, his daughter and partner that he was looking for answers and not being unfaithful, insisting to himself that he loved them and wanted to protect them.
I found the whole relationship with Aura quite difficult to understand. They’d been seeing each other casually, and as soon as she gets pregnant, Yammara is happy for her to move in and start a life together? There’s no real emotional exploration or exposition of this. But then maybe this shaky foundation explains why she leaves Yammara later in the book.
Overall apart from these plot points, very interesting and readable, with fun bits of history and real life events included.
Read it in one day too which is always a good sign
I did find the narrator Yammara very unlikeable though, despite early scenes with his trauma, and early fatherhood that showed his vulnerability, and commitment to Aura, his child’s mother.
The narrator’s behaviour at some points didn’t make sense - his obsession with Leverde, and his complete abandonment of his partner for his pursuit of answers about a man he barely knows.
Visibly cringed at the line “so it’s my fault then” when Aura tells Yammara she thinks his attitude and trauma could be affecting their daughter.
Yammara sleeping with Maya at the end of the book, and attempting to justify it with idealistic terms also was weird. The day before he’d reassured his “girls”, his daughter and partner that he was looking for answers and not being unfaithful, insisting to himself that he loved them and wanted to protect them.
I found the whole relationship with Aura quite difficult to understand. They’d been seeing each other casually, and as soon as she gets pregnant, Yammara is happy for her to move in and start a life together? There’s no real emotional exploration or exposition of this. But then maybe this shaky foundation explains why she leaves Yammara later in the book.
Overall apart from these plot points, very interesting and readable, with fun bits of history and real life events included.
Read it in one day too which is always a good sign
liann24's review against another edition
4.0
Colombia, Peace Corps, Love, Planes, Cartel, Growing up during the war on drugs, two times and two similar results.
juanpablo's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25