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deanis23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Murder, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
rebeccamm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I'm not sure if I liked this book or if I'm giving it a higher rating just because it tells a story we don't hear about enough.
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Addiction
Minor: Death of parent, Cancer, Classism, Drug use, Incest, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and War
Sensitive readers may want to proceed with caution.mamadonna's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, and Drug use
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, War, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Incest, Sexism, and Sexual violence
lilymouse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Sexual harassment, Racism, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Colonisation, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
charlottejones952's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
I would recommend looking into trigger warnings as this is an extremely dark book at times but with that caveat in mind, I would highly recommend it. Gabriela Garcia is an author to keep an eye on in the future.
Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Murder, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, War, and Colonisation
bibeanenergy's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
lacunaboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, and Sexual assault
jayisreading's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Rape
Minor: Cancer
ladymirtazapine's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Child death, Domestic abuse, Murder, War, Rape, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Violence, Trafficking, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Death, Confinement, and Alcoholism
iamivypark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Following 9 women from Cuba and El Salvador, Garcia’s writing depicts survival in the wake of abusive forces. All suffering from violence in one way or another and having troubled relationships with their mothers or daughters as a result of their survival mechanisms.
I loved the way the women were all intertwined in some way. One storyline follows Gloria and her daughter Ana who are El Salvadorian immigrants illegally in the U.S. Another following Carmen who migrated to America legally, escaping Communist rule, and her daughter Jeanette in modern day Miami. The novel uncovers 5 generations of Jeanette & Carmen’s family and it was powerful to see where the women came from and the intergenerational trauma carried down the lineage. I found the family tree at the beginning of the book super helpful in following this. I love when books have these!
The prose is stunning! I was taken aback by the very beginning of the book which starts ominously with a mother pleading that her daughter still wants to live on the first 2 pages.
“I want to know who I am, so I need to know who you’ve been”
The survival strategies of silence and estrangement were particularly stark in the relationship between Carmen and Jeanette. I was struck by the chapter portraying Jeanette’s coming of age in Miami; her naivety & desire to fit in, her innocence and the way she is haunted by stories untold. Garcia’s writing is compelling and raw.
The book draws many parallels, between the Cuban capitalist elite allowed to enter legally while El Salvadoran’s are not granted the same privilege. As well as the trajectories of Jeanette’s life and those of her cousin & Ana in regards to safety and opportunity.
Best read if you are in the mood for a family saga and have time to finish in just a few sittings.
Moderate: Addiction, Violence, War, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Murder, and Incest