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shayna's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Trafficking, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
bookmaddie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This meandering story follows a matrilineal group of women, going from Cuba in the late 1800s to modern day, and a mother and daughter pair who are trying to immigrate to the United States from El Salvador. While this book balances a variety of narratives, each one offers a glimpse into the universal struggle to find a home—a place to be secure, to succeed, and create a life for the next generation. The inclusion of two different family stories that are starkly different highlights the contrast in ideas of survival, and what it means for different people. I also thought it was interesting to be able to examine a character from multiple perspectives. It really helped create a full picture of each individual, where their faults and strengths were in clear view.
The storyline that follows generations of the same Cuban-American family explores politics, and grudges influenced by actions of those in generations past. It was interesting to view political divisions within the Cuban-American community within a single family, and see how those divisions impacted characters interactions with the larger Latinx immigrant community.
This was an enjoyable read, though I found the historical narrative and story of Gloria and Ana most compelling. A longer, more streamlined narrative, may have proved more successful, but regardless, this is a book worth reading. It's a story of women, family, sacrifice and survival, and what success and safety mean for different people. It explores hardship, small moments, joy, and figuring out who you are and what you want to be.
The storyline that follows generations of the same Cuban-American family explores politics, and grudges influenced by actions of those in generations past. It was interesting to view political divisions within the Cuban-American community within a single family, and see how those divisions impacted characters interactions with the larger Latinx immigrant community.
This was an enjoyable read, though I found the historical narrative and story of Gloria and Ana most compelling. A longer, more streamlined narrative, may have proved more successful, but regardless, this is a book worth reading. It's a story of women, family, sacrifice and survival, and what success and safety mean for different people. It explores hardship, small moments, joy, and figuring out who you are and what you want to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Violence
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