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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This didn’t really work for me. Most of the action happens in the last third of the novel, which I did actually enjoy, but getting there was a bit of a slog. There wasn’t enough happening in the first two-thirds and I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters enough to care what happened to them. I wanted more drama, and this left me underwhelmed. (I also hoped for some insight into what exactly the allure is of the Salome story, having seen Sunset Boulevard a couple of times, but I remain mystified.) 2.5⭐️
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I truly love how this author puts twists on stories and makes something new. I also love how she incorporates historical facts and molds them into an interesting story. I really enjoyed the parallel storytelling between Vera’s present and Salome’s past. I also felt like the description of Vera’s experience as a Mexican starlet in this time period was accurate and made me feel like I was there with her.
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is my favorite contemporary author and she's done it again on this one. It moves fast and lends itself well to reading a few pages here and there -- or for the more voracious out there, easy material for a single sitting.
The book is presented in a constant stream, breaking from conventional chapters (there are no blank pages from one episode to the next). Episodes are broken up by character/speaker and the book tells two stories at once.
Half of the book reads like a documentary, with characters in the 'modern' world (1950s Hollywood) relaying what they experienced in the studio and their day to day lives. The other half (interspersed) is the story of Salome, echoing throughout the story and giving the reader a deeper view into the film in progress. It's hard to describe and was slightly disorienting at first, but that disorientation enhanced the story for me. Like the character, Vera, the reader is thrown into this world without knowing what to expect.
All these words and I still haven't scratched the surface! You'll have to read it and see for yourself, and if you do, I hope you'll enjoy it.
The book is presented in a constant stream, breaking from conventional chapters (there are no blank pages from one episode to the next). Episodes are broken up by character/speaker and the book tells two stories at once.
Half of the book reads like a documentary, with characters in the 'modern' world (1950s Hollywood) relaying what they experienced in the studio and their day to day lives. The other half (interspersed) is the story of Salome, echoing throughout the story and giving the reader a deeper view into the film in progress. It's hard to describe and was slightly disorienting at first, but that disorientation enhanced the story for me. Like the character, Vera, the reader is thrown into this world without knowing what to expect.
All these words and I still haven't scratched the surface! You'll have to read it and see for yourself, and if you do, I hope you'll enjoy it.