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jjb's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really disliked the main character but at the same time the writer did a great job and I couldn’t put the book down
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Violence, and Homophobia
joyfulfoodie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
Having lived recently in Puerto Rico with Dominican neighbors I really got a lot out of this book. The characters felt so similar to what I’ve experienced there. I loved the way the main character Cara’s English is presented, her use of Spanish words mixed in. I was pleased at how much I understood and loved reading this digitally where I could hover on words to translate if it was slang I didn’t know yet, fun new adult words, or phrases I just haven’t mastered yet. Great learning opportunity both in another life experience and some language enrichment. I found the format (one side - Cara’s - of the interview each week for job placement help) to really work and be endearing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Homophobia, Child abuse, and Cancer
Minor: Death, Cursing, Fatphobia, and Miscarriage
faduma's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Classism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexism, Homophobia, and Violence
criticalgayze's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-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
4.25
This is my 5th book for the Aspen Words Literary Prize longlist and my first audiobook of the year.
The audiobook was recommended to me specifically as the way to interact with this one, and I couldn't agree more. Rossmery Almante's portrayal of Cara Romero is incredibly endearing, and they do some fun and interesting things with sound effects and music that make the listening experience feel more immersive.
Storytelling gimmicks are a hard trick to pull off, and I didn't always groove with this one, but Cara Romero (through Cruz's caring work crafting her voice, is so indelible that this can often be overlooked. She is so incredibly funny but also so intuitively kind and self-reflective. I also like the satire present in some of the interstitial materials between interviews and the commentary those provide on the modern state of rent in America, especially in metropolitan areas.
The audiobook was recommended to me specifically as the way to interact with this one, and I couldn't agree more. Rossmery Almante's portrayal of Cara Romero is incredibly endearing, and they do some fun and interesting things with sound effects and music that make the listening experience feel more immersive.
Storytelling gimmicks are a hard trick to pull off, and I didn't always groove with this one, but Cara Romero (through Cruz's caring work crafting her voice, is so indelible that this can often be overlooked. She is so incredibly funny but also so intuitively kind and self-reflective. I also like the satire present in some of the interstitial materials between interviews and the commentary those provide on the modern state of rent in America, especially in metropolitan areas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Cancer
Minor: Death, Misogyny, Infidelity, Infertility, and Sexual content
ukponge's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
annabulkowski's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Medical content, Police brutality, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
cozjetez's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
I had checked this one out from the library on impulse (having enjoyed Cruz's first novel, Dominicana, and having seen a number of great reviews for this one). And literally while I had it checked out, the Aspen Words 2023 longlist got announced and this was on it! I haven't decided yet if I am planning to read the full longlist like I have the past couple years, but I'm thrilled that a number of the books this year are already ones I want to read (it's a great looking longlist, as always!). So, just in case I decide to go for this reading challenge for a third year, here's the first.
Cara Romero is in her mid-50s when she loses the job she's held for years becasue the lamp factory she worked in closes down. She is set up with a job counselor for "seniors" to help her find another employment opportunity and over the course of 12 sessions with this counselor Cara tells the story of her life. From gossip about her up-and-down relationships with all her neighbors in her rent-controlled housing in NYC, to her complicated relationship with her sister Angela, to the story of how she came to immigrate to America from the Dominican Republic, to her deepest, darkest secret(s) and the reasons her son, Fernando, is now estranged, Cara tells it all.
Y'all, this narrator! Cara is a force of voice from the very first page, her charisma and feisty personality hit you hard and fast and you cannot help falling in love with her. And even as, the further you read, the more you see that Cara spins her words/actions so as to never be her own fault, and it absolutely does make you angry, you still cannot help being drawn in by her perspective. You still want to give her the benefit of the doubt, when considering everything in light of her personal experiences and circumstances. By the end, all the reflection time her monologuing with the career counselor offers her gives the space to legitimately try to make changes. And you are back to feeling good about cheering for her (or the most part). And honestly, the tangibility and strength of her voice are so strong, and the emotional responses I had as she went through her story-telling, it was just...incredibly compelling as a result of Cruz's masterful writing. One final note on the writing, the flow of the Spanglish was rhythmic and lovely and one of my favorite things. (This was highlighted in a selection from a couple years ago as well, Fiebre Tropical, and I loved it then too.)
There were quite a few concepts and themes addressed in this novel, despite its short length, and they were all intertwined in such a smooth and authentic, and fully developed, way. A number of these could be emotionally fraught to read about, so please keep that in mind going into this as a reader. There was a really touching reflection on the way that a mother's trauma can be passed to a child, even as their only goal/thought is to protect them from whatever that trauma was happening to them too. In this case, it was mostly acted out as a conflating of homosexuality with softness, and a need to quash it in order to make a child strong enough to survive. It was tough and angering to read but a reality for many (especially, I think, in this first generation population - though that is absolutely a stereotype, and not always the case, either way, of course). It was heartbreaking in the way that that level of “love,” the fine lines of paranoia and protection, can cause such a rift. From a parental perspective, this MC, an older immigrant parent of adult-aged children is not one that I often see represented (usually we get their children's POVs), so that was original and I appreciated it, in both its peculiarities and universalities (like a parent's joint disappointment and relief when a child is just fine without them). And really, what a message about how the ties of family [traditionally] trump all else, even when it's not healthy or it looks like supporting someone unhealthy or that you'd rather not support...but you do it anyways because you feel like you must/have no choice (and maybe sometimes out of guilt/repayment). Phew - that was a lot.
There was an absolutely spectacular highlighting of the key role women play in their communities, that is, essentially, unpaid labor, without which communities and families would flounder/fail. However, it often goes unrecognized and the time/effort it takes is not considered in governmental definitions/expectations of “work.” This is even starker against the backdrop of financial hardship, access barriers, family dynamics and intergenerational differences, and the environmental concerns of gentrification and political landscape that Cara is portrayed within. Finally, I want to note what a gorgeous and subtle message this book holds on the importance of the role therapy can play (and healing it can provide), even/especially for the reluctant.
Just, really, what a tour de force of narrative voice Cruz has created in this novel. Cara Romero is compelling, humanly flawed, and genuinely trying - in short, absolutely and universally recognizable. And you literally cannot help but love her exposition. An understated and short novel that hits with an unexpected amount of emotional impact.
“When you need each other to survive, you forgive. That's the way it is.”
“You can plan all you want, but nature will always show you who's el jefe.”
“I learned the difficult way that you have to be gentle with your children, or you can lose them forever.”
“Anyway, I try not to think about the past, because what can we do about it?"
“Who wants to live in a lie? Freedom is being able to live your truth without having to apologize for it.”
“It is difficult to be happy for others when you have many problems.”
“Talking to you, all these weeks, has been very good for me. I have learned a lot. Talking always reminds me that no matter how difficult my life is, I have always found a solution to my problems. When I think about this, I am not afraid. We can do this. I can do it. Write this down: Cara Romero is still here, entera.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Grief, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Death, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Classism, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water is the story of Cara Romero, a 56 year old woman from the Dominican Republic, who now lives in the US and needs to find work following the closure of the factory where she had worked for many years.
Cara is a fantastic character, one not quickly forgotten. She’s got a strong, opinions and a vibrant personality, has lived through some hard times and had bad things happen to her, but has also made bad decisions and hurt others. She’s clearly got a heart of gold, but her actions don’t always reflect that. She’s incredibly easy to root for, even when her behaviour is infuriating. Or worse. Over the course of the book we see Cara grow as she recognises the role she has played in fracturing some relationships, and hurting those she loves most. It’s a rewarding journey to watch, to see her recognise her problematic behaviour, sit with the pain of that, and then take positive action to improve.
The structure of this book is unique. It unfolds over the course of twelve sessions Cara is required to have with a job counsellor in order to continue receiving unemployment insurance. The book is essentially a transcript of what Cara says during each session. We never hear from the counsellor - although I get the feeling she didn’t get a lot of opportunity to say much! Cara is clearly a talker and during the sessions shares much of her life, including the ups and downs of many key relationships including with her son, her sister and her neighbour. Interspersed with these are various documents such as her steadily increasing rent bills and job questionnaires.
I listened on audio which I recommend. The audio has high production values including sound effects, making it akin to listening to an old-fashioned audio play. In addition the narrator does a fabulous job with Cara and I appreciated hearing her voice with the correct accent and intonations. Not all the documents worked so well in the audio format, but they were a much smaller part of the book than the job counselling sessions. The pros of audio far outweighed the cons - at least for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death
Minor: Homophobia
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Emotional. Damage. How did Angie Cruz manage to capture my mother in a book? Wow. If you are able to listen to the audiobook as well grab a physical copy simultaneously please do so. The audio really captures the essence of Cara & the setting in which the interviews are assembled. Cara is a Dominican woman who is over the age of 50. She sits in on 12 sessions in order to find a job in the senior work force. Cara reveals so much to us as she explains her life- the good, bad, proud and ugly. I wish I could tell you I didn’t cry but that would be a lie. Impactful in a multitude of ways.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child abuse and Homophobia