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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Great story, very well written. Pacing was kind of bad. There was a huge climax but it was at the very end. I feel like it would've made more of an impact if it had been handled better, with more care and time put in it.
This is an interesting story which takes place within the Mexican community on the outskirts of the very rich white community near the San Francisco airport. It touches on the tough choices that parents must make on behalf of their children and also immigration issues.
The characters were very real to me. And even though there were many harsh realities, the story always seem to build toward hope.
challenging
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes
"Like birds in flight, we were here, and we were home."
I picked out this book during last month's Christmas sale at our local bookstore, and I'll be honest: the biggest and probably only reason I bought it was because of the title. The words 'we never asked for wings' feel universal, because it is a shared human experience where most of us don't want to fly, we just want to live.
And that is exactly what this book is about.
Something I definitely didn't anticipate, however, was how almost all of the main characters were Mexican. It was a wonderful surprise, as well as the focus it put on the strength and resilience of immigrants- especially immigrant parents, because the amount of sacrifice required there is endless, and it is usually a thankless job.
I picked out this book during last month's Christmas sale at our local bookstore, and I'll be honest: the biggest and probably only reason I bought it was because of the title. The words 'we never asked for wings' feel universal, because it is a shared human experience where most of us don't want to fly, we just want to live.
And that is exactly what this book is about.
Something I definitely didn't anticipate, however, was how almost all of the main characters were Mexican. It was a wonderful surprise, as well as the focus it put on the strength and resilience of immigrants- especially immigrant parents, because the amount of sacrifice required there is endless, and it is usually a thankless job.
Vanessa Diffenbaugh's characters stay with you long after you finish reading. They are so full of struggle, trying to do the right thing, making terrible mistakes along the way. This is the second novel of hers I've enjoyed and admire the way she grapples with motherhood and decision making.
This sweet story carries over many of the themes of Diffenbaugh's first book, The Language of Flowers, such as what it means to be a family and what it means to be a parent. Diffenbaugh's research on everything from bartending to isotope signatures to immigration laws make this a rich and realistic tale about class, love, and family. The pacing was a little uneven, with most of the action and suspense packed into the last 50 pages of the book, but I suppose that's because Diffenbaugh wanted to write a family drama and not a courtroom drama. While it doesn't rise to the level of her first book, it's still definitely worth a read.
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lovely 2nd book. A thoughtful story about Mexican immigrants, both legal and illegal, told in a way that emphasized the personalities and relationships rather than shouting opinions about immigration.