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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I think I liked this just as much as The Language of Flowers. A heartfelt family story that is very well written.
I bought this book on Audible almost as soon as it was released because I loved Diffenbaugh's debut, The Language of Flowers, so incredibly much. That book felt like a hand that reached inside my body and rested its fingers on my heart, transferred its words into my veins so that they have flowed through my bloodstream ever since I first read it. I knew that this book would be different (and I have also learned from experience that books with pretty language are better read than listened to), but I hoped it would be just as wonderful.
Because I was so excited to read another novel by Diffenbaugh, I don't even think I read the description of this book before I started listening to it. That made the story unfold quite organically for me, because I really had no idea what it was even about. I had expectations regarding the writing and the quality of the book, but not regarding its actual content, and that was both a small blessing and a curse. Near the beginning (in the first few hours of listening) I wasn't sure where the book was going. I have something sort of inherently against books that begin with an end, that barely introduce a lovable character and then take them away so suddenly. That's how I felt at the start of this novel. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the relationship between the kids and their grandparents before they were separated.
I kind of got lost in the middle somewhere, unsure of where the book was going. The relationship that begins to develop between Alex and Wes is nice; the family moving to Mission Heights is wonderful. However, these victories seemed quite small, minor, not all that important or interesting, and I just didn't see where they were all leading to. I suppose the main 'event' of the book was supposed to be the part when Alex gets arrested, and then the ensuing difficulties with Yesenia, but I still didn't find this part of the book all that interesting.
I did, however, appreciate some of the themes and how each character had a unique story and experience. For Alex, this felt like a coming-of-age story, his first time getting into trouble, his first time falling in love, his first time learning to connect with his parents while in the midst of growing up. For Letty, this book was about parenting, unconditional love, regrets, and memories. The common theme of wanting more for your children than you had is also prevalent, along with larger topics such as bullying, teenage pregnancy, and immigration. The arguably most important theme, relating to birds and migration patterns, was sort of lost on me. I can see how it vaguely relates to the story but I think it was a bit of stretch.
It's interesting how different each author and each novel is. Some of my favorite authors start off with their best work, and follow it up with mediocrity (Janet Fitch). Others get off to a rough beginning and then blossom into a wonderful author (Lionel Shriver). Others are so consistent it hurts (Jodi Picoult). I guess for me, I have to put Diffenbaugh in the first category, at least based on the mere two novels she has published so far. I just fell in love with The Language of Flowers so truly, and maybe it's not fair to hold a writer on such a pedestal just because of one touching novel, but that's what I did, and this book let me down. I would definitely call it good, but it was missing the sort of spark I was looking for. I will still continue to read Diffenbaugh's future novels and I really do hope to come across something as wonderful as her debut again.
“'I love it,' Letty said, kissing Luna's cherry lips and wondering how a half-eaten lollipop could somehow taste like a reason to stay.”
Because I was so excited to read another novel by Diffenbaugh, I don't even think I read the description of this book before I started listening to it. That made the story unfold quite organically for me, because I really had no idea what it was even about. I had expectations regarding the writing and the quality of the book, but not regarding its actual content, and that was both a small blessing and a curse. Near the beginning (in the first few hours of listening) I wasn't sure where the book was going. I have something sort of inherently against books that begin with an end, that barely introduce a lovable character and then take them away so suddenly. That's how I felt at the start of this novel. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the relationship between the kids and their grandparents before they were separated.
I kind of got lost in the middle somewhere, unsure of where the book was going. The relationship that begins to develop between Alex and Wes is nice; the family moving to Mission Heights is wonderful. However, these victories seemed quite small, minor, not all that important or interesting, and I just didn't see where they were all leading to. I suppose the main 'event' of the book was supposed to be the part when Alex gets arrested, and then the ensuing difficulties with Yesenia, but I still didn't find this part of the book all that interesting.
I did, however, appreciate some of the themes and how each character had a unique story and experience. For Alex, this felt like a coming-of-age story, his first time getting into trouble, his first time falling in love, his first time learning to connect with his parents while in the midst of growing up. For Letty, this book was about parenting, unconditional love, regrets, and memories. The common theme of wanting more for your children than you had is also prevalent, along with larger topics such as bullying, teenage pregnancy, and immigration. The arguably most important theme, relating to birds and migration patterns, was sort of lost on me. I can see how it vaguely relates to the story but I think it was a bit of stretch.
It's interesting how different each author and each novel is. Some of my favorite authors start off with their best work, and follow it up with mediocrity (Janet Fitch). Others get off to a rough beginning and then blossom into a wonderful author (Lionel Shriver). Others are so consistent it hurts (Jodi Picoult). I guess for me, I have to put Diffenbaugh in the first category, at least based on the mere two novels she has published so far. I just fell in love with The Language of Flowers so truly, and maybe it's not fair to hold a writer on such a pedestal just because of one touching novel, but that's what I did, and this book let me down. I would definitely call it good, but it was missing the sort of spark I was looking for. I will still continue to read Diffenbaugh's future novels and I really do hope to come across something as wonderful as her debut again.
“'I love it,' Letty said, kissing Luna's cherry lips and wondering how a half-eaten lollipop could somehow taste like a reason to stay.”
I really struggled between liking and not liking this book, mainly because the themes in the story are excellent discussion points. What disappointed me was my expectation that Ms. Diffenbaugh's writing and character development would be as great as it was in "The Language of Flowers." This is not up to her previous quality.
The areas that detracted from the story was the character of the mother and her young daughter; their behavior was almost frenetic without any let-up. The mother, although she did develop in the end, was unlikeable. She wasn't unlikeable because of her many flaws, but I couldn't imagine her having a friend like the one she had (which was not developed at all, just a name). I would have like to see an argument between the both of them, something to clue me in on why they'd be best friends, other than the friend is a convenient babysitter.
The characterizations of the grandparents were interesting and I found them to be realistic. The uniqueness of the grandfather's hobby and his relationship to his grandson provided some depth and much interest to the story.
I found myself skimming over the parts of the mother so I could read about her son and his girlfriend. Their characters had a poignancy about them that kept you reading and rooting for their relationship very unlike the relationship between the mother and her love interests.
Too much plot points started to confuse me. This story would be an excellent YA novel if the plot only zeroed in on Alex (the son), his girlfriend Ysenia, and their story.
The areas that detracted from the story was the character of the mother and her young daughter; their behavior was almost frenetic without any let-up. The mother, although she did develop in the end, was unlikeable. She wasn't unlikeable because of her many flaws, but I couldn't imagine her having a friend like the one she had (which was not developed at all, just a name). I would have like to see an argument between the both of them, something to clue me in on why they'd be best friends, other than the friend is a convenient babysitter.
The characterizations of the grandparents were interesting and I found them to be realistic. The uniqueness of the grandfather's hobby and his relationship to his grandson provided some depth and much interest to the story.
I found myself skimming over the parts of the mother so I could read about her son and his girlfriend. Their characters had a poignancy about them that kept you reading and rooting for their relationship very unlike the relationship between the mother and her love interests.
Too much plot points started to confuse me. This story would be an excellent YA novel if the plot only zeroed in on Alex (the son), his girlfriend Ysenia, and their story.
Um, it was okay. I finished it, which is saying something, but I can't recommend it to someone else to read.
I really enjoyed this one! It could be considered too simplistic with all the heavy topics it held, but sometimes you just need a book that is light on the soul, that still gives you interesting things to think about.
This was the second book I have read by this author, for I read her first novel, The Language of Flowers, previously and which I enjoyed immensely. This second book, however, I felt something was missing towards the end and if you read the acknowledgements, the author herself admits to this novel being a struggle, which may explain this a bit.
This is about mother who struggles well mothering her children until she is forced to. She is a young woman who was raised in California by illegal immigrant Mexican parents. Her parents move back to Mexico and thus, she is left with her 15 year old and her 7 year old to figure out how to be a parent.
I found it a bit aggravating that she was so hesitant with her relationship with Rick in this novel. I felt like screaming at her, I will take Rick if you won't have him! He was such a good guy, but not in that annoying I don't want him type of way; a genuine good guy.
I did, however, like that DACA was mentioned. That acronym gets thrown around a lot in the United States and it was interesting to hear it described in a story.
Nonetheless, the ending felt rushed. It felt like it all tied together too nicely and real life just isn't like that all the time. It was too much of a cookie cutter ending for me and left me with a lot of unanswered questions, hence the reduction in star here. Maybe the ending was the author's ultimate struggle?
Overall a recommended read, but I still prefer her first novel over this one.
This is about mother who struggles well mothering her children until she is forced to. She is a young woman who was raised in California by illegal immigrant Mexican parents. Her parents move back to Mexico and thus, she is left with her 15 year old and her 7 year old to figure out how to be a parent.
I found it a bit aggravating that she was so hesitant with her relationship with Rick in this novel. I felt like screaming at her, I will take Rick if you won't have him! He was such a good guy, but not in that annoying I don't want him type of way; a genuine good guy.
I did, however, like that DACA was mentioned. That acronym gets thrown around a lot in the United States and it was interesting to hear it described in a story.
Nonetheless, the ending felt rushed. It felt like it all tied together too nicely and real life just isn't like that all the time. It was too much of a cookie cutter ending for me and left me with a lot of unanswered questions, hence the reduction in star here. Maybe the ending was the author's ultimate struggle?
Overall a recommended read, but I still prefer her first novel over this one.
There's a lot going on for Lettie Espinosa, a single mom, who for the past 15 yrs has let her parents raise her kids. Lettie was born in the USA but not so her parents who decide to return to Mexico. Lettie is now faced w/ a 15 yr old son, whose father she knows but has never told he is a father and a 6 yr old daughter whose father she is not sure of. I learned a lot about science, birds a illegal immigration
Not a book I would've chosen (the cover art, just... agh!), and it was better than I expected it to be.
I was a big fan of Vanessa Diffenbaugh's first book, [b:The Language of Flowers|10032672|The Language of Flowers|Vanessa Diffenbaugh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333577674s/10032672.jpg|14928278] which I read earlier this year. Her second book did not disappoint.
She tackles some uncomfortable subjects in a really deft way. She weaves together the struggles of the various characters to make a really compelling story that I honestly didn't want to end.
She tackles some uncomfortable subjects in a really deft way. She weaves together the struggles of the various characters to make a really compelling story that I honestly didn't want to end.