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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I just did not care about either of the main characters and the plot really didn't feel like it was going anywhere by the time I DNFed.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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:
No
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like a good mystery but admittedly I don’t know much about noir or what was going on in Mexico in the 1970s to be fair I don’t know what was going on anywhere in the world in the 1970s so all the communist stuff is a bit lost on me all that said this was a rather interesting story...
Maite is a lonely secretary and dreamer who gets lost in her romantic comic books that she uses to escape reality... she a romantic living in her own little world of books and music. Sure her life is dull and boring and she wishes it was different but different and exciting things only seem to happen to other people... What she cannot imagine is that a simple favor from her seemingly interesting and fabulous neighbor will completely change her life... Leonora needs someone to look after her cat for a few days simple enough right? So how does that task end in Maite searching for her when she goes missing? Getting involved with dangerous people and being watched by even more dangerous people. Leonora’s secrets might just prove to be deadly for Maite....
Elvis is unhappy with his life... he’s essentially a thug who engages in criminal activity for the government. His current job is to find Leonora and that involves watching and following Maite. And things get a little crazy for him to and they do not go as he expects.
Maite is a little annoying and sooo naïve... she’s way too old to be so stuck in a fantasy world but I suppose it was a different time maybe women were more fanciful. And admittedly it was a crazy situation that she was drawn into. Though she’s also rather obsessive and a little crazy too. Somehow despite his line of work it was easy to like Elvis. I suppose it’s because though he did bad things he wasn’t really a bad guy just someone lost trying to survive.
Again I say I don’t know much about noir or the time period but I suppose that just makes me more like Maite who didn’t know much about what was going on around her. It was a good story and though she irritates me I did like Maite and I liked Elvis and I definitely figured out exactly who Elvis was working for early on that was not a surprise. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future, I’m working my way through all of her books.
Maite is a lonely secretary and dreamer who gets lost in her romantic comic books that she uses to escape reality... she a romantic living in her own little world of books and music. Sure her life is dull and boring and she wishes it was different but different and exciting things only seem to happen to other people... What she cannot imagine is that a simple favor from her seemingly interesting and fabulous neighbor will completely change her life... Leonora needs someone to look after her cat for a few days simple enough right? So how does that task end in Maite searching for her when she goes missing? Getting involved with dangerous people and being watched by even more dangerous people. Leonora’s secrets might just prove to be deadly for Maite....
Elvis is unhappy with his life... he’s essentially a thug who engages in criminal activity for the government. His current job is to find Leonora and that involves watching and following Maite. And things get a little crazy for him to and they do not go as he expects.
Maite is a little annoying and sooo naïve... she’s way too old to be so stuck in a fantasy world but I suppose it was a different time maybe women were more fanciful. And admittedly it was a crazy situation that she was drawn into. Though she’s also rather obsessive and a little crazy too. Somehow despite his line of work it was easy to like Elvis. I suppose it’s because though he did bad things he wasn’t really a bad guy just someone lost trying to survive.
Again I say I don’t know much about noir or the time period but I suppose that just makes me more like Maite who didn’t know much about what was going on around her. It was a good story and though she irritates me I did like Maite and I liked Elvis and I definitely figured out exactly who Elvis was working for early on that was not a surprise. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future, I’m working my way through all of her books.
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Oh, Velvet Was the Night is so good. Silvia Moreno-Garcia portrays the feel and aura of the early 70s so beautifully. This novel starts a bit slowly and I wasn’t sure I’d get into it, but it’s worth the effort. Moreno-Garcia creates an atmospheric mood, pens a chilling thriller, and an spools out an unexpected love story all at once. I learned a lot about an important moment in Mexican history and felt drawn to the complex characters. Absolutely worth the read.
I really enjoyed this book. it takes place in Mexico City during Mexico’s ‘Dirty War’, and follows characters from different backgrounds who find themselves connected due to the disappearance of a young woman named Leonora. Chapters switch perspectives, which I don’t always love, but the characters were so interesting and well developed that it worked really well here. The story was unique and captivating, and I really liked the ending. My only complaint is that I wish that the main character, Maite, was more likeable - but that’s just a personal preference thing. This is my second book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and both were 5 star reads for me, her writing really stands out, and she leaves her own stamp on the noir genre. I will definitely check out more of her books.