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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I really enjoy that Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a writer that is so versatile.
This book follows two characters, Elvis and Maite in different walks of life but connected by Maite's missing neighbor Lenora.
I don't really have anything negative to say about this book plot wise because it was engaging and I wanted to see what happened to Lenora. It was a bit anti climatic but because Silvia is such a good writer that you are so immersed in the story that it's not a big loss.
I'm curious to read more of this writer because every story is so different.
This book follows two characters, Elvis and Maite in different walks of life but connected by Maite's missing neighbor Lenora.
I don't really have anything negative to say about this book plot wise because it was engaging and I wanted to see what happened to Lenora. It was a bit anti climatic but because Silvia is such a good writer that you are so immersed in the story that it's not a big loss.
I'm curious to read more of this writer because every story is so different.
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really think I’ll read anything Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes and love it. She can write any genre and I wasn’t sure how I’d do with this one knowing it was historical noir. I’d read reviews saying it was “slow” and/or “boring” and I found it quite the opposite! I listened to it on audiobook and maybe that made the difference because I didn’t want to take breaks.
It starts off with a historically student protest attack in 1970s Mexico. There is a group called the Hawks operating to stall and squelch protesters voices and they work through the Mexican government in a covert and quiet way. Our male character is a Hawk enforcer and his name is Elvis and he loves old music like Sinatra, Elvis and he’s a dreamer. Our female main character is Maite and she is lonely, a romantic, dreamer, insecure and kind of funny. And she loves old music too. She owns an extensive record collection too . I found myself laughing at her antics and thoughts because I can be like her sometimes. These characters don’t know each other but they embark on the same journey but on separate paths.
Maine’s neighbor (whom she doesn’t really know), Leonora, asks Maite to watch/feed her cat for a few days. Maite agrees but Leonora doesn’t return. She calls mysteriously to meet up and get the cat but doesn’t show. Maite starts asking around, anyone who might know Leonora trying to find out what happened and where she is -just so she can return the cat and GET PAID. Little does she know Leonora is in trouble.
Leonora is part of an activist group and she allegedly has incriminating photos that the press might be interested in. The government /the federal police want those photos. The journalists want the photos to publish a great story. Elvis is instructed to find Leonora from his boss. el Mago. He eventually starts to tail Maite too because she’s looking for Leonora too. Maite gets to know Leonora’s activist friends as they all search for Leonora.
The story is interesting moving between Elvis and Maite. Elvis finds Maite interesting from afar even though Maite has no clue how much danger she’s in. There’s a slight “love story” building here that you kind of hope for somehow even though Elvis is on the wrong side of the law and Maite is clueless to world and country events.
The ending had a twist I didn’t see coming but it was great!
I couldn’t stop listening. The plot is interesting. I don’t know what book everyone else read but this one albeit a slow build was written well, held my attention the entire time. Maybe listen to the audiobook?
It starts off with a historically student protest attack in 1970s Mexico. There is a group called the Hawks operating to stall and squelch protesters voices and they work through the Mexican government in a covert and quiet way. Our male character is a Hawk enforcer and his name is Elvis and he loves old music like Sinatra, Elvis and he’s a dreamer. Our female main character is Maite and she is lonely, a romantic, dreamer, insecure and kind of funny. And she loves old music too. She owns an extensive record collection too . I found myself laughing at her antics and thoughts because I can be like her sometimes. These characters don’t know each other but they embark on the same journey but on separate paths.
Maine’s neighbor (whom she doesn’t really know), Leonora, asks Maite to watch/feed her cat for a few days. Maite agrees but Leonora doesn’t return. She calls mysteriously to meet up and get the cat but doesn’t show. Maite starts asking around, anyone who might know Leonora trying to find out what happened and where she is -just so she can return the cat and GET PAID. Little does she know Leonora is in trouble.
Leonora is part of an activist group and she allegedly has incriminating photos that the press might be interested in. The government /the federal police want those photos. The journalists want the photos to publish a great story. Elvis is instructed to find Leonora from his boss. el Mago. He eventually starts to tail Maite too because she’s looking for Leonora too. Maite gets to know Leonora’s activist friends as they all search for Leonora.
The story is interesting moving between Elvis and Maite. Elvis finds Maite interesting from afar even though Maite has no clue how much danger she’s in. There’s a slight “love story” building here that you kind of hope for somehow even though Elvis is on the wrong side of the law and Maite is clueless to world and country events.
The ending had a twist I didn’t see coming but it was great!
I couldn’t stop listening. The plot is interesting. I don’t know what book everyone else read but this one albeit a slow build was written well, held my attention the entire time. Maybe listen to the audiobook?
I'm bored and I'm kind of over SMG's writing. Haven't enjoyed any of her books except Mexican Gothic, and even that, I think I was more persuaded by the hype than the writing.
One of my favorite books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Velvet Was the Night is a novel of political activism, Russian spies, and a series of unfortunate events set in the 1970s in Mexico City. Protagonist Maite accidentally stumbles into this dangerous world without warning or necessary context. While the subject matter is serious, there are periods of levity as Maite fancifully relates her adventures to the romance stories she devours each week. Fun, thrilling, with a touch of danger, Velvet Was the Night is a satisfying read with multiple narrators and perspectives weaving together a cohesive story.
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
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
How could I have missed the days of the "Dirty War" in the 70s? After reading this story filled with violence, sex and revenge from the dark side, it feels like I'm a little more up to speed.
A Mexican group, known as the Hawks, attacked, tortured and killed student protestors on the left side of politics. One of the main characters was Leonora, an art student and activist, who asked her neighbor, Maite, to take care of her cat for a couple of days. Little did Maite know that she was now feeling like she was inside one of her favorite books: Secret Romance which gave her a taste of danger. The big question was: what happened to Leonora as she disappeared after a few days while strange men made their way into her apartment looking for photos.
The book was much different than the author's previous one: Mexican Gothic. I found it to be engaging with the historical part opening up my eyes. There were a lot of references to Maite's passion for books, comics and music. It shows when life is crazy on the outside, it's what keeps us going. One of her friends pointed out, "Change should come peacefully. We need a more educated nation, we need to come to agreements." The book leaves the reader with much to think about.
A Mexican group, known as the Hawks, attacked, tortured and killed student protestors on the left side of politics. One of the main characters was Leonora, an art student and activist, who asked her neighbor, Maite, to take care of her cat for a couple of days. Little did Maite know that she was now feeling like she was inside one of her favorite books: Secret Romance which gave her a taste of danger. The big question was: what happened to Leonora as she disappeared after a few days while strange men made their way into her apartment looking for photos.
The book was much different than the author's previous one: Mexican Gothic. I found it to be engaging with the historical part opening up my eyes. There were a lot of references to Maite's passion for books, comics and music. It shows when life is crazy on the outside, it's what keeps us going. One of her friends pointed out, "Change should come peacefully. We need a more educated nation, we need to come to agreements." The book leaves the reader with much to think about.