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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I really loved this book. It was a little tough for me to get into and even at the end I still didn’t know everyone’s names and how they were related by the end. Essentially this is a story of two brothers, Big Angel and Little Angel, told over the course of two days. The big family, the Mexican heritage (along with the difficulty of straddling two worlds/cultures), the beautifully described relationships between Big Angel and his family were priceless. It was not wrapped in a tidy bow, nor was it overly dramatic. Once I got a few chapters in, I couldn’t put it down. I also loved all the San Diego references.
The audio of this book was so good. I laughed and cried. I don’t speak Spanish so having all the Spanish words and names and phrases read to me made the whole story so much richer. I love stories about families and this one was perfect.
Miguel Angel de La Cruz, or Big Angel, as he’s known, calls his whole family back to celebrate what will be his last birthday – he’s been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His almost 100 year old mother happens to die that weekend so the gathering morphs into a combination funeral and birthday party. It sounds like the makings of a somber occasion but it’s not. The de La Cruz family is a lively cast of characters, full of spirit and humor. (I had trouble keeping track of everyone. Some editions of the book have a family tree in them – if you decide to read this book, I recommend trying to find a copy that includes one.)
Little Angel, Big Angel’s half-brother, comes to visit for the celebration. He’s been raised by his white mother. He’s struggling with his identity as both white and Mexican and feeling somewhat like an outsider in the de La Cruz family, even though he is a part of it. Throughout the weekend, he listens as Big Angel tells him stories about his life and as people come to pay tribute to both Big Angel and Big Angel’s mother.
At its heart, The House of Broken Angels is about family. Urrea gave the relationships and characters wonderful depth. He based the novel on his relationship with his older half- brother, who also had a huge final birthday party. I’m sure that’s why the family in this book seems so authentic and their love for one another so real.
Little Angel, Big Angel’s half-brother, comes to visit for the celebration. He’s been raised by his white mother. He’s struggling with his identity as both white and Mexican and feeling somewhat like an outsider in the de La Cruz family, even though he is a part of it. Throughout the weekend, he listens as Big Angel tells him stories about his life and as people come to pay tribute to both Big Angel and Big Angel’s mother.
At its heart, The House of Broken Angels is about family. Urrea gave the relationships and characters wonderful depth. He based the novel on his relationship with his older half- brother, who also had a huge final birthday party. I’m sure that’s why the family in this book seems so authentic and their love for one another so real.
This is a case of it's not the book, it's me....I couldn't keep the characters or the timeline straight, though there were some really touching scenes and dialogue.
I'm finding that I don't have the right words for how I feel upon finishing this read.
Warm. Slightly buzzed.
Like, despite the chaos, I've just been given a great big hug.
It made me miss my own family. A lot.
Warm. Slightly buzzed.
Like, despite the chaos, I've just been given a great big hug.
It made me miss my own family. A lot.
A slow, tender, sweet, funny, and strikingly realistic portrait of a regular family over a few dearly emotional days -- so vivid that I wouldn't have been surprised to see one of these characters walk out of the pages and into the streets of San Diego! Such a treat to read this loving and masterful writing.
what a joy. complicated, personal, and penetrating. characters that i don't necessarily understand but care about in growing depth throughout.
I was reading this when a larger-than-life 70-something man in my life died. This book just really hit me.
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced