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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I began with mixed feelings about this story, but the more I read, the more I was hooked. This is one crazy family and their foibles were not always ones to which I could relate. Ultimately, though, it is a love story to and of family, and to that I could definitely relate!
At times Luis Alberto Urrea had me thinking of my first generation Grandma Jean, who arrived at Ellis Island as a teenager from Russia in the very early 1900s. She would be dead some 80 years later before I learned she spoke Russian. For years I wished that she had felt comfortable telling me her story.
Thanks to Big Angel's musings, I also spent time contemplating what it means to live life fully, and to think about dying. Much to ponder, and I'm glad to have read this in the Spring on days that were approaching sunshine, rather than in the depths of winter when the humor in the story might not have been as obvious in the cold and darker days.
Big Angel is the man of the hour, and he is a complex person (perhaps we all are?) with myriad relationships and children, all of which he prides himself on managing. He and his siblings, their children, their children's children, and their spouses, gather to attend the funeral of Big Angel's mother, Mama América. From there begins the unravelling of secrets and the re-cementing of relationships.
Every bit as interesting as this fictional tale are the Author's Note and Acknowledgments at the end of the book. This story could not (did not!) spring from imagination alone; there are facts buried in stories wrapped in anecdotes.
At times Luis Alberto Urrea had me thinking of my first generation Grandma Jean, who arrived at Ellis Island as a teenager from Russia in the very early 1900s. She would be dead some 80 years later before I learned she spoke Russian. For years I wished that she had felt comfortable telling me her story.
Thanks to Big Angel's musings, I also spent time contemplating what it means to live life fully, and to think about dying. Much to ponder, and I'm glad to have read this in the Spring on days that were approaching sunshine, rather than in the depths of winter when the humor in the story might not have been as obvious in the cold and darker days.
Big Angel is the man of the hour, and he is a complex person (perhaps we all are?) with myriad relationships and children, all of which he prides himself on managing. He and his siblings, their children, their children's children, and their spouses, gather to attend the funeral of Big Angel's mother, Mama América. From there begins the unravelling of secrets and the re-cementing of relationships.
Every bit as interesting as this fictional tale are the Author's Note and Acknowledgments at the end of the book. This story could not (did not!) spring from imagination alone; there are facts buried in stories wrapped in anecdotes.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautiful balance of life and death, human connection evolution, family, and Mexican American identities. It was a hard read in between, at times I felt as though the identity of the characters was being pushed too hard to fit a certain narrative. The ending was tied well and a clear reflection of the main character and his struggle and worries throughout the novel.
Why have I not heard of this writer before???
Such lyricism and poetry. A beautifully recounted family saga that is epic. This book made me laugh, reminisce and get a tender lump in my throat.
Job well done.
I listened to the audio book read by the author and it was wonderful.
Such lyricism and poetry. A beautifully recounted family saga that is epic. This book made me laugh, reminisce and get a tender lump in my throat.
Job well done.
I listened to the audio book read by the author and it was wonderful.
3.5 stars
Characters were interesting. Fun to recognize local places mentioned. But so many characters and generations that I had a hard time keeping up. Sometimes felt like it was a bunch of random stories thrown together. Don't hate it but...
Characters were interesting. Fun to recognize local places mentioned. But so many characters and generations that I had a hard time keeping up. Sometimes felt like it was a bunch of random stories thrown together. Don't hate it but...
I loved the characters in this book!! The story made me laugh and cry. I feel like this will end up being a classic from our time.
This is a big-hearted story of a large immigrant family who gather for a dual purpose: to mourn their matriarch, and at the same time, celebrate the birthday of her son, Big Angel, their dying patriarch. The book teems with characters, which might be difficult for readers who like to keep a firm grip on who's who in the story. I don't feel the need to keep notes or anything. I just keep reading and trust that eventually it will all come clear. And it does—the uncle who sounds like a duck, the death-metal loving goth cousin, the super sexy aunt, down to the the estranged son who performs as Cher at a local bar. The narrative winds back and forth through time as Big Angel and his half-brother Little Angel come to terms with their father's failings and try to come together before Big Angel's death. Urrea shows how complicated an immigrant family can be, with lives and histories that crisscross the border, and with varying immigration statuses. He details how life in the in-between of the border can be rich in love and stories, and how much we would lose by trying to cut ourselves off from it. Bonus points to Urrea for sharing a playlist of the songs he matched up with each character.
4.5 🌟 Reminded me a bit of Garcia Marquez in which you are constantly trying to remember who’s who and also has a touch of magical realism. What a storyteller Urrea is. A beautifully written saga about generations of a Mexican and Chicano family and all of the regrets, loves, failures, wins, secrets and truths that manifest simply from living one’s life. I felt transported into their daily lives effortlessly. At times I was laughing out loud and other times I was on the verge of tears. Urrea has a way of creating poetry out of the ordinary and creates the extraordinary. I also appreciated learning about the struggles of a culture I am not a part of and the struggles of balancing a life on both sides of the border. This authentic piece of fiction feels very important in terms of giving Mexican immigrants and first-generation Mexican-Americans a voice.
Would give it a 3.5 if I could. I liked it, but it didn't totally draw me in.