Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book. Fuentes did an awesome job writing a 14 year old character that is full of aaaaall the teenage angst, but is still quite likable. Her depiction of growing up with an alcoholic parent and the complex emotions that come with it is done beautifully. I do wish the chapter perspectives were divided a little more evenly between Lulu and Pele. A huge chunk in the first part of the book is dedicated to Pilar, then we get no chapters from her perspective in the last 25% or so. I think more stories about Pilar’s experience after José Alfredo left would have fleshed out the character a little bit more. Also, the mystery of the old woman felt a little bit unfinished. I think the book is supposed to read slice of life, so not all ends were tied up by the end and that’s ok. But I didn’t really feel like “the curse” was a central part of the story, though the book summary made it out to be. I did really enjoy the details about La Ciénaga and the culture of the 90s on the America/Mexico border. Overall really strong writing and I will read more Fuentes in the future!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia
Minor: Racism, Vomit
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
had cool elements but didnt go anywhere :( also ends super abruptly
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting topic, unique setting for me, pretty writing. However, I struggled with the Spanish (most not translated). I liked how the 1990s rationality was contrasted with the 1950s superstition because otherwise the superstition would have felt silly. There wasn’t really a conclusion or wrap up, the story just ends, which felt anti-climactic.
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
Aside from the plot, the cultural significance in this book is outstanding and brilliant. Marcela digs into the struggles of the Chicano community during the segregation era of the late 50s/60s. That, on top of using iconic figures like Selena. I love how mixes in all of these things into her beautiful story-telling.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
emotional
fast-paced