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nestofwordsandblankets's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised by how this book navigates family dynamics, culture, colonialism, and internal conflict. Set in New York during the early 90s through the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Xochitl Gonzalez did not go for the cheap grabs that many...not just Puerto Ricans...faced during this period. This book dares to look deeper into the relationship with Puerto Rico and its tumultuous history with the USA.
How do you strive for the "American dream", support change, and continue to support the traditions of the previous generation?
Olga Dies Dreaming is a medium-paced, character-driven narrative. The plot points in the story were interesting, but there were some questionable gaps that didn't distract me. While the end felt a bit rushed, the characters showed growth throughout the narrative and the conclusion felt satisfying. The colloquialisms throughout the book were not distracting at all and brought a familiar sense of community to the narrative.
Recommendation to review trigger warnings.
How do you strive for the "American dream", support change, and continue to support the traditions of the previous generation?
Olga Dies Dreaming is a medium-paced, character-driven narrative. The plot points in the story were interesting, but there were some questionable gaps that didn't distract me. While the end felt a bit rushed, the characters showed growth throughout the narrative and the conclusion felt satisfying. The colloquialisms throughout the book were not distracting at all and brought a familiar sense of community to the narrative.
Recommendation to review trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Suicide
korinnagarcia's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
Let me start this by saying that I very much enjoyed this book. As a second generation Mexican American, I related a lot to Olga and Prieto. Their struggle of feeling like they weren’t American enough or Puerto Rican enough and that both sides made them feel less than is something I think a lot of us deal with. I think this book can appeal to a lot of different people…there’s plot lines tackling subjects that range from loss, abandonment, identity and trauma to capitalism, elitism, privilege, corruption and radical revolution.
The book was a tad slow at first and was then jam packed at the end. The jump forward in time with a few lines about where everyone ended up felt very rushed but everything was wrapped up and it ended without any lingering questions. For this being the author’s debut novel, it was very ambitious and overall, it paid off.
Now for a bit of a rant about the mother, Blanca. It’s been a while since a literary character has made me so viscerally angry. Being a mother doesn’t justify manipulating your children when they don’t follow the life path you see fit, I’m sorry but you lost that “privilege” when you abandoned your children. Blanca had no right and all of the audacity! To abandon your children and then emotionally manipulate them by sending them insufferable letters throughout their lives, essentially scolding them for not being the “right kind of Puerto Rican”. I was enraged! I understand that she felt her life had more purpose and meaning and she never wanted to be a mother. I can even respect that she wanted to fight for her people and create real change in Puerto Rico… but then just do that lol stop dragging your poor children into it when you selfishly see fit. You can’t say you gave up your family for the greater good of Puerto Rico and to liberate the oppressed and then oppress your own children.
Now for a bit of a rant about the mother, Blanca. It’s been a while since a literary character has made me so viscerally angry. Being a mother doesn’t justify manipulating your children when they don’t follow the life path you see fit, I’m sorry but you lost that “privilege” when you abandoned your children. Blanca had no right and all of the audacity! To abandon your children and then emotionally manipulate them by sending them insufferable letters throughout their lives, essentially scolding them for not being the “right kind of Puerto Rican”. I was enraged! I understand that she felt her life had more purpose and meaning and she never wanted to be a mother. I can even respect that she wanted to fight for her people and create real change in Puerto Rico… but then just do that lol stop dragging your poor children into it when you selfishly see fit. You can’t say you gave up your family for the greater good of Puerto Rico and to liberate the oppressed and then oppress your own children.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Abandonment, and Homophobia
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Drug use, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Abortion, Sexism, and Stalking
cassielaj's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Drug use, Homophobia, Grief, Racism, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Classism, Colonisation, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Outing
Minor: Genocide
mfallon3491's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Colonisation, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
xolobooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Colonisation, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Homophobia
Moderate: Rape, Alcoholism, and Infidelity
Minor: Abortion and Infertility
erinakeller's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, and Rape
mymosstx's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Outing, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
Minor: Abortion and Infertility
onmalsshelf's review
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As always, please look to own voices reviews first.
Great premise, but I almost feel like so much was introduced throughout that the author had to rush to tie things up at the end. It dragged a bit in the middle and I found myself not wanting to pick it back up either on audio or physically. However, I am glad I picked it up as I think this topic is one that needs to be talked about in various forms and hasn’t been talked about enough in many areas in the United States.
Also - why do white men named Richard ruin everything?
Great premise, but I almost feel like so much was introduced throughout that the author had to rush to tie things up at the end. It dragged a bit in the middle and I found myself not wanting to pick it back up either on audio or physically. However, I am glad I picked it up as I think this topic is one that needs to be talked about in various forms and hasn’t been talked about enough in many areas in the United States.
Also - why do white men named Richard ruin everything?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Colonisation, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, and Racism
Moderate: Abortion and Rape
redwrapped's review
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
This is one of the books that I can see being touted as a strong contender for awards honoring the American experience and for best debut novel, and rightfully so, due to the breadth of unflinching honesty woven throughout Olga Dies Dreaming.
Olga Acevedo is an American woman facing the internal struggle that so many feel, to be seen as she sees herself, yet Olga isn't necessarily sure of who she is or to whom her loyalty is strongest. She has lived her entire life in Brooklyn and feels American, but her family hails from Puerto Rico. She feels alienated by the rich, white WASP clientele she serves as an elite wedding planner, and is crucially separated by distance and emotional warmth toward her mother.
Her mother, Blanca, left Olga, her brother Prieto, and their father behind in Brooklyn to try to embolden and free Puerto Rico from the United States through revolutionary action, becoming a fugitive for terroristic ties and disappearing entirely except for barbed, critical letters sent to her family members, guiding them what to do. Blanca's dedication to the cause is stronger than to her children or her marriage.
The theme circulates around love and all the complexities of it: love for your country, love for family, love for life, and love for someone new. Despite how heavy and political it can be, the tone is never cynical, but made up of hope and resilience, and that adds a tender sort of strength to each of the love stories in here.
While reading this, I was compelled to read about the history of Puerto Rican resistance and mainland America's lack of aid or respect toward the archipelago. My viewpoint toward statehood or the United States relinquishing control over Puerto Rico has been altered, due to the compelling argument in this book and for the fact it drove me to independently research the toll and fundamental inadequacies that Puerto Rico faces due to its indeterminate status as a territory and not as a state with the level of protective measures for emergency aid as another state would have, usage of natural resources for electricity, etc.
Thanks to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Olga Acevedo is an American woman facing the internal struggle that so many feel, to be seen as she sees herself, yet Olga isn't necessarily sure of who she is or to whom her loyalty is strongest. She has lived her entire life in Brooklyn and feels American, but her family hails from Puerto Rico. She feels alienated by the rich, white WASP clientele she serves as an elite wedding planner, and is crucially separated by distance and emotional warmth toward her mother.
Her mother, Blanca, left Olga, her brother Prieto, and their father behind in Brooklyn to try to embolden and free Puerto Rico from the United States through revolutionary action, becoming a fugitive for terroristic ties and disappearing entirely except for barbed, critical letters sent to her family members, guiding them what to do. Blanca's dedication to the cause is stronger than to her children or her marriage.
The theme circulates around love and all the complexities of it: love for your country, love for family, love for life, and love for someone new. Despite how heavy and political it can be, the tone is never cynical, but made up of hope and resilience, and that adds a tender sort of strength to each of the love stories in here.
While reading this, I was compelled to read about the history of Puerto Rican resistance and mainland America's lack of aid or respect toward the archipelago. My viewpoint toward statehood or the United States relinquishing control over Puerto Rico has been altered, due to the compelling argument in this book and for the fact it drove me to independently research the toll and fundamental inadequacies that Puerto Rico faces due to its indeterminate status as a territory and not as a state with the level of protective measures for emergency aid as another state would have, usage of natural resources for electricity, etc.
Thanks to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Cancer, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Homophobia, Gaslighting, and Drug abuse
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