Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capó Crucet

1 review

thecriticalreader's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Review:

When I heard the premise of Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capó Crucet, I knew I would be absolutely devastated if the book— which follows a failed Pitbull impersonator named Ismael (“Izzy”) who finds himself mysteriously connected with a captive orca named Lolita in his pursuit to become the next Tony Montana from Scarface—failed to live up to its glorious premise. I love Moby-Dick; I love Scarface; I’m passionately devoted to the cause of ending cetacean captivity, and I appreciate books that push the envelope of form and genre. I picked up this book with both hope and trepidation.

 

Say Hello to My Little Friend is an irreverently reverent, fourth-wall-breaking, genre-defying novel that wears its intertextuality on its sleeve. Capó Crucet mimics Herman Melville’s peripatetic approach in Moby-Dick to explore topics such as Miami car culture, Florida birds, global warming, and, of course, the rap star Pitbull. Many of the places and characters mentioned are real, blurring the line between fiction and nonfiction. The author’s staunch refusal to abide by expectations (whatever those may be) makes Say Hello to My Little Friend a lively and insightful book that demonstrates a keen awareness of Miamian and Cuban culture, media depictions of said Miamian and Cuban culture, the evils of cetacean captivity, and the loomings of the past and future on the present.

 

Somewhat less compelling is the central narrative undergirding the novel, which is that of Izzy’s quest to become the next Tony Montana. Izzy’s immense obtuseness makes him a frustrating protagonist to follow, and somehow the story of his search for truths about his past is somehow the least believable part of a novel that features a telepathic orca. Ironically, his character ends up acting more like a metaphor than Lolita. Despite these hang-ups, however, the novel ends with a shocking yet fitting conclusion that sees Lolita and Izzy destiny’s intertwine. 

 

TL;DR: Say Hello to My Little Friend may not be the twenty-first-century Moby-Dick, but it's worth checking out for its inventiveness and heart.

 

The Run-Down: 

You might like Say Hello to My Little Friend if . . .

·      You like experimental, meta, fourth-wall-breaking fiction

·      You are interested in a book that explores modern-day Cuban-American identity in Miami

·      You are a fan of Moby-Dick and Scarface

 

You might not like Say Hello to My Little Friend if . . .

·      You want to fight anyone who insinuates that Pitbull songs aren’t peak musical art

·      You have never seen the movie Scarface (Moby-Dick is not required reading to appreciate Say Hello to My Little Friend, but Scarface is pretty much required viewing)

·      You dislike magical realism

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Animal death, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Stalking, Classism, Racism, and Alcohol

Minor: Deportation, Drug use, and Gun violence

Further Content Warnings: Climate Change