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theseasoul's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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
3.5
|| 3.5/5 stars ||
My oh my what a beautiful book this was.
If you’re looking for a story with a fast-paced plot, this isn’t the one for you. It unfolds its treasures very slowly (almost too slowly at times), and the plot isn’t as prominent as the prolonged imageries of nature, the characters themselves, and the descriptions of their day-to-day. I found it difficult at times to figure out who’s perspective we were hearing from in each chapter, as it wasn’t always immediately clear (it was especially confusing before getting well acquainted with the various characters). I was left with a few questions upon finishing this book; but something tells me they are left unanswered for a reason, and the ending is beautiful and satisfying all the same.
These pages gently and delicately immerse you in a world of magic and nature and emotions and culture and relationships—gently and slowly, yes, but in a way that will leave you knowing these characters intimately and remembering their souls long after you’ve placed the book back on your shelf. I think my mind will linger in this world for a while.
My oh my what a beautiful book this was.
If you’re looking for a story with a fast-paced plot, this isn’t the one for you. It unfolds its treasures very slowly (almost too slowly at times), and the plot isn’t as prominent as the prolonged imageries of nature, the characters themselves, and the descriptions of their day-to-day. I found it difficult at times to figure out who’s perspective we were hearing from in each chapter, as it wasn’t always immediately clear (it was especially confusing before getting well acquainted with the various characters). I was left with a few questions upon finishing this book; but something tells me they are left unanswered for a reason, and the ending is beautiful and satisfying all the same.
These pages gently and delicately immerse you in a world of magic and nature and emotions and culture and relationships—gently and slowly, yes, but in a way that will leave you knowing these characters intimately and remembering their souls long after you’ve placed the book back on your shelf. I think my mind will linger in this world for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Blood, and Death
carolinacortez's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"Mis recuerdos, mis impresiones vienen conmigo. Mi realidad, no se si la tuya, va conmigo a dondequiera que yo vaya y deja atrás la capacidad de reinventarse, de desarrollarse"
Se que me tarde un montón en leer este libro, pero la verdad lo ameritaba, la pluma de Sofía es preciosa y te encierra en la historia que te está contando super facil, me tarde por que es una historia que necesita que la estés digiriendo, que no te apresures a leerla, que entiendas lo que te esta contando y que vivas a través de las páginas la historia de Simonopio y Francisco, que entiendas que te está contando no sólo la vida de un undividuo (el narrador), si no de una familia completa, e incluso de una región.
Al principio me costó agarrarle la onda a la cantidad de nombres y el como están relacionados entre si, pero con el paso de las páginas te acostumbras y le agarras el sentido.
"El tiempo es un amo cruel y caprichoso, pues cuanto más lo deseas, más rápido se esfuma y viceversa: cuanto más quisieras escabullirse de él , más inmóvil parece."
Pd. tengo que admitir que si me emociono mucho el hecho de que la historia transcurra en Linares y que Monterrey también tenga sus menciones estelares.
PD2. si lo leen prepárense para llorar, mucho.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual harassment, Murder, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and War
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Colonisation, Vomit, Child death, and Medical content
haleymaple's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Beautifully written but felt way too long, like entire chapters could be cut. The family was wonderfully developed albeit slowly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
elliereadsthings's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
As many before have said, having read the English translated version, I can only imagine the amount of magic in the original Spanish. It was translated so well - including the Spanish titles (e.g. Nana, Sra., Sr.) and the occasional Spanish word helped keep me immersed in the location.
I will say, the one dislike I have - or rather had - was the first (and maybe second) POV change at the beginning of the book (the ones in first person). Once you go through a couple of them and you start to learn who this narrator is, they’re much less abrupt and much more welcomed. The first one definitely unimmersed me but because it’s so early in the book it didn’t divert me from continuing. And, as you can probably guess, I’m glad I did.
I will say, the one dislike I have - or rather had - was the first (and maybe second) POV change at the beginning of the book (the ones in first person). Once you go through a couple of them and you start to learn who this narrator is, they’re much less abrupt and much more welcomed. The first one definitely unimmersed me but because it’s so early in the book it didn’t divert me from continuing. And, as you can probably guess, I’m glad I did.
If you are reading this book, stuck in the first couple chapters, I URGE you to keep reading.
“-and the house left its own echos in me. I carry them inside me still. I’m certain I carry my mama and papa in my cells, but also the lavender, the orange blossoms, my mother’s sheets, my grandmother’s calculated footsteps, the toasted pecans, the clunk of the treacherous tile, the sugar caramelizing, the cajeta, the mad cicadas, the smells of old wood, and the polished clay floors. I’m also made of oranges—green, sweet, or rotten; of orange-blossom honey and royal jelly. I’m made of everything that touched my senses during that time and entered the part of my brain where I keep my memories.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Murder, Ableism, Abandonment, and Bullying
atamano's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment and Blood
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