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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
Some short stories were enjoyable but it’s hard for me to be invested in short stories that do not interconnect
AHHHHHH ok it took me so long to get through just bc the 2nd story was super flat to me and also Susto as well but wow all praise . The last story hit close to home…a little too much for comfort. Beautiful and love gay latine authors ! Long live QUEER LATINE AUTHORS
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This collection of short stories is everything I wanted. The stories themselves are very simple but the way he can weave a story together in a short story is impressive. I was attached to almost all the stories in the few pages they each got. Bonus that I grew up in Fresno so I had that connection.
My favorite stories were the first and last.
My favorite stories were the first and last.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I didn’t hate it, but it felt more forgettable than I expected from these short stories. It didn’t twist my stomach in knots, leaving me with weight and questions for days to come. It felt like eating oatmeal for breakfast, not bad but not something I’m jumping over tables to recommend.
My boyfriend said that this cover looked like one of Cupcakke’s album covers. Anyway, this was mid and a lot of the stories just felt unfinished.
I would like to revisit this collection. The general vibe of the book just isn't working for me right now.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you are following my reviews, it will come as no surprise that I read this one as I had the chance to see Manuel Munoz at the 2023 Santa Fe International Literary Festival. I was not familiar with him, and only peripherally aware of this book (it had some buzz in my literary social media circles), but I was excited to see an LGBTQ author at this year's festival. One thing of about attending the festival and then reading the books by the author's I had seen, particularly ones that I was not familiar with before the festival, I have been really struck by how much of the author's personality and temperament come through in their writing. I know this should be no surprise, but spending a weekend listening to a bunch of authors it's something I now kind of notice.
So anyhow, Munoz was quiet, reflective, modest, humble, and charming and that is certainly the tone of this short story collection, primarily taking place in the California's Central Valley - Munoz's early stomping grounds. The stories are often about immigrant farm workers, both "legal" and not, but a theme more of family and relationships and struggles. There are also several stories about Mexican American gay men, which felt like a fresh perspective to me and one that Munoz can speak to. As I said above, they are quiet and reflective -- so there is not a bit or flashy WOW! factor or some shocking twists and turns, but just slices of life -- with the WOW! factor being Munoz's stellar prose and ability to create characters and settings that feel very authentic.
There were some connections/ties between the stories, once I realized so I'm guessing there were probably even more, but that's never my super-strong point/skill in this type of situation. But two stories that are very much connected really was a nice surprise and made me yearn for a full novel telling more of that particular story from its various perspectives.
As is my experience with most short story collections, some work better than others but again there is no denying Munoz's skill and empathy and, once again, I am glad to have "discovered" him at this year's festival.
So anyhow, Munoz was quiet, reflective, modest, humble, and charming and that is certainly the tone of this short story collection, primarily taking place in the California's Central Valley - Munoz's early stomping grounds. The stories are often about immigrant farm workers, both "legal" and not, but a theme more of family and relationships and struggles. There are also several stories about Mexican American gay men, which felt like a fresh perspective to me and one that Munoz can speak to. As I said above, they are quiet and reflective -- so there is not a bit or flashy WOW! factor or some shocking twists and turns, but just slices of life -- with the WOW! factor being Munoz's stellar prose and ability to create characters and settings that feel very authentic.
There were some connections/ties between the stories, once I realized so I'm guessing there were probably even more, but that's never my super-strong point/skill in this type of situation. But two stories that are very much connected really was a nice surprise and made me yearn for a full novel telling more of that particular story from its various perspectives.
As is my experience with most short story collections, some work better than others but again there is no denying Munoz's skill and empathy and, once again, I am glad to have "discovered" him at this year's festival.