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lurdesabruscato's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, totally delightful! Both lush and spiritual, earthy and exotic, this story of an unusual family in turn-of-the-century Mexico, was unlike anything I'd ever read. It's hard to categorize a story about
the making of a Mexican saint, but I was enthralled the whole way. Thank you to book club buddy Debbie for the recommendation ... I'll definitely pay it forward to others!
the making of a Mexican saint, but I was enthralled the whole way. Thank you to book club buddy Debbie for the recommendation ... I'll definitely pay it forward to others!
rmuthiah's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book! Not quite as surreal as Garcia Marquez, but in that vein.
audaciaray's review against another edition
3.0
I really loved the first two-thirds of the book and then it just really went off the rails for me after Teresa gets raped, dies, and becomes a saint.
arielamandah's review against another edition
4.0
Urrea is a wonderful writer. He has a tremendous way of melding humor, story, and character. Definitely enjoyed this one, but it didn’t knock me off my feet. Come for the premise and the writing, stay for the hilarious quarrels.
cahistorygeek's review against another edition
4.0
I think I wanted to like this book more than I liked it. I'd learned about Teresa Urrea when I was in college and I never forgot her name or her story. When I heard there was a novel about her life I was so excited to read it. I was even more excited when I heard it was done by Luis Urrea- an author who is not only related to her but also wrote Into the Beautiful North, which I recently read and loved.
While I appreciated the humor of the book the first half was a bit too flippant and silly for me. I liked the story when she was coming of age but the part that followed her child hood was less than captivating. I almost didn't stick with it- which is sad because it really turned around half way through.
But by the end of the book I really wanted to see what would happen next, which is why I'm glad the sequel- Queen of America- exists. Some of the phrasing in this work is beautiful- I especially liked the descriptions of the desert. It made me really curious about the actual woman- and made me wish that I could see all the amazing materials that he had access too. I'm hoping that the next work is better than this one because I can't wait to hear more about Teresita.
While I appreciated the humor of the book the first half was a bit too flippant and silly for me. I liked the story when she was coming of age but the part that followed her child hood was less than captivating. I almost didn't stick with it- which is sad because it really turned around half way through.
But by the end of the book I really wanted to see what would happen next, which is why I'm glad the sequel- Queen of America- exists. Some of the phrasing in this work is beautiful- I especially liked the descriptions of the desert. It made me really curious about the actual woman- and made me wish that I could see all the amazing materials that he had access too. I'm hoping that the next work is better than this one because I can't wait to hear more about Teresita.
susanbrooks's review against another edition
3.0
Slow starting book. I did get into it but remained confused throughout about keeping track of characters and political events.
I enjoyed the book in a "let it wash over me" kind of way, knowing I was not grasping all of the details.
I wanted to find out what happened to the main character,
and only read in the afterward that the book was based a real person.
I enjoyed the book in a "let it wash over me" kind of way, knowing I was not grasping all of the details.
I wanted to find out what happened to the main character,
and only read in the afterward that the book was based a real person.
lchamberlin97's review against another edition
4.0
I managed to read this book with either never reading the reviews/summaries in depth. This was pretty refreshing. It also meant that I really didn't know what I was getting myself into/where any of the plot was going - it all felt pretty disconnected and...wandering (not in the least because sometimes the people were literally wandering), between Teresita's early life and stuff with Tomas and Teresita's sainthood and...so many things. So expansive, both in time and mood.
But...I didn't really mind, for the most part. I will say this: I only read it when I was going on some sort of trip and I wanted to read just from my Kindle, so I read it in patches. Each patch pulled me in with something different. If I had to pick something, though, that kept me intrigued overall, I have to go with Urrea's writing. He's got this mix of satire, beautiful description, and genuineness that makes even the weirdest part of the plot seem interesting.
I wasn't so interested in her interactions with God. Sorry. I loved Teresita when she was younger because she was so real and charismatic and cute. I loved Tomas despite all of his infidelity. I loved everything about Huila. Once that was over, I was significantly less enthusiastic, yet the latter part was what it all was leading up to, right, so I felt some obligation to stick around. I'm glad I finished.
I think what the reviews say about Urrea's 20 years of research and writing are TOTALLY valid: he did a pretty kickass job with this story - with patching together her strange life and making it into this novel. I feel like I learned a lot about Mexico during that time period. I loved the Spanish sprinkled in.
In summary: I really respect this book. It might not have ranked 5 stars for me, but definitely worth it to read!
But...I didn't really mind, for the most part. I will say this: I only read it when I was going on some sort of trip and I wanted to read just from my Kindle, so I read it in patches. Each patch pulled me in with something different. If I had to pick something, though, that kept me intrigued overall, I have to go with Urrea's writing. He's got this mix of satire, beautiful description, and genuineness that makes even the weirdest part of the plot seem interesting.
I wasn't so interested in her interactions with God. Sorry. I loved Teresita when she was younger because she was so real and charismatic and cute. I loved Tomas despite all of his infidelity. I loved everything about Huila. Once that was over, I was significantly less enthusiastic, yet the latter part was what it all was leading up to, right, so I felt some obligation to stick around. I'm glad I finished.
I think what the reviews say about Urrea's 20 years of research and writing are TOTALLY valid: he did a pretty kickass job with this story - with patching together her strange life and making it into this novel. I feel like I learned a lot about Mexico during that time period. I loved the Spanish sprinkled in.
In summary: I really respect this book. It might not have ranked 5 stars for me, but definitely worth it to read!
mrspdb's review against another edition
4.0
The lists in this book charmed me. Lists of food that made me hungry, lists of plants that made me miss the desert. The depiction of the desert reminded me why I find it so beautiful. Incredible writing.
emmamgregory's review against another edition
4.0
This stunning historical novel is based around Terresita, a young lady who has almost magical healing properties. The Hummingbird's daughter is set in 1880's in the deserts of Mexico, where Indians, politicians and Mexicans all have different opinions on how Terresita with her mystical powers should be treated. I loved the almost fantastical way the novel was written and if it wasn't translated from Spanish to English with long sentences left in Spanish it would of deserved 5 stars.
lizaroo71's review against another edition
4.0
this book is the story of teresa - a healer. the story is set in the countryside of mexico. teresa's mother abandons her when she's two. teresa is then adopted by her town's healer and thus begins her calling in life.