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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
4/5 ⭐️
My Name is Iris is a beautiful tale of what it is like to be an immigrant in the United States recently. I would categorize this as literary fiction because of its heavy message, but it is done by taking a dystopian type of element with the Band. The Band starts off sort of like an Apple Watch but it has everything on it. All your IDs and important information and you can pay through it, but you can only get it if your parents were born in America too. Making even the main character, who’s grown up being told she is an American because she is born here, now is target for possible detainment. But it also beautifully shares what everyday life is like in the real world for someone of color in the US. And this author does it by incorporating this sort of gothic element with the main character being the only one to see the wall growing in front of her house. It reminded me of The Room With the Yellow Wallpaper. Only here, it is more linked to her identity.
There’s so much more I could say about this book, but I’m just going to say everyone should read. This was a short, but heavy book that I think should be read by all to help to understand a little better what life is like for a big portion of our country.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and TLC Book Tours for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
My Name is Iris is a beautiful tale of what it is like to be an immigrant in the United States recently. I would categorize this as literary fiction because of its heavy message, but it is done by taking a dystopian type of element with the Band. The Band starts off sort of like an Apple Watch but it has everything on it. All your IDs and important information and you can pay through it, but you can only get it if your parents were born in America too. Making even the main character, who’s grown up being told she is an American because she is born here, now is target for possible detainment. But it also beautifully shares what everyday life is like in the real world for someone of color in the US. And this author does it by incorporating this sort of gothic element with the main character being the only one to see the wall growing in front of her house. It reminded me of The Room With the Yellow Wallpaper. Only here, it is more linked to her identity.
There’s so much more I could say about this book, but I’m just going to say everyone should read. This was a short, but heavy book that I think should be read by all to help to understand a little better what life is like for a big portion of our country.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and TLC Book Tours for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- You were born here! It is something you can never lose. Don't forget that.
- Growing up, Dolores asked me, over and over "what are the rules to live in America?" I didn't understand why, but I knew the answer well: Speak English in front of strangers. No Spanish anywhere outside the house.
- Sex with Richard felt akin to leaving a copy of myself behind with him. I didn't want to have that experience of loss too many more times.
- I don't live for my daughter. I live to never let her doubt for a moment that she is loved and she can be fearless.
- "Aren't both your parents Mexicans?" I knew Kevin was - he couldn't pass for anything but - yet wasn't sure about Cynthia. Alex said "They are". But they don't mean US". "Which us?" I don't understand.
- - "You enjoyed college?" she asked me, "You can thank me as a taxpayer who helped pay for your education. No offense". "oh" I said again. What I thought was I went to a private school on a scholarship and I owe you nothing.
- I thought these men had strong opinions, when in fact they were simply opinionated - They couldn't be moved.
- The country and state flags were at half-staff again because of a new mass shooting, but I didn't remember which one. I couldn't keep track of when the mourning period of one calamity ended and a new tragedy's grief began. It was easier to lower a flag than imagine a screaming child's last breath. I had much less trouble imagining it.
- A year into my employment, I learned I made 35% less than my white male counterparts. 5 years and a promotion later, I made 50% less.
- Brenda saved me from becoming someone who would stand out, a person who would call attention to themselves. I nourished this idea like a flame, retreating further into myself and my books.
- You're safe here, just as long as you blend in, nice and easy.
- Finally, someone who will love our unlovable, unlikeable, always complaining, impossible to please daughter.
- The quiet in the wall's shadow was peaceful, not the way I experienced "quiet" growing up in my neighborhood. There, quiet was noisy, too.
- Perhaps my father's apathy was the secret to happiness.
- When an African American family with three teenagers toured the house, she asked Todd's husband to put the Mexican dance party standard "La Chona" on repeat, loud. "They never came back", Rebekah said, "So I guess blacks must have some unresolved cultural issues with us, too, right? You can't teach bad people how to make good decisions".
- A small Italian town on the shore of Lake Como. Layered into the valley of a steep mountain, the town's residents get no direct sun for five months and are known by locals in neighboring towns as "shadow crazy".
- "Iris, huh?" Lena said. "I love your name" wow, I thought. Radiant. "We're gonna be friends" Lena said "But you need to pale up"
- You are beyond medium, not not native. Espresso, maybe. We want you a shade like exotic.
- The unbranded, these voices clarified, were different from the bandless, law-abiding whites who could get a band but chose not to surrender their freedom to the government.
- "You and Alex voted for this shiut, didn't you?" It wasn't about me, I thought. The names were never supposed to be about me.
- Sometimes losing a battle you find a new way to win the war.
- Growing up, Dolores asked me, over and over "what are the rules to live in America?" I didn't understand why, but I knew the answer well: Speak English in front of strangers. No Spanish anywhere outside the house.
- Sex with Richard felt akin to leaving a copy of myself behind with him. I didn't want to have that experience of loss too many more times.
- I don't live for my daughter. I live to never let her doubt for a moment that she is loved and she can be fearless.
- "Aren't both your parents Mexicans?" I knew Kevin was - he couldn't pass for anything but - yet wasn't sure about Cynthia. Alex said "They are". But they don't mean US". "Which us?" I don't understand.
- - "You enjoyed college?" she asked me, "You can thank me as a taxpayer who helped pay for your education. No offense". "oh" I said again. What I thought was I went to a private school on a scholarship and I owe you nothing.
- I thought these men had strong opinions, when in fact they were simply opinionated - They couldn't be moved.
- The country and state flags were at half-staff again because of a new mass shooting, but I didn't remember which one. I couldn't keep track of when the mourning period of one calamity ended and a new tragedy's grief began. It was easier to lower a flag than imagine a screaming child's last breath. I had much less trouble imagining it.
- A year into my employment, I learned I made 35% less than my white male counterparts. 5 years and a promotion later, I made 50% less.
- Brenda saved me from becoming someone who would stand out, a person who would call attention to themselves. I nourished this idea like a flame, retreating further into myself and my books.
- You're safe here, just as long as you blend in, nice and easy.
- Finally, someone who will love our unlovable, unlikeable, always complaining, impossible to please daughter.
- The quiet in the wall's shadow was peaceful, not the way I experienced "quiet" growing up in my neighborhood. There, quiet was noisy, too.
- Perhaps my father's apathy was the secret to happiness.
- When an African American family with three teenagers toured the house, she asked Todd's husband to put the Mexican dance party standard "La Chona" on repeat, loud. "They never came back", Rebekah said, "So I guess blacks must have some unresolved cultural issues with us, too, right? You can't teach bad people how to make good decisions".
- A small Italian town on the shore of Lake Como. Layered into the valley of a steep mountain, the town's residents get no direct sun for five months and are known by locals in neighboring towns as "shadow crazy".
- "Iris, huh?" Lena said. "I love your name" wow, I thought. Radiant. "We're gonna be friends" Lena said "But you need to pale up"
- You are beyond medium, not not native. Espresso, maybe. We want you a shade like exotic.
- The unbranded, these voices clarified, were different from the bandless, law-abiding whites who could get a band but chose not to surrender their freedom to the government.
- "You and Alex voted for this shiut, didn't you?" It wasn't about me, I thought. The names were never supposed to be about me.
- Sometimes losing a battle you find a new way to win the war.
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have too many conflicting thoughts about this one.
It’s GREAT. It’s terrible.
It’s heartbreaking. It’s boring.
Every character is like nails on a chalkboard. Every character is REAL.
It’s absurd. It’s RELEVANT!
It’s GREAT. It’s terrible.
It’s heartbreaking. It’s boring.
Every character is like nails on a chalkboard. Every character is REAL.
It’s absurd. It’s RELEVANT!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Deportation
Iris is starting a new life. Recently divorced with a nine year old daughter Melanie, she is finally settling in. She has a new home and is looking forward to enjoying things she has always wanted to take part in. But one morning she awakens to find a wall has appeared in her front yard seemingly overnight. She can see it, as can her daughter, but no one else seems to notice it or tell her where it is from. And even stranger, the wall seems to be getting higher each day.
At the same time, something called "the Band" is becoming quite popular. This high-tech bracelet promises to change people's lives by becoming a seamless part of their day to day: no need for IDs, credit cards, or anything else. "The Band" will keep everything right there for the wearer. But if you want one, you have to prove that your parents are US citizens, and Iris is a second-generation Mexican-American. Her parents never became citizens. "The Band" starts to exacerbate the fear and racism taking over the country as people start to see it as a way to isolate and intimidate all under the guise of "keeping us safe."
How did I miss this book when it first came out? This near-future work of speculative fiction really struck a chord with me. It puts a spotlight on issues like immigration, sexism, racism, and xenophobia through an incredibly original storyline. Skyhorse perfectly captures the way that fear of "the other" can be used by organizations to create distrust amongst people in their own communities. I could truly feel the anger welling up inside of me as I read this because I recognize these tactics being used today, especially against those of Mexican descent. This book will open your eyes to how our own complacency, lack of critical thinking, and unconscious biases are taking us down a very dark path.
At the same time, something called "the Band" is becoming quite popular. This high-tech bracelet promises to change people's lives by becoming a seamless part of their day to day: no need for IDs, credit cards, or anything else. "The Band" will keep everything right there for the wearer. But if you want one, you have to prove that your parents are US citizens, and Iris is a second-generation Mexican-American. Her parents never became citizens. "The Band" starts to exacerbate the fear and racism taking over the country as people start to see it as a way to isolate and intimidate all under the guise of "keeping us safe."
How did I miss this book when it first came out? This near-future work of speculative fiction really struck a chord with me. It puts a spotlight on issues like immigration, sexism, racism, and xenophobia through an incredibly original storyline. Skyhorse perfectly captures the way that fear of "the other" can be used by organizations to create distrust amongst people in their own communities. I could truly feel the anger welling up inside of me as I read this because I recognize these tactics being used today, especially against those of Mexican descent. This book will open your eyes to how our own complacency, lack of critical thinking, and unconscious biases are taking us down a very dark path.
I found this short novel a real page turner. It involves a bit of magical realism coupled with a bit of thriller elements mixed in. This story is about Iris (Ines) who desperately wants to fit into American society, despite her parents being born in Mexico. America is now a bit of a dystopian society where all Americans in the state of California need to wear bands as a form of id, and that band can be used as a driver's license as well as to get into bars and restaurants. Without a band, you could possibly lose your job and your neighbors may become suspicious of you.
However, Iris has trouble obtaining one because her parents weren't born in America (but she was). Various topics such as racism, immigration, and assimilation, are woven in throughout. This is a book I heartily wish to discuss with others, for despite its short length, it is packed with various discussion pieces.
Nevertheless, there were a few flaws throughout that I imagine is why some people gave a lower rating for this novel. One being the author uses Spanish in parts and sometimes does not translate them. I was ok with this aspect because it was showing bilingualism and I felt enough was told or shown where I could ascertain what was going on.
Additionally, the ending felt abrupt and incomplete. It was going so well up until the last chapter and then I was left a touch confused and unsure on what actually happened. I felt the author needed to describe a bit more details for me to be more satisfied in the ending.
Overall though, I greatly enjoyed this novel and found it chilling in parts because I imagined with a few choices, America may not be that far off from this version of dystopia.
However, Iris has trouble obtaining one because her parents weren't born in America (but she was). Various topics such as racism, immigration, and assimilation, are woven in throughout. This is a book I heartily wish to discuss with others, for despite its short length, it is packed with various discussion pieces.
Nevertheless, there were a few flaws throughout that I imagine is why some people gave a lower rating for this novel. One being the author uses Spanish in parts and sometimes does not translate them. I was ok with this aspect because it was showing bilingualism and I felt enough was told or shown where I could ascertain what was going on.
Additionally, the ending felt abrupt and incomplete. It was going so well up until the last chapter and then I was left a touch confused and unsure on what actually happened. I felt the author needed to describe a bit more details for me to be more satisfied in the ending.
Overall though, I greatly enjoyed this novel and found it chilling in parts because I imagined with a few choices, America may not be that far off from this version of dystopia.
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Amazing book. Thought provoking and sad. Science fiction or is it?
