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asulyi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Emotional abuse
moon_peach's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This story uses multiple perspectives through different characters. All the Marte women have suffered some trauma in different forms.
Something to note is we aren't necessarily given a resolution to any of their trauma, however it (mostly) ends hopeful for most of them if not bittersweet.
Something to note is we aren't necessarily given a resolution to any of their trauma, however it (mostly) ends hopeful for most of them if not bittersweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Infertility, Miscarriage, Mental illness, and Infidelity
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
emotional
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Infertility, Grief, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content
snackykennedy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Death, Infidelity, and Infertility
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
cupajo's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Infertility, and Sexual content
jeimy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is truly one of the best books I’ve ever read. I felt so affirmed as a Dominican-American, so seen. The prose is so beautiful and descriptive. I think anyone interested in immigrant, family dynamics and learning the power of women and sisters would enjoy it. At the end of the book, I felt as though I knew the characters, as though they were my own family. I will definitely be re-reading this via audiobook.
My one piece of feedback is thatI thought it could have had a slightly stronger ending. Maybe the impact flew over my head but the last sentence could have been more powerful. For that I would give it a 4.90 stars in my personal records, haha.
My one piece of feedback is that
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, and Death
mugsandmanuscripts'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
TLDR: This a poignant novel and skillful writing even if it isn't really my cup of tea.
Family Lore is the story of 6 Dominican women—sisters Matilde, Flor, Pastora, and Camila, and Ona and Yadi, the daughters of Flor and Pastora. Acevado creates a character- and relationship-driven narrative that explores family ties, inner struggles, relational and familial tension, sexuality, and especially love in its many forms. This is not a light read, although it is beautiful.
Spanning multiple points of view and sometimes overlapping timelines, Family Lore takes place in the few weeks between Flor's dream about her death and her living wake. Her decision to call this gathering together makes everyone nervous, as Flor has a gift (or a curse) for foreseeing how and when people die in her dreams. She stays mum on the date and way of her passing, but everyone knows something is up.
With that as the backdrop, Acevedo takes us on a journey through both the present struggles of the sisters and daughters as well as an examination of their past. Ona is an anthropologist and takes on her family as a research project. There are several short asides in which she adds her commentary on specific issues.
Matilde has no supernatural gift, but her graciousness is other-worldly, and she is taken advantage of because of it. Flor struggled with her spiritual connection to death from an early age. Pastora, reader of people's truths, was too much child for their anxious and cold mother, so she was sent away and abused by a (possibly) possessed aunt. And Camila came many years after Pastora, so she is never quite as connected to her sisters nor does she have a supernatural gift.
I felt connected to each of the sisters, but I struggled to connect with Ona and Yadi a bit (which is okay; no one has to connect with every character). I was mesmerized by each of their unique stories, and I really liked following their stories and growth. I also loved the magical realism incorporated into the novel—I never felt like I was taken for a fantastical ride, although I loved what the magic brought to the story. It was all almost believable.
The main reason that this is not a 5-star read for me is that I really, really struggled to get through it. I found myself not wanting to pick it up to finish but at the same time feeling like I needed to finish it because it was a story that deserved to be finished. The end is foretold in the beginning, so I never really reached a point where I felt like I had to know what came next, so it was often easy to put down and harder than usual for me to pick up. I tend to prefer plot-driven rather than character-driven books, and this was very much NOT a plot-driven narrative. That said, I'm going to be adding Acevedo's other work to my TBR.
Family Lore is the story of 6 Dominican women—sisters Matilde, Flor, Pastora, and Camila, and Ona and Yadi, the daughters of Flor and Pastora. Acevado creates a character- and relationship-driven narrative that explores family ties, inner struggles, relational and familial tension, sexuality, and especially love in its many forms. This is not a light read, although it is beautiful.
Spanning multiple points of view and sometimes overlapping timelines, Family Lore takes place in the few weeks between Flor's dream about her death and her living wake. Her decision to call this gathering together makes everyone nervous, as Flor has a gift (or a curse) for foreseeing how and when people die in her dreams. She stays mum on the date and way of her passing, but everyone knows something is up.
With that as the backdrop, Acevedo takes us on a journey through both the present struggles of the sisters and daughters as well as an examination of their past. Ona is an anthropologist and takes on her family as a research project. There are several short asides in which she adds her commentary on specific issues.
Matilde has no supernatural gift, but her graciousness is other-worldly, and she is taken advantage of because of it. Flor struggled with her spiritual connection to death from an early age. Pastora, reader of people's truths, was too much child for their anxious and cold mother, so she was sent away and abused by a (possibly) possessed aunt. And Camila came many years after Pastora, so she is never quite as connected to her sisters nor does she have a supernatural gift.
I felt connected to each of the sisters, but I struggled to connect with Ona and Yadi a bit (which is okay; no one has to connect with every character). I was mesmerized by each of their unique stories, and I really liked following their stories and growth. I also loved the magical realism incorporated into the novel—I never felt like I was taken for a fantastical ride, although I loved what the magic brought to the story. It was all almost believable.
The main reason that this is not a 5-star read for me is that I really, really struggled to get through it. I found myself not wanting to pick it up to finish but at the same time feeling like I needed to finish it because it was a story that deserved to be finished. The end is foretold in the beginning, so I never really reached a point where I felt like I had to know what came next, so it was often easy to put down and harder than usual for me to pick up. I tend to prefer plot-driven rather than character-driven books, and this was very much NOT a plot-driven narrative. That said, I'm going to be adding Acevedo's other work to my TBR.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Infertility
Moderate: Infidelity and Alcoholism
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
brittie19's review against another edition
I stopped the audio book at 2hrs 58 minutes.
I want to get back to it for the maternal familial stories but for now, I think I can find that vibe elsewhere and be a little more interested in the story. I like the premise, but am currently unsure about the execution.
I want to get back to it for the maternal familial stories but for now, I think I can find that vibe elsewhere and be a little more interested in the story. I like the premise, but am currently unsure about the execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infertility
I really do like it and will probably pick it back up, but I don't think it is my speed currently. The changing POVs make it a little much, but still interesting to listen to.skitch41's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Infidelity, Infertility, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
gelslitreviews'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Infertility