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kafkaonthebrink's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
katelynreadslibros's review
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, War, and Animal cruelty
dmahanty's review
3.0
Would really give it a 3.5 star rating. The characters were expertly woven togther to give a full picture of life in Central America. From a matadora, to an ex-guirilla, international child adoption, and a Korean manufacturer, you get a sense of political struggle, the role of women, and human rights. Well written.
mjensen's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
smr's review
3.0
Given my dislike of overly poetic writing styles and my disinterest in anything to do with magical realism, this book didn't have much of a chance. Sorry, book. But on the plus side, it was short and the plot had enough to keep me interested (especially the storyline about murder. I can't resist murder).
franschulman9's review
5.0
Easy to read book about a week in the lives of six people, with the common connection being a hotel in a politically unstable, unidentified Latin American country. The characters are unique and colorful. Within each chapter, the author alternates between each character's story, with change encounters. Although the characters are involved with serious situations, such as political assassinations, adoption of foreign babies, and cheap factory labor, the book is entertaining.
for_esme_with_love's review against another edition
4.0
I abhor bullfighting and I expected to hate this book when it was assigned for a class. To my surprise, I actually really loved it. I did skip the bullfighting scenes and had 0 interest in the matador's plot-line, but luckily she was not as central to the story as I expected. The five other plot-lines are beautifully interwoven and poignant. The book is strange, and sad, and somewhat disturbing, but Garcia's poetic writing style is gorgeous.
agingerandherbooks's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
northstar's review against another edition
4.0
I love Cristina Garcia's novels and I loved this one. She alternates among six characters at a hotel in an unnamed Central American city: a female bullfighter, a Korean businessman with a teenage lover, a Cuban poet seeking to adopt a baby, a colonel who committed war crimes, an ex-guerrilla who wants to avenge her brother's murder and an attorney who arranges the adoption of local babies. Garcia's touch is perfect; she never shares too much information about her characters but picks details that get you into their hearts and motives. Her chapters end with local news reports that add both depth and levity to the events of the book.
I would give this 4.5 stars if I could. I am not willing to go up to 5 only because a couple of the characters felt a little flat to me as the novel wound down. Still, this is a captivating short novel with enough adventure for three times as many pages.
I would give this 4.5 stars if I could. I am not willing to go up to 5 only because a couple of the characters felt a little flat to me as the novel wound down. Still, this is a captivating short novel with enough adventure for three times as many pages.