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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
tense
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
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a book club selection. I'm not a fan of T.C. Boyle's writing style. It's affected, overtheatrical & reminds me of a 5th grader who uses every single word in the thesarus to impress a teacher. This style works better in his other books set in the Edwardian era, but for a modern tale, it was just too melodramatic for my taste. With that said, I'm probably not the best person to review one of Mr. Boyle's books. The plotline was meandering & slow & parts of it seemed to be just filler. It seemed like he had a short story that he was just trying to flush out enough to make into an actual novel. I understand the point Mr. Boyle was trying to make with his story & I do think that this story needed to be told. The plight of the Candido & America was just heart wrenching. However, I would not recommend this book as there are better books (both fiction & nonfiction) out there concerning immigration.
The first world problems of the white privileged living in a soon-to-be-gated community near Canoga Park, CA are contrast against those of an undocumented Mexican couple camping in the nearby canyon. The book begins as Delaney hits Candido with his car, then gives the wounded man $20 and spends the rest of the time haunted by him. While the white-washed community worries about graffiti, coyotes attacking their pets and erecting a wall around their community to keep the so-called undesirables out, the Mexican couple struggle to find work, live in the wild, are terrorized by others living in the canyon, have to deal with birthing a baby in the wild and most of all, always looking over their shoulders for INS to appear.
Not sure who to pull for in this as both sides have their pros and cons...although after a while you will definitely agree with the Mexican woman who has had enough of living in squalor, and just wants to go home even if it means living in poverty there, it can't be as bad as living like a wild animal in the forests of L.A.
Compelling book that expertly captures the feel of Southern California (right down to wild fires and the mudslides that follow) not to mention the shallow white people who are come off as petty and somewhat ignorant, but aren't completely unlikable. One couple has advantages, the other has everything working against them.
Not sure who to pull for in this as both sides have their pros and cons...although after a while you will definitely agree with the Mexican woman who has had enough of living in squalor, and just wants to go home even if it means living in poverty there, it can't be as bad as living like a wild animal in the forests of L.A.
Compelling book that expertly captures the feel of Southern California (right down to wild fires and the mudslides that follow) not to mention the shallow white people who are come off as petty and somewhat ignorant, but aren't completely unlikable. One couple has advantages, the other has everything working against them.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, Classism