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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
So technically 2 stars is "it was okay" on my rating scale. And I think that's exactly how I feel about this book. It showed me a new perspective I hadn't really considered and I loved the parallels between the wall/coyotes in the two couples' lives.
I think Boyle did everything he intended to. I think he wanted his characters to be unlikable. And they certainly were (except for America who even then was incredibly naive.) I guess, though, I just didn't sympathize with any of them and they all annoyed me. I think the point was to show how HUMAN they all were. But something about it just wasn't my cup of tea.
I think Boyle did everything he intended to. I think he wanted his characters to be unlikable. And they certainly were (except for America who even then was incredibly naive.) I guess, though, I just didn't sympathize with any of them and they all annoyed me. I think the point was to show how HUMAN they all were. But something about it just wasn't my cup of tea.
This was a really quick read for me. Usually I don't read books like this. My favorite parts were about the nature and natural plant and animal life of California. It made it even better because I knew all of the plants and animals that they were talking about.
It was a really eye opening story that gave me a look into the eyes of the Mexican immigrants which is a perspective that I have never really thought about.
Reading this book after the resent Lilac fire that came close to my house i felt like the life of living here was showed well.
It was a really eye opening story that gave me a look into the eyes of the Mexican immigrants which is a perspective that I have never really thought about.
Reading this book after the resent Lilac fire that came close to my house i felt like the life of living here was showed well.
Interesting book. Especially since I grew up mostly in California, so I can relate to the influx of Mexicans there. It really made you look at both sides of the picture. Definitely sad. Watch out for the language though.
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book for school.
The novel is really good in an uncomfortable way. It shows the truth of the American Dream and how horrible it is to be an illegal immigrant. It has characters with a lot of personality.
Sadly, Boyles writting style did not suit me. It is incredibly slow paced and detailed. I found myself bored, flying over the pages just to be done with it. The female character gets brutalized over and over again which left me feeling sick. I wanna make clear that this novel is SLOW and even glunky with word sometimes.
I liked the reales of it. The daring. The horrible truth. That is it. Sorry.
The novel is really good in an uncomfortable way. It shows the truth of the American Dream and how horrible it is to be an illegal immigrant. It has characters with a lot of personality.
Sadly, Boyles writting style did not suit me. It is incredibly slow paced and detailed. I found myself bored, flying over the pages just to be done with it. The female character gets brutalized over and over again which left me feeling sick. I wanna make clear that this novel is SLOW and even glunky with word sometimes.
I liked the reales of it. The daring. The horrible truth. That is it. Sorry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Xenophobia, Car accident
Mostly, I'm pissed that I spent nearly 400 pages and $10 on this self-indulgent wankfest.
(Possibly less hostile full review coming soon.)
(Possibly less hostile full review coming soon.)
This book reminded me a lot of "Grapes of Wrath". I found the story depressing in some sections, but at the same time, I couldn't stop reading it because I was hopeful there would be some resolution. The book is about a weathly, white couple and a poor, Mexican couple living in the same, Southern California city. Their lives continually intersect, sometimes tragically. I think that both couples are equally sympathetic at times in the novel. It would be interesting to discuss with someone else.
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
one word review: borders
i wanted to give this novel 3 stars since it's so painful to read due to the story, but i had to go with 4 stars due to its mastery at getting the reader to consider complex issues. i do have a problem with the categorization of 'tragicomedy' on the back flap, as there really wasn't comedy. if you believe that when two people misunderstand each other so badly that it leads to misfortune, that is comical in any way, i find that to be a sad interpretation of comedy.
the plot follows two couples whose lives hardly intersect (again, the book description leads you to believe otherwise). one couple composes of illegal mexican immigrants trying to save up enough to get a place to stay beyond outside, and an affluent white family living in a suburban community mostly prejudiced against the incoming mexicans.
boyle does a wonderful job of portraying the issues from varying perspectives. most immigrant stories i've read depict migrant farm workers, mostly male. instead, he communicates the experience of a day laborer with a pregnant partner. additionally, with the white family, the husband is a nature writer and the wife, a powerful real estate seller. this allows the book to delve into issues around the impact of immigrants on nature, jobs, real estate and more.
the writing style doesn't take a side and at the end, you're really left to think for yourself and see there's more gray than black and white, when it comes down to it.
i wanted to give this novel 3 stars since it's so painful to read due to the story, but i had to go with 4 stars due to its mastery at getting the reader to consider complex issues. i do have a problem with the categorization of 'tragicomedy' on the back flap, as there really wasn't comedy. if you believe that when two people misunderstand each other so badly that it leads to misfortune, that is comical in any way, i find that to be a sad interpretation of comedy.
the plot follows two couples whose lives hardly intersect (again, the book description leads you to believe otherwise). one couple composes of illegal mexican immigrants trying to save up enough to get a place to stay beyond outside, and an affluent white family living in a suburban community mostly prejudiced against the incoming mexicans.
boyle does a wonderful job of portraying the issues from varying perspectives. most immigrant stories i've read depict migrant farm workers, mostly male. instead, he communicates the experience of a day laborer with a pregnant partner. additionally, with the white family, the husband is a nature writer and the wife, a powerful real estate seller. this allows the book to delve into issues around the impact of immigrants on nature, jobs, real estate and more.
the writing style doesn't take a side and at the end, you're really left to think for yourself and see there's more gray than black and white, when it comes down to it.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes