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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
Tragicomedy? More like Tragifrustration..the pathetic white characters disgusted me in their realism. The rawly human Mexican protagonists broke my heart. UGH. Very well written. T.C. Boyle did his work well.
I liked this book but thought it would go in a different direction. I don't know if it changed my mind about illegal immigrants but it does get you thinking.
Told through the point of view of two couples--a wealthy white one living in the gated community of Arroyo Blanco and a Mexican immigrant one struggling to find work and the "American Dream" in harsh Los Angeles--T.C. Boyle's "The Tortilla Curtain" weaves back and forth between the four characters, juxtaposing their disparate realities and dissatisfactions with the "other." Twenty years after its publication, the novel is almost a more poignant portrayal of Los Angeles, with Boyle's vivid descriptions and keen observations bringing the dim realities of the city and surrounding suburbs to life.
Even more relevant now than when it was written.
I couldn't help it... I laughed when their second dog got taken.
I did not like this book as much as I wanted. It is a striking, distressing look at privilege and racism-- especially by so-called liberals. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the characters, and just felt more and more depressed.
Considered a tragicomedy. I missed the comedy part. Very tragic. Good read
This book is billed as a "tragicomedy." In reading it I felt distressed, hopeless, and somewhat frightened; but for the life of me, I could not find a shred of humor.
1.5 stars
UGH HATE. I really enjoyed the themes that Boyle tackled--immigration, American Dreams, racism--but his style is just not for me. If this hadn't been a required read, I would have dnf'd it a chapter or two in, because of his pointlessly over-descriptive narrative and crass way of wording things. It wasn't engaging at all. I enjoyed America and Candido's story, and if the book had focused solely on them, I probably would have rated it better. But the stupid, disgustingly Stepford Mossbachers just made me HATE the book. I hated them. So much. Not just because of the racists thoughts they had, just their general characterization and existence disgusted me (this coming from a relatively liberally minded person). Even if they had been the exact opposite of racist, I still would have hated them. I think the entire story could have been appraoched better and, with a different style, would have been more interesting. But it just didn't do it for me.
UGH HATE. I really enjoyed the themes that Boyle tackled--immigration, American Dreams, racism--but his style is just not for me. If this hadn't been a required read, I would have dnf'd it a chapter or two in, because of his pointlessly over-descriptive narrative and crass way of wording things. It wasn't engaging at all. I enjoyed America and Candido's story, and if the book had focused solely on them, I probably would have rated it better. But the stupid, disgustingly Stepford Mossbachers just made me HATE the book. I hated them. So much. Not just because of the racists thoughts they had, just their general characterization and existence disgusted me (this coming from a relatively liberally minded person). Even if they had been the exact opposite of racist, I still would have hated them. I think the entire story could have been appraoched better and, with a different style, would have been more interesting. But it just didn't do it for me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes