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moth_dance's review
5.0
Lozana. Vívida. Épica.
Lectura Obligatoria.
//
Lush. Vivid. Epic.
REQUIRED READING.
I wish I had this book with me when I was in high school. And when I started my first year of college. And when I moved to an new city. And when I felt alone and lonely.
So many times in school and college, I've struggled with "the great American novel" created by these "great American authors." But tbh this is it. Sandra Cisneros is the great American author and Caramelo is the great American novel. Unlearn what the public school system has told you. Decolonize your bookshelf. Realize the fact of the matter is that immigrant families living and loving in America and beyond are just as passionate and complex and beautiful as all those other novels with Euro-centric characters and plots.
Dickens is dead. Cisneros is living. Not just literally, but figuratively too.
Thank you for this gift, Sandra Cisneros. I say your name with total admiration.
Lectura Obligatoria.
//
Lush. Vivid. Epic.
REQUIRED READING.
I wish I had this book with me when I was in high school. And when I started my first year of college. And when I moved to an new city. And when I felt alone and lonely.
So many times in school and college, I've struggled with "the great American novel" created by these "great American authors." But tbh this is it. Sandra Cisneros is the great American author and Caramelo is the great American novel. Unlearn what the public school system has told you. Decolonize your bookshelf. Realize the fact of the matter is that immigrant families living and loving in America and beyond are just as passionate and complex and beautiful as all those other novels with Euro-centric characters and plots.
Dickens is dead. Cisneros is living. Not just literally, but figuratively too.
Thank you for this gift, Sandra Cisneros. I say your name with total admiration.
book_concierge's review
3.0
This is the story of four generations of Reyes family, told by the youngest member - Lala. She recounts tales of her parents, grandparents and great grandparents, mixing the timeing and sequence just as they might be revealed over the years at multiple family gatherings. Her descriptions are priceless - a man who cut his own hair looks like "his head had been chewed by coyotes."
I first read the book in Nov 2003 on my own because I'd been a fan of Sandra Cisneros for some time. At the time I didn't recommend it to either of my two book clubs because of the amount of Spanish used (both groups had complained about similar "difficulties" with other books).
In 2008 my Hispanic book club chose this book so I read it a second time. I'm less enthralled than at first. Her writing is poetic, but the middle section of this novel is disjointed.
I first read the book in Nov 2003 on my own because I'd been a fan of Sandra Cisneros for some time. At the time I didn't recommend it to either of my two book clubs because of the amount of Spanish used (both groups had complained about similar "difficulties" with other books).
In 2008 my Hispanic book club chose this book so I read it a second time. I'm less enthralled than at first. Her writing is poetic, but the middle section of this novel is disjointed.
ezreaadingo's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.25
This was an epic book in the sense that it followed multiple generations of an entire family across time and across borders (Mexico-US). Such a great book. It does jump around a bit so pay attention. Great family saga! There were small parts that were a little slow but it all came together fantastically.
cemoses's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I did not like the first part of the book. The book picked up when it goes into the history of the family.
ananotanna's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
vlburbach's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
katyk321's review
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
gwalt118's review
5.0
Caramelo is a phenomenal work of literature that should be more widely read, particularly among white people. This is a coming-of-age story, a reflection on life and family, and a picture of Mexican-American culture that is at times uplifting and at other times full of desperation. The characters are dynamic and change - in some cases drastically - throughout the novel. Mexican culture and history are woven into the novel, and we feel tension at how many children of immigrants come of age while grappling with familial culture. The use of symbolism and metaphor in this novel is outstanding, particularly concerning the Awful Grandmother's caramelo rebozo. There are some elements of the family that we can all identify with, regardless of culture. Yet, there are other elements that are uniquely Mexican and/or Mexican-American. Both teach us lessons about human interaction.
This novel is certainly not an easy-read (but really, what worthwhile novel ever is?), and it is one that I would encourage readers to move through slowly. Cisneros packs a lot of information into this novel, and every word has intentionality. Do not skim; rather, treasure each word and each chapter as if it is a story within itself. In true Cisneros fashion, sometimes it is.
This novel is certainly not an easy-read (but really, what worthwhile novel ever is?), and it is one that I would encourage readers to move through slowly. Cisneros packs a lot of information into this novel, and every word has intentionality. Do not skim; rather, treasure each word and each chapter as if it is a story within itself. In true Cisneros fashion, sometimes it is.
sarabz's review
4.0
Wow. This was one of those epic books. She tells the story of generations of a Mexican family. I loved that all of the characters existed as people who grew up and evolved into who they were. And an excellent depiction of the diversity of the culture she was describing. She discusses not only what unifies and brings the family together, but also the places where they separate and dissipate.
I especially enjoyed the descriptions of Chicago and the Maxwell Street market. The images and sensations in the prose are so vivid and enchanting. But probably even more, I enjoyed the tidbits Cinsneros included as footnotes...details about Mexican historical figures, the Texas Rangers, movie stars to contextualize the story but which were also interesting in their own right.
I especially enjoyed the descriptions of Chicago and the Maxwell Street market. The images and sensations in the prose are so vivid and enchanting. But probably even more, I enjoyed the tidbits Cinsneros included as footnotes...details about Mexican historical figures, the Texas Rangers, movie stars to contextualize the story but which were also interesting in their own right.