Reviews

Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros

tsundoker's review

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

linopalve's review

emotional 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? No

3.25

thekacie's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lachellerising's review

4.0

I really enjoyed this 3-part coming of age tale. It’s part semi-autobiographical multi-generational narrative with a lot of Mexican and Chicano history from the late 1800s to the early 70s mixed in.

viareadsbooks's review

emotional funny informative reflective slow-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? N/A

4.0

spiderfelt's review

3.0

If the author had chosen a single narrative style throughout the book, I think I would have enjoyed this book more than I did. The contrasts between the characters of various Mexican parentage (tex-mex, norteamericanos, born-and-raised Mexicans) was both instructive and interesting but the author jumped around so much that I lost interest in the various threads. It really need a little more continuity, or perhaps just some more respect for sequence. I found myself wondering over and over, "Is this the real story?"

oatylime's review

slow-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

3.0

I read this because I visited Mexico City for the first time. Not really my jam (the book, not the city).

cmapilado's review

3.0

I was a little lost at first with the first half of the book. But then after I got a handle on what was going on I cruised through the rest of the story.

jordend's review

4.0

This book haunts me in the best way.

scottt's review against another edition

4.0

'Caramelo' is a Mexican American coming-of-age novel based on Sandra Cisneros' own life experiences. The novel is written as a culmination of many migration and cultural experiences of being a Mexican American from the perspective of Celaya and, if you will, is written in short essays.

The author uses their personal life experiences to explore complex generational and cultural ideologies, characteristics, and beliefs. These are explored continuously and are often revisited throughout the novel. The short essay format allows for the author to continuously move between these ideologies while building upon the narrative and often without losing the reader's interest.