Scan barcode
A review by dontpanic42
The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea
5.0
This was beautiful. The story of Big Angel, the family patriarch, as he approaches death, this book deals with all of the messiness of a big family. The story snakes through images of the family members over a couple of days as we witness moments of love, revenge, regret, redemption, forgiveness—really all of the things that make a life. It’s provides touching moments of Big Angel looking back on his own life. The whole thing strikes a perfect balance emotionally. It’s not sentimental. It’s real. It’s got sad moments and hilarious moments and really I can’t describe it adequately. Just read it.
One of things that most connected for me had to do with the search for identity, something that has been a theme in my own life. The family in the story immigrated to the US from Mexico, and there is a recurring question of what it means to be Mexican enough. Or how the mixed-race half-brother fits in. Or whether speaking Spanish is part of authenticity. I think this is first and foremost a story of a family, but the theme of identity and where everybody fits pops up repeatedly.
One last thing: if you’re squeamish about cousins or in-laws constantly lusting after one another, this book is not for you. Is this what other people’s family reunions are like?
One of things that most connected for me had to do with the search for identity, something that has been a theme in my own life. The family in the story immigrated to the US from Mexico, and there is a recurring question of what it means to be Mexican enough. Or how the mixed-race half-brother fits in. Or whether speaking Spanish is part of authenticity. I think this is first and foremost a story of a family, but the theme of identity and where everybody fits pops up repeatedly.
One last thing: if you’re squeamish about cousins or in-laws constantly lusting after one another, this book is not for you. Is this what other people’s family reunions are like?