Scan barcode
A review by cgreens
Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capó Crucet
2.0
This book was fine, not what I expected based on the description, and got tiresome as it progressed. I'm a little suspicious when newer, younger authors (especially those who look suspiciously like their main characters) write a book centered on leaving home and going off to college. It makes me wonder if perhaps they haven't had enough life experiences to write about other topics, and this book in particular screams of a tweaked memoir passed off as fiction.
To me, there were several glaring problems.
First, there's supposed to be this big huge independence vs. family dichotomy, which would be great, except Lizet's family doesn't seem all that loving or capable of a single emotionally intelligent thought. They are all mean-spirited, callous, petty, and unable to think past the present moment. None are likable, and as a reader I experienced no internal tug whatsoever toward the possibility that Lizet should spend more time with them. The only one who stood out as mildly reasonable was Omar, and even he was strangely unable to grasp why a college education might be important.
Second, I'm not at all convinced that Lizet IS smart or capable enough to go to Rawlings, a fact that the story relies upon. She sounds like someone who would benefit GREATLY by going to community college before attending a college or university, learning how to properly cite her work, how to handle herself in an academic setting, study habits, etc. and then doing much better in that college once she transfers.
Third, I don't believe that the "typical white person" opinion of Ariel/Elian Gonzalez was depicted correctly. I was nine during that event and lived in a typical, largely conservative suburb and listened to teachers and friends' parents talk about this political issue. NONE of them thought that Elian should be sent back to Cuba. Their opinion was that America is the most glorious country of freedom, liberty, and justice, under God, undivided, for all, and we must save this godless communist soul that has washed up on our shores of liberty.
I typically enjoy rambling family dramas, but the problem with this novel is that in order to build up a book around unlikeable characters, the characters have to be nuanced and interesting. These characters were not. I didn't understand Lizet's dad's motivations or actions, nor did I find her mom sympathetic in any way. Lizet was fine to me, maybe only because I was also a very stupid new college admit who thought moving out of my parents' home was a big huge deal, and I also made frustratingly stupid mistakes that could have easily been prevented. This book was fine, I made it through and even looked forward to reading it, but it didn't impress me, and I can't think of anyone I would recommend this to.
To me, there were several glaring problems.
First, there's supposed to be this big huge independence vs. family dichotomy, which would be great, except Lizet's family doesn't seem all that loving or capable of a single emotionally intelligent thought. They are all mean-spirited, callous, petty, and unable to think past the present moment. None are likable, and as a reader I experienced no internal tug whatsoever toward the possibility that Lizet should spend more time with them. The only one who stood out as mildly reasonable was Omar, and even he was strangely unable to grasp why a college education might be important.
Second, I'm not at all convinced that Lizet IS smart or capable enough to go to Rawlings, a fact that the story relies upon. She sounds like someone who would benefit GREATLY by going to community college before attending a college or university, learning how to properly cite her work, how to handle herself in an academic setting, study habits, etc. and then doing much better in that college once she transfers.
Third, I don't believe that the "typical white person" opinion of Ariel/Elian Gonzalez was depicted correctly. I was nine during that event and lived in a typical, largely conservative suburb and listened to teachers and friends' parents talk about this political issue. NONE of them thought that Elian should be sent back to Cuba. Their opinion was that America is the most glorious country of freedom, liberty, and justice, under God, undivided, for all, and we must save this godless communist soul that has washed up on our shores of liberty.
I typically enjoy rambling family dramas, but the problem with this novel is that in order to build up a book around unlikeable characters, the characters have to be nuanced and interesting. These characters were not. I didn't understand Lizet's dad's motivations or actions, nor did I find her mom sympathetic in any way. Lizet was fine to me, maybe only because I was also a very stupid new college admit who thought moving out of my parents' home was a big huge deal, and I also made frustratingly stupid mistakes that could have easily been prevented. This book was fine, I made it through and even looked forward to reading it, but it didn't impress me, and I can't think of anyone I would recommend this to.