Scan barcode
A review by book_concierge
Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea
3.0
Book on CD narrated by Susan Ericksen
3.5***
In the tiny coastal town of Tres Camarones, Sinaloa, Mexico, nineteen-year-old Nayeli works at a taco shop and dreams about her father, who left for America years ago. Her Aunt Irma is campaigning for Mayor, and when a gang of bandidos begins to move in, the women and children of Tres Camarones realize that they are helpless – all the men have left for “el norte.” Inspired by a showing of Steve McQueen’s The Magnificent Seven, Nayeli and her girlfriends: Vampi, Yolo and Tacho (who is the local homosexual), agree to go on a mission to bring some Mexican men back from the United States to repopulate their village.
This is a quest novel, a coming-of-age story, and a road trip adventure, populated by one of the most eclectic cast of characters in literature. I loved Nayeli, whose smile is like the sunrise. She’s honest, fierce, loyal to her friends, and determined to succeed in her mission. Despite many set-backs – losing all their luggage, being mugged, caught by the border patrol, etc – she keeps her mind on their goal and keeps her troops together and moving forward. Along the way the warriors meet some people who help them: Porfirio and Ariceli, who share their meager shack and a meal, Atómiko, who is their best chance for getting across, Rodrigo, who rescues Tacho, Matt, a surfer dude and former missionary who welcomes them to his late mother’s San Diego house, and – my favorite – a librarian who provides the key to Nayeli’s quest.
Despite loving Nayeli, Tacho, Tía Irma and a host of other characters, I thought the novel was a just okay. The plot and message seemed to get lost in the quirkiness. I liked it. I’m glad I read it. But it wasn’t the kind of memorable read that gets a fourth star – at least not from me.
The novel is translated from Spanish to English, but still includes much Spanish and even some “Spanglish.” This may be challenging for readers who don’t speak Spanish.
The audio book is performed by Susan Ericksen. While she did a reasonable job with all the many characters she had one major flaw. Her Spanish pronunciation is TERRIBLE. Surely the publisher could have found a narrator with better Spanish for this very MEXICAN book. 1 star for her performance.
3.5***
In the tiny coastal town of Tres Camarones, Sinaloa, Mexico, nineteen-year-old Nayeli works at a taco shop and dreams about her father, who left for America years ago. Her Aunt Irma is campaigning for Mayor, and when a gang of bandidos begins to move in, the women and children of Tres Camarones realize that they are helpless – all the men have left for “el norte.” Inspired by a showing of Steve McQueen’s The Magnificent Seven, Nayeli and her girlfriends: Vampi, Yolo and Tacho (who is the local homosexual), agree to go on a mission to bring some Mexican men back from the United States to repopulate their village.
This is a quest novel, a coming-of-age story, and a road trip adventure, populated by one of the most eclectic cast of characters in literature. I loved Nayeli, whose smile is like the sunrise. She’s honest, fierce, loyal to her friends, and determined to succeed in her mission. Despite many set-backs – losing all their luggage, being mugged, caught by the border patrol, etc – she keeps her mind on their goal and keeps her troops together and moving forward. Along the way the warriors meet some people who help them: Porfirio and Ariceli, who share their meager shack and a meal, Atómiko, who is their best chance for getting across, Rodrigo, who rescues Tacho, Matt, a surfer dude and former missionary who welcomes them to his late mother’s San Diego house, and – my favorite – a librarian who provides the key to Nayeli’s quest.
Despite loving Nayeli, Tacho, Tía Irma and a host of other characters, I thought the novel was a just okay. The plot and message seemed to get lost in the quirkiness. I liked it. I’m glad I read it. But it wasn’t the kind of memorable read that gets a fourth star – at least not from me.
The novel is translated from Spanish to English, but still includes much Spanish and even some “Spanglish.” This may be challenging for readers who don’t speak Spanish.
The audio book is performed by Susan Ericksen. While she did a reasonable job with all the many characters she had one major flaw. Her Spanish pronunciation is TERRIBLE. Surely the publisher could have found a narrator with better Spanish for this very MEXICAN book. 1 star for her performance.