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A review by schem
Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and TorTeen for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is the first book I have read by Oshiro. My first note is that he’s a wonderful writer with a unique storytelling perspective and the ability to explore difficult concepts within a new and intriguing framework.
We follow the story of Xochitl, a young cuentista with the ability to absorb people’s stories and return them to Solís. Xo uses her blessing to absolve the sins of those in her aldea, as is expected of her despite the great deal of pain and sacrifice required.
There are so many unique techniques Oshiro employs that all add to the story in way of richness and depth. He has expertly woven Spanish throughout the text in what results as a beautiful blending of culture. I’m curious as to how effectively this works for those unfamiliar with the language, but to me it appeared to be effortless and very cleverly utilised. It effectively establishes the setting as this otherworldly in-between place, which only adds to the dream-like quality of Xo’s world.
Another technique used was writing through the form of prayer and layered storytelling. Admittedly, Xo’s internal dialogue directed to Solís in the first quarter of the book was beginning to become tedious, but that seemed to become much more bearable upon her embarking on her journey.
The book could have vastly benefited, in my opinion, from being much shorter. As it was a travelogue, there was a great amount of ‘dead space’ in-between locations that often felt like the same experience over and over.
The characters were well-crafted and I was impressed by the depth of some of the individuals introduced throughout the story. Emilia is an eternal mystery, and one of the more fascinating characters in the story. Xochitl at times felt a little one-dimensional, suffering from being so singular-minded for most of the story that she didn’t have as much depth as others.
One thing I’d like to note is that Oshiro did a spectacular job with the ending, something I find lacking in a lot of current YA. It was a completely satisfying resolution for both Xochitl and Emilia, as well as the setting in general.
I can’t finish this review without mentioning Oshiro’s use of poetry throughout. What a beautiful and admirable addition to the story. Through snippets of poetry we come to understand the struggles faced by Xo and those around her.
An interesting and beautiful story that explores the nature of storytelling, sacrifice, and responsibility.
This is the first book I have read by Oshiro. My first note is that he’s a wonderful writer with a unique storytelling perspective and the ability to explore difficult concepts within a new and intriguing framework.
We follow the story of Xochitl, a young cuentista with the ability to absorb people’s stories and return them to Solís. Xo uses her blessing to absolve the sins of those in her aldea, as is expected of her despite the great deal of pain and sacrifice required.
There are so many unique techniques Oshiro employs that all add to the story in way of richness and depth. He has expertly woven Spanish throughout the text in what results as a beautiful blending of culture. I’m curious as to how effectively this works for those unfamiliar with the language, but to me it appeared to be effortless and very cleverly utilised. It effectively establishes the setting as this otherworldly in-between place, which only adds to the dream-like quality of Xo’s world.
Another technique used was writing through the form of prayer and layered storytelling. Admittedly, Xo’s internal dialogue directed to Solís in the first quarter of the book was beginning to become tedious, but that seemed to become much more bearable upon her embarking on her journey.
The book could have vastly benefited, in my opinion, from being much shorter. As it was a travelogue, there was a great amount of ‘dead space’ in-between locations that often felt like the same experience over and over.
The characters were well-crafted and I was impressed by the depth of some of the individuals introduced throughout the story. Emilia is an eternal mystery, and one of the more fascinating characters in the story. Xochitl at times felt a little one-dimensional, suffering from being so singular-minded for most of the story that she didn’t have as much depth as others.
One thing I’d like to note is that Oshiro did a spectacular job with the ending, something I find lacking in a lot of current YA. It was a completely satisfying resolution for both Xochitl and Emilia, as well as the setting in general.
I can’t finish this review without mentioning Oshiro’s use of poetry throughout. What a beautiful and admirable addition to the story. Through snippets of poetry we come to understand the struggles faced by Xo and those around her.
An interesting and beautiful story that explores the nature of storytelling, sacrifice, and responsibility.