A review by adhochman
The Barbarian Nurseries by Héctor Tobar

3.0

The lucid insights to race, class and gender-fueled inequities in LA and, arguably, to some degree in many American sub/urban milieu that Tobar weaves through in this novel are indeed rich and interesting. However, the beginning unravels much too slowly. The Torres-Thompson marital decline didn't need that much preamble; then their relationship vanishes. I also found the ending really unsatisfying in its ambiguity. Tobar does a great job creating Araceli as a complex character, but I found the rest of the cast so stereotypical, especially the neurotic, narcissistic white mother. What an easy mark. Yawn.