Scan barcode
A review by eileen_daly_boas
Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea
5.0
No spoilers.
Blurb: Best book I've read in a long time. A teenaged Mexican girl whose town is overrun with drug lords after the men have moved north for jobs goes on a quest to bring back seven warriors to take back her town. Wonderful characters, great writing, and a beautiful story.
Longer version: I can't think of a book that I've enjoyed this much in a long time. The main plot line, of a young woman who is fighting to save her town from small-time drug dealers. She's fiesty and strong and yet innocent and believable. Her goal is to travel to the US to get men to take back the town. Her rag-tag group of compatriots are wonderfully funny and odd and real. One of the best things about this novel is that all characters, no matter how minor to the plot, get drawn in such wonderful detail that you're ready to follow their story too. All characters are individuals, layered and interesting. There are no throw-away people. And yet the story is littered with throwaways, at least that's what most people would call them.
The only reservation I would give to recommending this to everyone is that there is a lot of Spanish and Spanglish in there. It doesn't get in the way of understanding anything, but I can imagine a reader who might have a hard time with it. It's a little like The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz in that respect.
This is the book for the Big Read in Rochester, NY this spring (2013) and now I know why.
If you're looking for a good story, an epic journey, strong women characters, wonderful all around cast of characters, heartache, comedy,suspense, and a little bit of politics, you should read this. Which is everyone: honestly, I cannot think of a person I wouldn't foist this book upon. Immediately.
Blurb: Best book I've read in a long time. A teenaged Mexican girl whose town is overrun with drug lords after the men have moved north for jobs goes on a quest to bring back seven warriors to take back her town. Wonderful characters, great writing, and a beautiful story.
Longer version: I can't think of a book that I've enjoyed this much in a long time. The main plot line, of a young woman who is fighting to save her town from small-time drug dealers. She's fiesty and strong and yet innocent and believable. Her goal is to travel to the US to get men to take back the town. Her rag-tag group of compatriots are wonderfully funny and odd and real. One of the best things about this novel is that all characters, no matter how minor to the plot, get drawn in such wonderful detail that you're ready to follow their story too. All characters are individuals, layered and interesting. There are no throw-away people. And yet the story is littered with throwaways, at least that's what most people would call them.
The only reservation I would give to recommending this to everyone is that there is a lot of Spanish and Spanglish in there. It doesn't get in the way of understanding anything, but I can imagine a reader who might have a hard time with it. It's a little like The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz in that respect.
This is the book for the Big Read in Rochester, NY this spring (2013) and now I know why.
If you're looking for a good story, an epic journey, strong women characters, wonderful all around cast of characters, heartache, comedy,suspense, and a little bit of politics, you should read this. Which is everyone: honestly, I cannot think of a person I wouldn't foist this book upon. Immediately.