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A review by kassielovestoread
Dominicana by Angie Cruz
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was a difficult book to read. The injustices that are done too Ana are unconscionable and I know that her story isn't unique (as stated in the author's Acknowledgements), but this is a story that I'll never forget. As a Dominican woman myself, I feel insurmountable grief at the similarities in Ana's story and my mothers. There's a tightness in my chest that won't dissipate; I imagine it'll take some time to shake it off.
Every emotion our main character experienced, I did as well. I was deeply and meaningfully impacted by Ana's story. I feel like I say this all the time but I truly mean it now: I rooted so hard for Ana. While the ending isn't the ideal happily ever after I would've wanted to read, I know that Ana's story ends much happier now that she has found her voice and has her family to care for. (Sidebar: an epilogue in which a meteor hails from the heavens and lands squarely and resolutely for Juan. Resulting in no other casualties or fatalities besides him.)
Angie Cruz's writing style is unlike any that I've read before. The author doesn't use quotation marks in the dialogue, but you understand anyway that conversations are taking place between the characters. It was interesting. The chapters are also super short- I think the longest one was maybe 5 pages? The overall length of this novel is just over 300 pages so the book didn't take me more than a couple days to finish. I will definitely read more of Cruz's works in the future!
Every emotion our main character experienced, I did as well. I was deeply and meaningfully impacted by Ana's story. I feel like I say this all the time but I truly mean it now: I rooted so hard for Ana. While the ending isn't the ideal happily ever after I would've wanted to read, I know that Ana's story ends much happier now that she has found her voice and has her family to care for. (Sidebar: an epilogue in which a meteor hails from the heavens and lands squarely and resolutely for Juan. Resulting in no other casualties or fatalities besides him.)
Angie Cruz's writing style is unlike any that I've read before. The author doesn't use quotation marks in the dialogue, but you understand anyway that conversations are taking place between the characters. It was interesting. The chapters are also super short- I think the longest one was maybe 5 pages? The overall length of this novel is just over 300 pages so the book didn't take me more than a couple days to finish. I will definitely read more of Cruz's works in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Domestic abuse