svao78's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I wish I could say that this is an insightful or thought-provoking piece on the Mexican/Latin American immigrant experience in the US. Sadly, this book presents a stereotypical depiction of undocumented migrants and their experiences within American and Mexican-American communities. The only chapters that might have something of value to say are the torturous sections regarding América's violent and demeaning experiences as a housekeeper. Yet even these chapters are littered with exploitative and vivid violence used to shock rather than provide any form of commentary. On a worse note, almost every chapter that focuses on Delayne is a meandering dive into the mind of an emasculated bigot, who believes doesn't have a biased bone in his body. The idea of dissecting the performative nature of immigration politics among the privileged in California is so interesting and could create such amazing conversations. But Delaney's story presents this issue and says nothing and goes nowhere. I don't mind violence when used within the context of a story, or unlikable characters when there are narrative or thematic reasons for their irredeemable nature. Without narrative justification, you're left feeling cheated and uncomfortable.
It is reductive and simplistic in its analysis of the relationship between undocumented migrants and the American middle class to a degree that leaves the reader wishing that they had spent their time reading something else.
It is reductive and simplistic in its analysis of the relationship between undocumented migrants and the American middle class to a degree that leaves the reader wishing that they had spent their time reading something else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Racism, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Pedophilia
naiu_cs's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Not once has a boom ever managed to ignite this rage in me, and that is not a compliment.
I get that it is supposed to be socially critical and all that but if you want to accurately protray the suffering a minority actually has to go through in order to point out white privelege and prejudiced racist thinking, I don't think this is the way to go.
All the respect for social novels, I think Boyle went to far with this one.
I get that it is supposed to be socially critical and all that but if you want to accurately protray the suffering a minority actually has to go through in order to point out white privelege and prejudiced racist thinking, I don't think this is the way to go.
All the respect for social novels, I think Boyle went to far with this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Rape, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Child death
februaryfriday's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Grief, Hate crime, Child abuse, and Death of parent
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