serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Hot Sur a literary thriller that tells the intertwined stories of Maria Paz, an immigrant charged with killing her husband, and Ian Rose, whose son was killed in a motorbike accident. It’s a story with many layers - immigration, prison life, religious fanaticism, ritualistic killings, the legal system, the American dream, grief, love, betrayal and more. I enjoyed its structure - a writer is compiling a book and the source material includes interviews with Ian Rose, notebooks from his son, and a manuscript by Maria Paz. It’s a long book and the style is very discursive. Sometimes I enjoyed it and found it immersive and absorbing; at other times bloated and boring. It’s a very challenging read, slow to get going and come together, definitely darker than my usual fare. At times it compelled my attention yet at other times I was desperate to look away.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, and Violence
bryanlmurillo's review against another edition
5.0
Este libro es un 4.5 neto.
Es el primer thriller que leo de una escritora colombiana y me encantó.
¿Han escuchado del sueño americano? Pues bien, este libro trata de eso y lo malo que podría ocurrir cuando nada está a tu favor.
Recomendado.
Es el primer thriller que leo de una escritora colombiana y me encantó.
¿Han escuchado del sueño americano? Pues bien, este libro trata de eso y lo malo que podría ocurrir cuando nada está a tu favor.
Recomendado.
lizro23's review against another edition
2.0
The ending was satisfying, and the characters were definitely interesting. However, this book is full of gore, rape, and violence in relation to a sadistic interpretation of the crucifixion of Christ. Don't read this book if you don't like reading about animals being harmed as well. I had a hard time with that.
zizi822's review against another edition
2.0
Meh
It was alright. I liked the way it was narrated and how it jumped from excerpts of journal entries to an interview. I probably wouldn't recommend it, though.
It was alright. I liked the way it was narrated and how it jumped from excerpts of journal entries to an interview. I probably wouldn't recommend it, though.
herownbeat's review against another edition
1.0
Painful
I forced myself to finish the book. There were too many people telling the story, which caused it to be scattered. Also, I was upset that I finished the book because I hated the ending.
I forced myself to finish the book. There were too many people telling the story, which caused it to be scattered. Also, I was upset that I finished the book because I hated the ending.
mariacrisca's review against another edition
4.0
I think it was a very well written and interesting book. The way the author manages to tell the story trought the eyes of the different charecters is very well-acomplished and makes the whole tale much more interesting and fascinating. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes stories about survival and human struggles.
fictionaltiff's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book overall, but the inconsistencies with how American law works and the way the author portrays law enforcement really got to me and I couldn't look past it. The words jail and prison can't be used interchangeably, so right off the bat, I knew there were going to be parts I didn't like.
Overall, the story was very good and suspenseful. It just wasn't my style.
Overall, the story was very good and suspenseful. It just wasn't my style.
rebleejen's review
3.0
As I was reading this book, I alternated between being interested in how things were going to turn out and being annoyed that I was being subjected to someone's unedited brain vomit. Of course, I was only subjecting myself. I could have stopped reading if I'd wanted to, but I kept thinking, "There's got to be a point to all of this." Also, it was interesting. Until I got to the end and realized I still had no idea what the point of any of it was.
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