charlinne9876's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
katieruizg's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
babiibueno's review
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
dappleapple's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
mayralimeirajm's review against another edition
3.0
I expected more. This could have been such a great, great novel. It has all the potential necessary for a classic. However, so many things bothered me. From the get go, the narrative disappointed me: so simplistic, clipped. Prose has no rhythm. Being fair, maybe the translation was a problem here.
Plot moved too fast, while character development went along at a snail’s pace. Major things happened to main characters before I had any idea of who they really were and how to feel about them.
The novel continued on walking a thin line between extreme realism and fantasy. Instead of diving deep inside characters and narrating their feelings and reactions, the author resorted to actual rivers of tears and blood, passion that sizzled the skin and produced fires, disconcertments that caused fits of vomit, and fury that turned oblivious chickens into a whirlwind of assassin-style madness.
I suppose with a better narrative this would all have worked out perfectly: I don't particularly hate the absurdity, I welcome it. But when you match such absurd happenings with simple, chopped storytelling – lacking in vocabulary and style – it turns out, in my opinion, somewhat silly.
Plot moved too fast, while character development went along at a snail’s pace. Major things happened to main characters before I had any idea of who they really were and how to feel about them.
The novel continued on walking a thin line between extreme realism and fantasy. Instead of diving deep inside characters and narrating their feelings and reactions, the author resorted to actual rivers of tears and blood, passion that sizzled the skin and produced fires, disconcertments that caused fits of vomit, and fury that turned oblivious chickens into a whirlwind of assassin-style madness.
I suppose with a better narrative this would all have worked out perfectly: I don't particularly hate the absurdity, I welcome it. But when you match such absurd happenings with simple, chopped storytelling – lacking in vocabulary and style – it turns out, in my opinion, somewhat silly.
carlosnavan's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mags_'s review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Bullying, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Child death, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Grief, Gun violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Animal death
ahsansenan's review against another edition
2.0
This was disjointed,but it started off with so much promise. Laura Esquivel is a poor man's Milena Agus.
nagarage's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0