lovelybibliomanic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/injury detail, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Violence
honeybastard's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
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
4.25
lixliaalessandra's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
anneaustex's review against another edition
4.0
Read-alike: Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea
mycouscous's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars, if I could.
Santiago's rote style of writing holds back this novel. While none of the characters are remotely sympathetic, there is something interesting about them and their situations. Ana really could have been something special, ignoring her instinctual dislike of slavery in favor of exploiting her workers to further her ambitions. However, Santiago does not fully delve into the emotional conflict, settling instead for telling us everything we should know about the character.
The lush sugar cane plantation was a well formed setting, as was the knowledge of the era that Santiago presented with the story. I say presented with because she didn't do the latter with any finesse: whole paragraphs of explication go by without incorporating the information into the story.
The drama and potential for the story to get better kept me reading, though I definitely struggled. It took me forever to get through this, and I kind of wish I'd stopped.
Santiago's rote style of writing holds back this novel. While none of the characters are remotely sympathetic, there is something interesting about them and their situations. Ana really could have been something special, ignoring her instinctual dislike of slavery in favor of exploiting her workers to further her ambitions. However, Santiago does not fully delve into the emotional conflict, settling instead for telling us everything we should know about the character.
The lush sugar cane plantation was a well formed setting, as was the knowledge of the era that Santiago presented with the story. I say presented with because she didn't do the latter with any finesse: whole paragraphs of explication go by without incorporating the information into the story.
The drama and potential for the story to get better kept me reading, though I definitely struggled. It took me forever to get through this, and I kind of wish I'd stopped.
libscote's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting look at the history of Puerto Rico, which I didn't know much about. I would also say there are a few similarities to "Gone With the Wind," in that they are both about headstrong women in love with a parcel of land.
daniellehorton's review
2.0
I finished this one because I wanted to know how it ended. I didn't feel strongly about any of the characters but it seemed well researched.
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