shortskirtsandsarcasm's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
nferre's review
4.0
A curiosity of a book, published in 1996 which undertakes some pretty heavy issues of immigration, illegal Mexicans, racism, safety, the American way. In 2010 this novel resonates heavily given the new laws in Arizona which target illegals and, moreover, anyone who looks like they could be illegal.
The story deals with two couples – Delaney and Kyra, a well-to-do Californian couple with a kid, a couple of yapper dogs and a cat, living in a community struggling to keep the riff-raff out, home prices up, be safe and enjoy the life they’ve worked hard to earn. Meet the other couple, America and Candido, illegal Mexicans who crossed the Tortilla Curtain (the US-Mexican porous border) risking their lives with the hope of making in a couple of months what would take all year to make in Mexico. They are robbed, swindled, lied to and worse – and that’s only by fellow Mexicans. They wind up living in a ravine just down from Delaney and Kyra’s house; living, though, is too strong a word, they merely survive, camping out with no running water nor shelter, hiding from the “migra” (immigration police) and other Mexican thugs willing to steal from anyone.
These two unlikely couples come in contact when Delaney hits Candido with his car; shocked, he reaches in his wallet and throws $20 at Candido as the Mexican hobbles away, terrified of going to a doctor as that would lead to deportation. As Candido lies in his campsite, tended to by his pregnant wife America, the full weight of what has happened falls on him, as not only can he not stand and walk, there is no way he can make it up the ravine and get any work. And so America, at 17 years old and pregnant goes to work. Meanwhile, Delaney, a naturalist broadminded kind of guy deals with his guilt while his wife works the neighborhood trying vehemently to get a wall built up around their subdivision and keep out coyotes – both of the 4 legged and 2 legged varieties.
Over the course of several weeks, events spiral terribly out of control. The couples, each in their own way, can’t seem to cut a break. If there is a weak spot in the book, it is this part of the plot, which is unrelenting and heavy.
This is not a book of clear cut characters. The plot is not black and white. Boyle succeeds in allowing the reading to ride the fence. At one point siding with the Americans and at others siding with the Mexicans. Both the Delayney and his wife Kyra, and Candido and America are trying to better their lives. They come to the reader quite flawed, and as such, at times hard to sympathize with, although the plight of Candido and America is gut-wrenching.
What Boyle doesn’t really explore in depth are the white Californians who hire illegal Mexicans, exploit them, use their cheap labor to build the walls that ultimately distance them. He lays it out throughout the novel, for the reader to decide on, there are no quick fixes, easy answers or tidy endings.
vicvic30's review
2.0
I don't remember who told me to read this book. Honestly, I think it was some bad Hinge date. But whoever that person was has terrible taste.
The idea behind this book is solid. Juxtapose a wealthy, liberal white couple against a sweet Mexican couple who recently crossed the border. Expose the underlying racism of suburban white communities and demonstrate the suffering experienced by those fighting for a better life. But it neither accomplishes this nor does it with any grace. Everyone is a caricature. Instead of exploring the subtle ways that liberal ideas break down when faced with true difficulties, the author goes from 0 to the n word. Similarly, rather than exploring the difficult emotions that come with crossing the border, he sits around thinking about how much he misses chorizo. Is there a rape scene? Of course there's a rape scene.
Great idea, poor execution. Two stars.
The idea behind this book is solid. Juxtapose a wealthy, liberal white couple against a sweet Mexican couple who recently crossed the border. Expose the underlying racism of suburban white communities and demonstrate the suffering experienced by those fighting for a better life. But it neither accomplishes this nor does it with any grace. Everyone is a caricature. Instead of exploring the subtle ways that liberal ideas break down when faced with true difficulties, the author goes from 0 to the n word. Similarly, rather than exploring the difficult emotions that come with crossing the border, he sits around thinking about how much he misses chorizo. Is there a rape scene? Of course there's a rape scene.
Great idea, poor execution. Two stars.
bookishkathrine's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure how I feel about this one... definitely readable, but it pulled me in different directions a lot of the time, maybe that is the purpose. I kind of hated everyone in this book. And I wasn't a fan of the gut-wrenching random ending. But not a horrible book.
kateb_libro's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
4.75
ld277's review against another edition
3.0
T.C. Boyle ist für seine satirischen und kritischen Werke weltberühmt und mit "The Tortilla Curtain" nimmt er dies auf eine ganz neue Ebene. Erzählt wird die Geschichte aus der Sicht von zwei Paaren - das amerikanische Paar, Delaney und Kyra, das alles in ihrem Leben und Candido und America. das mexikanische Paar, das gar nichts hat. An einem schicksalshaften Tag, kollidieren ihre Welten und alles nimmt eine unerwartete Wendung.
Die Geschichte hat mir an sich gut gefallen. Boyle hat einen sehr speziellen Schreibstil und sein Werk strotzt nur so vor Sarkasmus. Er erzählt, wie Immigranten aus Mexiko von den weißen Amerikanern behandelt werden und was für Schwierigkeiten sie überwinden müssen, um im Land der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten Fuß zu fassen. Um es nicht zu beschönigen - es ist schrecklich. Vergewaltigungen, Raubüberfälle, Hunger, Kälte, Hitze, Regen, Überschwemmungen ... vor nichts sind Candido und America geschützt. Währenddessen leben die Ammis in ihren perfekten Häusern und ärgern sich über die "Ausländer, die überall sind und alles beschmutzen". Ich habe diesen kritischen Blick auf diese Vorherrschaft der Weißen sehr löblich gefunden. Somit können vielleicht einige Leser/innen reflektieren und ihrer Privilegien bewusst werden und sich fragen, wie sie diesen Menschen vielleicht helfen können.
Als Kriegsflüchtling, weiß ich dies zu schätzen, was Boyle hier anstrebt. Es ist wichtig, dass Menschen die alles haben, darüber nachdenken und versuchen sich in die Lage derer zu versetzen, die von der Hand in den Mund leben.
Das einzige Manko bei der Geschichte war die Hoffnungslosigkeit, die sich durch das ganze Buch gezogen hat. Nichts scheint zu funktionieren für Candido und America. Am Ende war es schon zu übertrieben, sodass es ....
den Rest meiner Rezension sowie mehr könnt ihr auf meinem Blog lesen :) ---> http://pagesoverpages.blogspot.co.at/2017/04/rezension-america.html
Die Geschichte hat mir an sich gut gefallen. Boyle hat einen sehr speziellen Schreibstil und sein Werk strotzt nur so vor Sarkasmus. Er erzählt, wie Immigranten aus Mexiko von den weißen Amerikanern behandelt werden und was für Schwierigkeiten sie überwinden müssen, um im Land der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten Fuß zu fassen. Um es nicht zu beschönigen - es ist schrecklich. Vergewaltigungen, Raubüberfälle, Hunger, Kälte, Hitze, Regen, Überschwemmungen ... vor nichts sind Candido und America geschützt. Währenddessen leben die Ammis in ihren perfekten Häusern und ärgern sich über die "Ausländer, die überall sind und alles beschmutzen". Ich habe diesen kritischen Blick auf diese Vorherrschaft der Weißen sehr löblich gefunden. Somit können vielleicht einige Leser/innen reflektieren und ihrer Privilegien bewusst werden und sich fragen, wie sie diesen Menschen vielleicht helfen können.
Als Kriegsflüchtling, weiß ich dies zu schätzen, was Boyle hier anstrebt. Es ist wichtig, dass Menschen die alles haben, darüber nachdenken und versuchen sich in die Lage derer zu versetzen, die von der Hand in den Mund leben.
Das einzige Manko bei der Geschichte war die Hoffnungslosigkeit, die sich durch das ganze Buch gezogen hat. Nichts scheint zu funktionieren für Candido und America. Am Ende war es schon zu übertrieben, sodass es ....
den Rest meiner Rezension sowie mehr könnt ihr auf meinem Blog lesen :) ---> http://pagesoverpages.blogspot.co.at/2017/04/rezension-america.html
verena7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tanya_the_spack's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it. I kind of disliked every character, but I liked it.
blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review against another edition
This book was a lot more rape-y than I expected. Not sure exactly how much rape I had expected, but the amount in the book was definitely more.
Also, I didn't like the character Candido at all. At first he had my sympathies, and we were building a relationship with that, but then he turned out to be a huge asshole. The terrible way he treats his wife, his bullshit machismo at the cost of not only his own health but that of his wife and unborn baby, his complete stupidity when dealing with other people (Mexican and American) - all of this destroyed the sympathetic relationship I had with the character. I just ended up hating him.
We listened to this book on the drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back, and it did pass the time. However, I will not be listening to the final hours of this book now that we are done with driving. I don't especially like the characters and I don't especially care what happens to them.
Also, I didn't like the character Candido at all. At first he had my sympathies, and we were building a relationship with that, but then he turned out to be a huge asshole. The terrible way he treats his wife, his bullshit machismo at the cost of not only his own health but that of his wife and unborn baby, his complete stupidity when dealing with other people (Mexican and American) - all of this destroyed the sympathetic relationship I had with the character. I just ended up hating him.
We listened to this book on the drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back, and it did pass the time. However, I will not be listening to the final hours of this book now that we are done with driving. I don't especially like the characters and I don't especially care what happens to them.
randizzle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0