mazza57's review against another edition
1.0
Having finished this book I am grateful for only one thing I did not pay for it. Supposedly the story of How Vanja left Rio to travel to Colorado in search of her father. In actuality it is a mess of narrative knotted and having little or no relevance to this search. It has neither narrative or characterisation to support this tangled mess - this is one author i won't seek out again
bgg616's review against another edition
5.0
Vanja aged 13 is living with her mother in Rio de Janeiro when her mother dies. Her aunt sends her to the Denver, Colorado suburbs to live with her stepfather, Fernando. Fernando works in the Denver Public Library as a security guard, and cleans houses on the side. He lives a very contained, friendless life. Vanja finds life in Colorado very strange - a dry climate, weather that ranges from hot to cold, and a natural environment that is very brown and gray compared with Brazil. Vanja's reaction to her new surroundings describe what many immigrants may feel in new and alien environments. The writer is a Brazilian who now lives in Colorado, thus the authenticity of Vanja's response. The book focuses on Vanja's search for her father, and Fernando's efforts to help her. Fernando's story is also woven throughout. In his youth he was a guerrilla with a radical group in the jungles of far northern Brazil. This history reveals the depths of Fernando that no one would suspect. The skill of this author in moving between stories, environments, and countries makes this a wonderful read. The language is gorgeous and often brilliant. I am going to look for more by this author.
books_with_tess's review against another edition
I don't like this monologue style writing in books...it gets to monotone for me. Don't feel like I get any highs and lows, any change in pace or anything at all!
It's like reading a sentence with no punctuations...
It's like reading a sentence with no punctuations...
oceanelle's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the writing and the feelings of diaspora it evoked, but the plot dragged, and I couldn't stay interested.
vaniavela's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
nandanz's review against another edition
5.0
“O mundo não me devia nada, mas isso não me impedia de seguir mal e porcamente um trajeto mal e porcamente traçado, que não tinha nenhuma importância para a vida de ninguém, e que poderia ter passado como de fato passou: à margem de tudo. Quase em branco.”
samantha_randolph's review against another edition
3.0
"Newly teen Vanja is lost when her mother passes away. Left confused and uncertain, she decides to leave her home in Rio de Janeiro to stay with her mother's ex-husband in Colorado. With his help, her goal is to track down her biological father. During her search, the histories of the people around her unfold, and a bigger picture of politics and intersecting lives is presented." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=45594
jaiminh0's review against another edition
2.0
The book calls itself transnational, and yet, the Brazilian-ness of the narrative is undermined by the narrator being unaware of the significance of the events. She is wholly detached from them. This detachment in turn stops the dual narrative from fully functioning.
In addition, the denouement, with Fernando’s death, is all too short and implausible. A little too Deus ex machina. As a coming-of-age narrative, the protagonist is likeable and sincere, but that’s not enough to save this book from itself.
In addition, the denouement, with Fernando’s death, is all too short and implausible. A little too Deus ex machina. As a coming-of-age narrative, the protagonist is likeable and sincere, but that’s not enough to save this book from itself.
alisiakae's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked how Fernando's story was woven throughout. Like the Vanja's mother, the story floats around rather than staying in one place. It worked for me.