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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
This is the first book I've given five stars in 2015. It is magnificent.
Once again this author makes history into a riveting novel that I can't put down. Argentina's cruel dictatorship that left many "disappeared" was written in an intimate familial structure with an very bright girl's struggle with her personal identity within her family's identity. The unbelievable opening to the book and subsequent weaving of this theme through the book, was so skillfully done that I didn't feel I'd had one put over on me. Can't wait to read her next book The Gods of Tango!
Perla is a gorgeous novel written about an ugly time in Argentina's recent history. It is the story of one young woman raised to adore her military father, who gradually discovers who he is and, in the process, who she is, too. If you can appreciate magical realism, and are curious about South American politics, you'll appreciate this book.
Gorgeous prose but the story is very hard to follow and became incomprehensible to me. And the characters aren't developed enough to make up for that shortcoming. This book is fairly short but it felt so much longer because of those reasons.
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ironically, I had just read On a Night of a Thousand Stars right before reading this one. It gave me all the necessary background knowledge around Argentina’s history and organizations such as HIJOS and Madres de la Plaza de Mayo, so I felt very informed while reading this story. It was absolutely beautifully and uniquely told. I haven’t read anything like this before. Carolina De Robertis is a top favorite of mine, and her ability to take my breath away with prose feels magical.
beautiful beautiful book! Carolina did it again! I’m endlessly amazed by her creativity, storytelling and writing. I never wanted this book to end… READ IT!
this one tore my whole being to pieces and gingerly put my back together. Carolina has a way of making the extreme tragedies of the world consumable without removing their significance and I love the way this one magically personified grief, shame, and history with a ghost. it is certainly unlike any other magical book out there
challenging
emotional