nikikalyvides's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
4.0
From the very beginning, you know that this is not a realistic fiction piece. Celia, the matriarch of the del Pino family, sees her resurrected husband walking to her on the sea. We are in the realm of Latin American magical realism (think Gabriel Garcia Marquez).
What follows is a family saga that takes place in New York and Cuba in the mid-20th century. The story focuses on the women of the family: Celia, the abuela who is as in love with socialism as she is with her imaginary lover; Celia’s daughter Felicia, who is mentally deranged and dabbles in santeria; Celia’s other daughter Lourdes, an escapee from Cuba, patriot, and bakery owner; and Pilar, Lourdes punk rock daughter who wishes she was back in Cuba with Abuela Celia.
There is magic, murder, infidelity, and dark humor. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel.
——-
Notes for myself:
- I read this immediately after reading Achibe’s “Things Fall Apart.” I was struck by mention of cowries, palm wine, and yams in both books.
- My wife picked this book up at a Free Little Library. She didn’t finish it. I had no desire to read it but then it came up on the Time 100 list. I was pleasantly surprised.
- I love novels with a strong sense of setting. I felt like I absorbed some “Cuba” reading this. I found myself listening to some Latin jazz. Next week I intend to cook some fricasé de pollo!
What follows is a family saga that takes place in New York and Cuba in the mid-20th century. The story focuses on the women of the family: Celia, the abuela who is as in love with socialism as she is with her imaginary lover; Celia’s daughter Felicia, who is mentally deranged and dabbles in santeria; Celia’s other daughter Lourdes, an escapee from Cuba, patriot, and bakery owner; and Pilar, Lourdes punk rock daughter who wishes she was back in Cuba with Abuela Celia.
There is magic, murder, infidelity, and dark humor. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel.
——-
Notes for myself:
- I read this immediately after reading Achibe’s “Things Fall Apart.” I was struck by mention of cowries, palm wine, and yams in both books.
- My wife picked this book up at a Free Little Library. She didn’t finish it. I had no desire to read it but then it came up on the Time 100 list. I was pleasantly surprised.
- I love novels with a strong sense of setting. I felt like I absorbed some “Cuba” reading this. I found myself listening to some Latin jazz. Next week I intend to cook some fricasé de pollo!
crystal_reading's review against another edition
2.0
I have a hard time with the magical realism type of books. This one had a bit and it was also about a time period that I don't know a lot about so I feel that I probably missed a lot.
It was ok, but I think that I would have gotten more out of it if I was familiar with the events and politics of Cuba.
It was ok, but I think that I would have gotten more out of it if I was familiar with the events and politics of Cuba.
katie_archer's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
uvahoogirl's review against another edition
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
2.5
the_bookish_musings_of_mari's review against another edition
Well, too literary and I wasn’t pulled in, I got confused on the characters
nandithav's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mirificmoxie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
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
2.0
prgaldiaries's review against another edition
3.0
Found the book a bit too dry for my taste, couldn’t quite grasp why the stories were there necessarily, and if and how they were truly intertwined, pther than theough the fact that the characters were related.
vmaravis's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0