kamcburns's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
zepysgirl's review against another edition
2.0
I never know what to do with these quasi-historical books.
bookish_ann's review against another edition
1.0
Right, this book left me a bit baffled - what was the point? What was it trying to say? So I goggled Padre Chinchachoma, and UGH.
First of all… the book says “Chinchachoma” means “Lunatic” (pg 36)… but it really means “bald”. OK, minor issue. But Padre Chincha died in 1999 in Bogotá , Colombia. NOT in 1985 in the aftermath of the Mexico City earthquake. So that was a gratuitous invention for the novel, to manipulate emotion?. And there was nothing I could find that even hinted that Padre was an abuser of the children himself. In fact, I read that the street kids held a multi-day funeral for him (and then the paywall hit so I lack details). Perhaps though, that was all local rumor and since the author is from Mexico City, I’ll take his word. The other plot line is that Padre is hated by the corrupt police for protecting the children that they prey upon. They repeatedly frame the priest so they can have easier access to the kids.
But, an indictment of corrupt cops did not seem to be the point either. Honestly, this seems to be a diary of a well-off person’s summer of slumming. Misery tourism. With a little sprinkle of white savior at the end (The author describes himself as white in the text, and he
First of all… the book says “Chinchachoma” means “Lunatic” (pg 36)… but it really means “bald”. OK, minor issue. But Padre Chincha died in 1999 in Bogotá , Colombia. NOT in 1985 in the aftermath of the Mexico City earthquake. So that was a gratuitous invention for the novel, to manipulate emotion?
Spoiler
The text says he died of SADNESS, FFSBut, an indictment of corrupt cops did not seem to be the point either. Honestly, this seems to be a diary of a well-off person’s summer of slumming. Misery tourism. With a little sprinkle of white savior at the end (The author describes himself as white in the text, and he
Spoiler
saves a garbage baby.hamikka's review
2.0
It had the makings of an interesting, moving story. Sadly, it was disorganized and hard to follow.
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