Reviews with content warning for Racism - Olga Dies Dreaming

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

119 reviews

streberkatze's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was one of my favorite books this year so far. The author brilliantly weaves together the story of her protagonists, told from different perspectives, with Puerto Rican history and U. S. politics. This is also a great read for readers who enjoy a strong sense of place, especially in New York City. Brooklyn really comes alive in this book. And the audiobook version, recorded by three amazing Puerto Rican voice actors, makes the story even more immersive and contributes to the already amazing character development. The resolution

felt a little too neat for my taste

, but this was such a minor issue at the very end of a great read, it didn't really matter to me.

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kwolfie's review against another edition

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emotional informative slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I feel horrible for NOT liking this book, but I also don't want to lie about my opinion. As a white woman, I would never claim to understand the Puerto Rican people's experience, and to be completely honest before this book I didn't know much about anything going on in Puerto Rico. I did learn a TON from this book, but I feel like I could've learned more from a non fiction book without the half baked story shoved into this book. I'm a fiction reader, and I really struggled with keeping my attention on this book and often found myself rereading sections over and over again, especially when there was congressman politics involved. I feel like there can absolutely be an intersection between fiction and learning (take True Biz for example, which I loved) but this just didn't hit that mark for me. It was just generally an incredibly boring story. One thing I did enjoy though was the examination of intersectionality between minority cultures/ethnicities and things like mental illness, HIV/AIDS, and being a woman. I'm a psych major and love anything mental health, but these characters going to therapy would've prevented a good 80% of this book.

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lalita_d's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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lindsaybethlyons's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in one day. If I were still teaching high school, I would definitely use this as an ELA/Social Studies unit. Rich with information and a compelling story told beautifully through multiple perspectives. Wow. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year.

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alaina's review against another edition

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challenging funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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jennipea382's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense 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

3.75

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aliciae08's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I really wanted to like Olga Dies Dreaming, and there were so many things about the novel that I did find compelling.

Olga Dies Dreaming follows wedding planner extraordinaire and her brother Prietro, a Congressman who is being blackmailed. Both siblings are navigating the world all the while receiving letters from a very absent, revolutionary mother who physically disappeared from their lives when they were still children. Her abandonment coupled with their father’s addiction and later death shape them into these adults who are hyper-fixated on money and being likable. Eventually, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, they see that revolution is possible and may be able to help.

Like I said, it’s a compelling storyline. I really liked how the novel presents the relationship between the siblings, as well as the relationship they each have with the rest of their family. I felt like it was very relatable.

I also really liked how the author took her time in explaining things that I, as an American, should’ve learned in school about Puerto Rico and the diaspora and how policy has made Puerto Rico a poorer country despite it’s rich cultural heritage. I liked that there was a sense of hope that Puerto Rico could throw off the colonizer. I also liked the diversity of characters and how their skin was described reflecting that Puerto Ricans are all different shades.

What I didn’t like was the cast of main characters. They all suck and are somewhat problematic. Matteo was written as so likable and then suddenly wealthy that I felt it was like the author was trying too hard for us to find something redeemable about Olga…because if Matteo likes her, we should too.

I didn’t like Dick—I know we aren’t meant to like him but we didn’t need to be subjected to a whole rape scene. The reality that this happens to people like Olga (intelligent, Ivy educated and access to money) isn’t beyond the realm of possibility but I didn’t like reading it.

I also didn’t like how rushed the ending was. We spend so much time with the characters in the buildup and then it’s just a quick rundown with a potential revolution taking place that we don’t fully get to witness. It was jarring.

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sha's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-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

5.0

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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

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emotional medium-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

5.0

Love getting to know the characters. They’re all flawed and complex, Olga especially isn’t always likeable but that’s what made her interesting!

The book is character driven and told through third person POVs, switching mainly between Prieto and Olga. We do also get some other character POVs plus letters between the two MCs and their mother. The character development was very well done, they felt so believable and multi dimensional watching them grow! I also enjoyed the writing style, making it feel like I was at the weddings and in the Hamptons or New York City.

Mainly a story about family, grief, American dream, corruption, colonialism, and how people pleasing/constantly seeking validation from outside sources can affect you. I really related to how both Olga and Prieto feel the need to do what makes everyone else happy or proud of them, and in the process losing yourself and your own sense of fulfillment!

There was one moment of telling over showing moment that really rubbed me the wrong way 🫣 We are 300 pages into the book and without spoiling/full context-It read like the first paragraph of a first page the way it presented a “revelation” like I’m not an idiot, I know Olga is his sister you don’t have to say “Olga his sister” this far into the novel.

It didn’t affect my rating though because overall this was such a beautiful exploration of family dynamics and expectations! I didn’t want to put the book down and it’s an extraordinary debut novel, so I can’t wait to read Gonzalez’s next book.

TW/CW: abandonment, death of parent, cancer, racism and racial micro aggressions, homophobia, AIDS, drug abuse, addiction, emotional abuse, sexual assault, infertility

Rep: Puerto Rican MCs, biracial (white&Black) and Jewish side character, Afro-Latino side character, Gay characters, Latina author, positive disability rep (specifically HIV)

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sierraclimbs's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This was a fantastically written story. I highly recommend the audio book. It’s a full cast & is just really well done.
This book just reinforces my identity of enjoying mundane books. When I say that, it doesn’t mean this story doesn’t have a lot of intrigue and/or value. In contrary, I think this is an incredibly important life perspective for people to read from. What I mean by mundane is that there is nothing “fantastical” or “surprising”. It’s just people living life full of struggle, love, heartbreak, happiness & all of life’s other complexities.
This story tells the story of a Puerto Rican American family growing up with split identity & the struggle that comes with that.
It’s very raw & real, but also funny & lighthearted at times.
So glad it was picked for my book club because I hadn’t heard of it before then.
10/10 recommend

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