Reviews

Caramelo, by Sandra Cisneros

linda_elaine's review against another edition

emotional funny slow-paced

4.0

carmenghia's review

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

I spent forever on this, it feels like. Because it is a collection of vignettes across three generations, there's no real central driving plot. It's more of a dawdling series of snapshots of family flaws. 

alexawild's review

5.0

I had to read this for a class and I didn't think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. As a Mexican American I loved reading a realistic book that I could relate to. I think we all know of a mother in law like the awful grandmother. I also enjoyed the way the book was formatted I think it was essential to the plot.

anikamanzo's review

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.0

maralib's review

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

hooleigha's review

3.0

Lala has six older brothers and struggles to find privacy and identity in the mix of her loud, crowded, very traditional family. Accompanied by her uncles, aunts, and cousins, Lala's family spends the summers driving down to Mexico City to see the Awful Grandmother and little Grandfather until a family secret is revealed that sours already-precarious relationships. The book is comprised of vignettes, poetry, and classic fiction writing, culminating in three parts that follow a family legacy through the twentieth century. Themes include: family and tradition, Mexican-American culture, generational curses, abandonment, forgiveness, immigration, the balance between lying and storytelling, mysticism, and family heirlooms.

kimberly_b's review

1.0

I really didn't like Caramelo. I respect what Cisneros was trying to do, but I feel disingenuous rating it more than one star (did not like it). The story was bloated, but the writing was what I struggled with the most. Cisneros writes in a stream of consciousness way that doesn't always feel like she's imparting necessary information. The high points of the story are buried in the absolute excess of words. I suspect that the editor didn't cut much, if anything, from this story. I know enough Spanish to where the untranslated Spanish didn't bother me. I did think the comments throughout the novel about the awkwardness of Spanish phrases was odd. Here is an example:

-Es que tengo sleepy. I have sleepy, Father.

Oh yeah, there are no quotation marks in the entire novel! Just dashes. Anyway, there are a lot of instances where Lala points out the strange wording of Spanish sentences when they're translated to English. I mean, English would seem awkward when translated to Spanish. I just didn't get the constant mentioning of it, especially from a native Spanish speaker.

I would have completely abandoned this book if it wasn't my book club pick for November.

tsundoker's review

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

linopalve's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

thekacie's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.5