Reviews

Las Madres by Esmeralda Santiago

lizm98's review

2.75

2.75 ⭐️
I liked it in the beginning but I found it hard to follow as the book went on. 

eddieandujar's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

This book started out strong - Luz endures so much hardship and learns to navigate a new life forever impacted by a TBI. The story follows her lack of agency and her reclamation of it. We see outpourings of love - but also flawed people guided by selfish, and abusive, motives. 

What this book desperately needs is *hope.* Esmeralda throws trauma after trauma at her characters - and explains this as being truthful to the Puerto Rican experience, but I wished she did as much research into trauma recovery, into acceptance, into joy, as she did into the effects of colonialism and disaster capitalism. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Ableism, Abortion, Rape, Murder, and Colonisation

mthornburg13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Car accident, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Ableism, Death, Excrement, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Homophobia, and Cancer

sweetbriar15's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

samlikesbooks's review

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Car accident, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Abortion

catherine392's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

mxnjrees's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective tense fast-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

5.0

Absolutely phenomenal story of intergenerational trauma and multilingual healing. Luminescent with vivid characters and powerful wisdom.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Car accident, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Bullying, Ableism, and Abortion

ilovecafeandlibros's review

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

xohhhh's review

challenging emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

jb_reads_'s review

adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0