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bookmaddie's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, and Violence
situationnormal's review against another edition
4.0
Compared to Dreaming In Cuban, another book of Garcia's that I've read, The Lady Matador's Hotel is bizarre. Garcia likes to use ghosts and elements of magical realism in her writing, but The Lady Matador's Hotel only uses this in a few sections. Instead, Garcia relies on a large cast of characters, none of which the reader gets to know too well, but all with their own agendas and their own quirks.
The characters come from many different countries, different upbringings, and different careers, and each is tied to the group by the titular hotel. Garcia does not shy away from making each character seem horrible and beautiful at the same time. Each character is both sympathetic and demented, and the writing is straightforward enough to showcase this, but lyrical enough to take away the starkness of the contrast.
I love Garcia's writing, and I was a little disappointed to reach the end of this book, although I was satisfied with the way the ending of each chapter (which was written as newspaper clippings, or television transcripts) tied each to the main story, and the way the end of the book followed this trend.
Garcia also has fun in this book playing with gender roles. The Lady Matador, herself, garners a lot of attention for her profession, which is traditionally masculine, but all of the women in the book have masculine qualities and seem more powerful than the men in their lives. The main male characters, on the other hand, are pushed around by their mothers and wives, and have a gentleness about them, including the ex-military man who is vulnerable, at least in his sleep. None of the characters, however, seems unbelievable. As every person is both "feminine" and "masculine" each of the characters in Garcia's book is, too, in a way that most authors shy away from.
The characters come from many different countries, different upbringings, and different careers, and each is tied to the group by the titular hotel. Garcia does not shy away from making each character seem horrible and beautiful at the same time. Each character is both sympathetic and demented, and the writing is straightforward enough to showcase this, but lyrical enough to take away the starkness of the contrast.
I love Garcia's writing, and I was a little disappointed to reach the end of this book, although I was satisfied with the way the ending of each chapter (which was written as newspaper clippings, or television transcripts) tied each to the main story, and the way the end of the book followed this trend.
Garcia also has fun in this book playing with gender roles. The Lady Matador, herself, garners a lot of attention for her profession, which is traditionally masculine, but all of the women in the book have masculine qualities and seem more powerful than the men in their lives. The main male characters, on the other hand, are pushed around by their mothers and wives, and have a gentleness about them, including the ex-military man who is vulnerable, at least in his sleep. None of the characters, however, seems unbelievable. As every person is both "feminine" and "masculine" each of the characters in Garcia's book is, too, in a way that most authors shy away from.
sea_beatnik's review
5.0
Amazing. Such a great novel that I do not think words could do it justice. All I have to say is READ IT!
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. It was proof I don't read descriptions of book closely before reading the book as I went in expecting a historical novel haha. But never the less it was a good book, have never read a book with a lady matador before
cbarsotti's review against another edition
3.0
The writing of Garcia is entrancing as always. While 'unnamed' the land of The Lady Matadors Hotel reminds me very much of Guatemala. I wonder if this was a personal impression and if not I wonder why not outright claim the land as Guatemala? The vagueness seemed forced and I found it hard to attach myself to the plight of this country and I wonder if Garcia is uncomfortable talking boldly about a country outside of Cuba (which is heavily referenced). This vagueness continues as there are many character storylines going on at once. It becomes difficult to perceive any depth in any of them and even the title Matadora is hardly fulfilled as a character.
tonythep's review against another edition
4.0
Cristina Garcia weaves together the lives of five characters at a hotel in an unnamed Central American country. With its lyrical description and touches of magic (and of course the setting), the prose may faintly echo that of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, but Cristina Garcia has crafted a subtle and delightful gem of her own.
sashathewild's review against another edition
3.0
This book has a unique structure and lyrical prose, which always appeal to me. On the other hand, I read somewhere that Garcia's work is on par with Isabel Allende's, which I did not find to be the case. A good read, nonetheless.
kafkaonthebrink's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25