Reviews

The Other Americans by Laila Lalami

oliviaeleni's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

joana_aisha's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

year23's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

I think if you like Hala Alyan's Salt Houses or Arsonist's city, or Paper Names by Suie Luo, this would be a great next pick. 

The title is spot on - a compelling portrait of Americans - from a variety of backgrounds, sharing snippets of their life - the struggles in particular, but also some joys - all centering around a catalytic event that ties them all together.

I love this kind of storytelling, when done well, multiple POVs, a central plot that brings all of them together but really ends up being a reflection on their life and impactful moments highlighting themes around race and racism, family & relationships - particularly parent/child, trauma - all kinds, and figuring out how to navigate a world full of these on-going oppressions. It's at times empathetic but in a way that doesn't hold back in revealing how those oppressions show up in small & big ways, enacted by individuals who have internalized hate. 

I highly recommend this and will be checking out more of Lalami's books!

bookph1le's review against another edition

4.0

There is a mystery at the heart of this book, but it's not so much about the mystery itself. Instead, it's a complex portrait of love, family, and loss, and of contemporary America and the ugliness hiding behind its shiny facade. I found the whole book extremely compelling, and at times heart-wrenching.

sandiet's review against another edition

4.0

I seem to have found myself on a reading streak of Middle Eastern authors and I love it. Their words are heartfelt and I've found the story telling to be superb. In this novel, Nora returns home to deal with the aftermath of her father's hit and run death. Nora tries to make sense of what happened while at the same time struggling with tumultuous relationships with her mother and older sister. Nora finds herself getting involved with a boy from her high school days who clearly was infatuated with her then and still is all these years later. Many story tellers including the father and I enjoy books with many POV's.
The one area I would have liked to see explored more was the sister's relationship and the mother's influence on that sibling rivalry. Would have liked to read about the mother and Nora finding out Salma wasn't as perfect as they thought. Also touched on but just briefly, a woman coming to the realization that her pre-teen son might be gay, this could have been explored more For these reasons I can only give 3.5 rounded up to 4

dvo19's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

kaxla's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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? Yes

2.5

The ending felt rushed and tacked on, I didn't love the romance part of it, although it was better done than I would have expected. Overall my least favorite book I've finished this year so far (may)

marsie110's review against another edition

emotional mysterious slow-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? No

3.0

katielong84's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

caseyjayner's review against another edition

challenging emotional relaxing 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