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jrap56's review
emotional
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
5.0
mikaelamarino's review
emotional
inspiring
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? No
4.0
sjksjksjk's review
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? No
5.0
ellei's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
5.0
I’m sad that this book ended. Such a rich and reflective story with so many gems. I bookmarked so many pages that I will go back to. Elizabeth Acevedo is a powerful writer, orator, and storyteller. I look forward to all of her releases and I’m also sad because I’m almost finished with her portfolio 😩. I need to pace myself with her work. She’s an author I will always immediately buy and will continue to support. I look forward to her upcoming release.
msash812's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
moosalamoo_rnnr's review
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
4.25
Elizabeth Acevedo nailed it with this one. I think Elizabeth Acevedo nails all of her books. This was definitely an adult book, but just as strong as her YA books. I loved the development of the sisters and the cousins, and how the past and present worked in this story. This book is absolutely one I would recommend to all the women I love, because at it’s heart it is a book about women and the complicated, beautiful love they have for one another.
sarahchoi's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.75
bmeurer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
communistbatman's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.25
Family Lore flips between the past and present as we learn about the childhoods of Matilde, Flor, and Pastora, sisters growing up in the Dominican Republic. The “family” element captures the sister’s relationship with each other, the gaps, strengths, and conflicts, as well as the people and problems separate from their united front.
The “lore” is the touch of magical realism woven into an otherwise slice of life, ambling story. Three of the sisters possess supernatural abilities to see death, truth, or heal. The magical component of the novel remains grounded, operating as a heightened sense rather than a campy superpower which I liked. Still, it seemed underutilized and unfitting despite being mentioned throughout. The story could function with little revision without it and I don’t feel that it added a supreme amount of depth to a novel that didn’t seem to have a place for it among six different arcs.
Traditionally, I enjoy magical realism and intergenerational novels, so this book sat very well with me regardless. I loved the traveling through time, witnessing the inevitable effects of their pasts, and their complex relationships with themselves and the figures close to them who are still not family in the Marte sense. The unwavering sisterhood that follows all six women was heartwarming and deeply deserving. The tacit intimacy between each generation, the sisters and then the cousins, really drew me in. While the magic didn’t stand out to me, the characters did and I wish we had spent more time developing their reality than floating in explanations of some interesting abilities...
This novel strays closer to a comfort read (despite the ending) and so the characters were likable and honest in their intentions. I don’t think anyone was particularly deep or nuanced—a true what you see is what you get situation—but that’s often most efficient with such a large cast since there isn’t unimpeded time to dive into the details of six characters before the central conflict wraps up. At the very least, each character felt defined and individual.
The “lore” is the touch of magical realism woven into an otherwise slice of life, ambling story. Three of the sisters possess supernatural abilities to see death, truth, or heal. The magical component of the novel remains grounded, operating as a heightened sense rather than a campy superpower which I liked. Still, it seemed underutilized and unfitting despite being mentioned throughout. The story could function with little revision without it and I don’t feel that it added a supreme amount of depth to a novel that didn’t seem to have a place for it among six different arcs.
Traditionally, I enjoy magical realism and intergenerational novels, so this book sat very well with me regardless. I loved the traveling through time, witnessing the inevitable effects of their pasts, and their complex relationships with themselves and the figures close to them who are still not family in the Marte sense. The unwavering sisterhood that follows all six women was heartwarming and deeply deserving. The tacit intimacy between each generation, the sisters and then the cousins, really drew me in. While the magic didn’t stand out to me, the characters did and I wish we had spent more time developing their reality than floating in explanations of some interesting abilities...
This novel strays closer to a comfort read (despite the ending) and so the characters were likable and honest in their intentions. I don’t think anyone was particularly deep or nuanced—a true what you see is what you get situation—but that’s often most efficient with such a large cast since there isn’t unimpeded time to dive into the details of six characters before the central conflict wraps up. At the very least, each character felt defined and individual.