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mztaraln76's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
maritza_reads's review
medium-paced
5.0
I feel 20% smarter after reading this. This lit fic explores society (mostly the US) and their views towards immigrants and consequently them being treated like monsters.
jg12389's review
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
3.0
This was an overall enjoyable, quick read. The premise is interesting and the plot moves along at a pretty good pace. My biggest issue is the way the dialogue between some of the characters was written. SO much of it felt corny or exaggerated. Overall I enjoyed it and I appreciate the message I think the author is trying to communicate.
krystalaz's review
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.75
jules_sp's review
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
sometimesleelynnreads's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dantew's review against another edition
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
ddmgembala's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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? Yes
5.0
librarytribute's review
4.75
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and NetGalley for a free advanced listener’s copy. I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.
Oop, people who are different becoming a boogeyman (budum-tsh) for a political campaign!? Insane! Never heard of it! /j
In all seriousness, A whole society where reanimated people are a normal part of life and the way they would slot into social, political, and personal spaces is actually the brain food of my dreams. Daniel A. Olivas’ Chicano Frankenstein is a love letter to so much more than Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The characters of ‘The Man’ and Foustina were really interesting to read about, especially as they live their normal everyday lives against the political backdrop of a reelection campaign trying to oppress the reanimated community. I think Olivas’ use of these characters to build out what exactly this society looks like for people day to day is implemented really well. Their relationship was a great tool as well but, more than that, it was believable. It sucked me in and had me rooting for them the whole way through. I just love a ‘not actually together but into each other’ couple, it gets me everytime, particularly in a story about the messiness of being a human.
Aside from Olivas’ character work, I loved the world building in this book and thought it built upon itself in a way that really sucked me in. The multimedia asides of political interviews, news reports, and transcripts from campaign offices expanded the world beyond what we saw with ‘The Man’ and Foustina. The references to the MAGA movement and the political strategy to dehumanize people based on their minority identities really hits the nail on the head. Afterall, what’s easier than making a monster out of science fiction? I’ve always loved Shelley’s monster though, and I appreciate the exploration of a reanimated person’s humanity the way Olivas expands on it: what is family, belonging, culture to a reanimated person? What does it mean to be comfortable in one’s own skin? What are the building blocks of humanity?
In other words: this is exactly what I want from my Frankenstein inspired media!
So if your favorite thing about Frankenstein was ‘the Monster’ and his struggles with his humanity or alternatively (and a bit more shallowly…which I’m also guilty of) if you’ve ever wanted to romance the monster…please pick up this book. I beg.
geriatricgretch's review
3.0
I liked the idea of this book, but the execution was frustrating. A lot of telling, not showing, and the dialogue was really clunky (also every single character says "hubby," ugh).