Scan barcode
lmurray74's review against another edition
3.0
I don't feel I had all the references necessary to appreciate this book. I read it in English and in the Spanish Argueta employs much slang and local dialect that must be tricky to translate. I would recommend it to someone more knowledgeable about that time in El Salvador's history as I feel there are many layers to this book.
kimiwriter's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is a stream of consciousness, romantic and political story about young lovers in El Salvador mixed with political turmoil and imagery from the Little Red Riding Hood story.
I was confused by a lot of it since POVs can jump within the same paragraph and it's never clear exactly whose head or identity we are following at any given time. Eventually, keeping the characters straight becomes easier but the order of events is still fuzzy for me. If I was reading this for a class, maybe it would rate higher but for someone with little to no knowledge of the events and culture it discusses and is contextualized in, I have to give it a middle of the road rating. Interesting but confusing.
I was confused by a lot of it since POVs can jump within the same paragraph and it's never clear exactly whose head or identity we are following at any given time. Eventually, keeping the characters straight becomes easier but the order of events is still fuzzy for me. If I was reading this for a class, maybe it would rate higher but for someone with little to no knowledge of the events and culture it discusses and is contextualized in, I have to give it a middle of the road rating. Interesting but confusing.
More...