Please Note: I received an advance audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Prizewinning and
bestselling writer Luis Urrea has written his Mexican coming-to-America
story and his masterpiece. Destined to sit alongside other classic
immigrant novels, THE HOUSE OF BROKEN ANGELS is a sprawling and epic
family saga helmed by patriarch Big Angel. The novel gathers together
the entire De La Cruz clan, as they meet for the final birthday party
Big Angel is throwing for himself, at home in San Diego, as he nears the
end of his struggle with cancer and reflects on his long and full life.
But
when Big Angel's mother, Mama America, approaching one hundred, dies
herself as the party nears, he must plan her funeral as well. There will
be two family affairs in one weekend: a farewell double-header. Among
the attendants is his half-brother and namesake, Little Angel, who comes
face to face with the siblings with whom he shared a father but not, as
the weekend proceeds to remind him, a life.
This story of the
De La Cruzes is the story of what it means to be a Mexican in America,
to have lived two lives across one border. It is a tale of the ravaging
power of death to shore up the bits of life you have forgotten, whether
by choice or not. Above all, this finely wrought portrait of a deeply
complex family and the America they have come to call home is Urrea at
his purest and best. Teeming with brilliance and humor, authentic at
every turn, THE HOUSE OF BROKEN ANGELS cements his reputation as a
storyteller of the first rank.
Review:
Luis Alberto Urrea is one of my favorite authors. He is the product of a Mexican father and a Caucasian mother, so I have feel an immediate kinship with his books. The House of Broken Angels, I think is the author's most powerful book yet, and has quickly become my new favorite. With a large cast of familial characters, Urrea perfectly captures the drama, and entertainment value, of Mexican family gatherings.
What I Liked:
Narration:
This is a book where one MUST listen to the audio book to get the greatest enjoyment!!! And the novel is narrated by no other than... The author, himself! Hearing this book told in the author's voice brings to life every sentence with the perfect emphasis and intonation. Urrea's delivery is at varying times funny, biting, and rather sexy!
Setting & Story:
The book is centered around a funeral, and then a blow-out birthday party for the main character, Big Angel. Mexican milestones are big affairs, filled with music, food, laughter, and family drama. With these occasions as a backdrop, we get to know all the members of the extended De La Cruz family. Each has a compelling story.
All of the backstories converge into an epic event at the final birthday party of Big Angel. The climatic scene is full of suspense, and loads of humor, as we see a series of events lead to a confrontation for the ages!
Characters:
The story is told from the point of view of the main character, Big Angel. His observations of his family are full of love, and acid. As his life is drawing to a close (he is dying of cancer), he thinks back on his life, his marriage, and his children. He is both proud and full of regret.
I loved the book's depiction of Angel and Pella's long marriage. This is an enduring relationship full of love, sex, and appreciation. While their habits may drive each other crazy, husband and wife are still in love.
But the story also takes turns with points of view's of each of Big Angel's family. I loved how we learn more about Big Angel through all the other stories. Put together, this is a rich tapestry of a large, wonderful family.
Rating:
Release Date: March 6th, 2018
Genre: General Fiction
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Narrator: Luis Alberto Urrea
Listening Length: 9 Hours, 46 Minutes
Page Length: 336 Pages
Format: Audio Book
Source: Public Library
Recommendation: A must read (listen) for fans of Luis Alberto Urrea. This is a sweeping tale of a Mexican family. I loved it.
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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Any visitor to Bicho
Raro, Colorado is likely to find a landscape of dark saints, forbidden
love, scientific dreams, miracle-mad owls, estranged affections, one or
two orphans, and a sky full of watchful desert stars.
At the
heart of this place you will find the Soria family, who all have the
ability to perform unusual miracles. And at the heart of this family are
three cousins longing to change its future: Beatriz, the girl without feelings, who wants only to be free to examine her thoughts; Daniel, the Saint of Bicho Raro, who performs miracles for everyone but himself; and Joaquin, who spends his nights running a renegade radio station under the name Diablo Diablo.
They are all looking for a miracle. But the miracles of Bicho Raro are never quite what you expect.
Review:
I am a huge fan of The Raven Boys series, so I was really happy to see that Maggie Stiefvater had written a new book! I was puzzled that there have been some mixed reviews of this book. But I think it is because it is so very different in tone and subject matter from The Raven Boys books that some fans would be disappointed. Not me! I loved All The Crooked Saints. It combines the Mexican tradition of magical realism with the angst of YA books to create a fable as only Maggie Stiefvater can achieve.
What I Liked:
Tone:
This book might make your head spin if you take what is happening literally. This style is really done like a fable or tall tale. It reminded me of the books of the wonderful writer Luis Alberto Urrea, who wrote The Hummingbird's Daughter. Stiefvater uses the mysticism of Mexican culture to create a world of curses, miracles, with the manifestations of the pilgrims on outrageous display. Are you troubled by lust? Then get ready to sprout a wolf's head until you make peace with yourself. Afraid of being looked at? Just wait until you become twenty feet tall. All the creative ways the author had of showing each person's issue was fun to see.
Characters:
The story centers around three cousins, Beatriz, Joaquin, and Daniel. Each have different struggles, but all seem to be grappling with finding a balance between what they think their obligations are and what they really want to do. I think this is one of the essential problems facing young adults. Most teens will face a time when their wishes will clash with what their parents want them to do. Making independent decisions about your life is an essential part of growing into an adult, and not easy if your parents object to your plans. I love these characters and was rooting for them.
I also enjoyed the adult characters, and their struggles (I'm going to be brutally honest here and state that I don't remember all their names, and I have already returned the book to the library!). I especially liked the the comparison between the marriages of Beatriz's parents and of her older sister, Rosa's. Rosa is newly married and seems terrified about the long-term prospects of married life when she sees how her parents interact with each other after 30 years of being together. Is this inevitable? Is her marriage doomed to be so troubles after several decades?
Mexican Culture:
I love how the author showed the love, and dysfunction of a large Mexican family. Being Mexican myself, I can attest to being as close to my cousins as I am to my siblings. The strong personalities of the women, in particular, is a hallmark of large Hispanic broods. I remember my grandmother as a woman who would not suffer fools lightly. She had things to do, and you did not want to get in her way! But with all the strong emotions also comes unbreakable bonds of love. Stiefvater shows this so well in the relationship between Beatriz's estranged parents.
And the food...
What I Didn't Like:
via GIPHY
Rating:
Release Date: October 10th, 2017
Genre: Magical Realism
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Page Length: 311 Pages
Source: Public Library
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: This entertaining fable perfectly captures the Mexican culture. Filled with symbolism and depth. With it's focus on people of various ages, I would not necessarily consider this a YA book.
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