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Quesadillas
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
43 posts | 23 read | 109 to read
A brilliant new comic novel from "a linguistic virtuoso" (Jos Antonio Aguado, Diari de Terrassa)It's the 1980s in Lagos de Morenoa town where there are more cows than people, and more priests than cowsand a poor family struggles to overcome the bizarre dangers of living in Mexico. The father, a high-school civics teacher, insists on practicing and teaching the art of the insult, while the mother prepares hundreds of quesadillas to serve to their numerous progeny: Aristotle, Orestes, Archilochus, Callimachus, Electra, Castor, and Pollux. Confined to their home, the family bears witness to the revolt against the Institutional Revolutionary Party and their umpteenth electoral fraud. This political upheaval is only the beginning of Orestes's adventures and his uproarious crusade against the boredom of rustic life and the tyranny of his older brother. Both profoundly moving and wildly funny, Mexican author Juan Pablo Villalobos's Quesadillas is a satiric masterpiece, chock-full of inseminated cows, Polish immigrants, religious pilgrims, alien spacecraft, psychedelic watermelons, and many, many "your mama" insults.
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review
Magpiegem
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Pickpick

To say this book was not what I expected would be rather an understatement. Why did I think it was about UFO‘s? I don‘t know… yes there is a passing mention but… anyway, it was an interesting read. My lack of knowledge about Mexican politics felt acute whilst reading it. Another book where none of the characters are really likable, I seem to be drawn to them this year. I honestly have no idea how many stars to give it… #litsyAtoZ #Q #Booked23

BarbaraBB Well there‘s a UFO on the cover… I immediately thought of an SF read! 💕 13mo
25 likes1 comment
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Magpiegem
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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When you are at the hospital waiting for a brain scan and you have a lot of your book left to read but you are taking absolutely no chances and grab the kindle too. Waiting times can be llllooooonnnngggg.

thegirlwiththelibrarybag Gorgeous kindle case. Hope the wait wasn‘t too long… 13mo
Magpiegem @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I‘m still here waiting 😫 13mo
Jas16 Hospital waiting is the worst. I hope all goes well and you are home soon. 13mo
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Magpiegem, oh gosh, I thought for sure you‘d be home 🥺 13mo
Magpiegem @Jas16 it definitely is! 13mo
Magpiegem @thegirlwiththelibrarybag nope nine hours and counting. I have just had a scan though so hopefully not much longer!!! 13mo
dabbe Hope all turns out well! 🧡💜💛 13mo
29 likes7 comments
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Magpiegem
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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You know the British weather has officially gone bananas when you are wearing jumpers with your shorts in August and shorts with Halloween jumpers in October… it doesn‘t feel right but I‘m making the most of this beautiful sunshine. And I‘m starting with this book for #booked2023 #giftedbyalitsyuser and #litsyatoz

BarbaraTheBibliophage Enjoy the sunshine! We just had a week of it and now it‘s back to chilly autumn mornings. 🍂 🥶 14mo
37 likes1 comment
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Magpiegem
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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I spent some time putting together my October stack this morning. I won‘t get through all of these but these are the spookiest ones on my shelf right now. Recommendations appreciated!

Bookzombie The only one I have read is NOS4A2, which I loved, but I have several others on my TBR. 14mo
26 likes1 comment
review
britt_brooke
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Madcap absurdity with a splash of magical realism. Villalobos cleverly addresses classism in this sociopolitical satire centered in middle of nowhere Mexico. There is so much to this slim volume, I could never adequately summarize. Just read it! So funny, yet poignant. Reminiscent of Vonnegut, who y‘all know is my favorite, so don‘t take that praise lightly. Diving into his backlist ASAP.

britt_brooke Love it, too, Scott! @vivastory 4y
ladym30 Like your bookmark!❤️ 4y
britt_brooke @ladym30 Thank you! 4y
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QuintusMarcus How did this cross your radar? Not a new book so I wondered. 4y
britt_brooke @QuintusMarcus I bought it a few years ago and it‘s been sitting on my shelf patiently waiting. I just randomly picked it up. I should really do that more often. 😂 4y
QuintusMarcus I have books that have been sitting on my shelves unread for almost 40 years. I swear I‘ll get to them eventually! 4y
vivastory I'm so thrilled you loved it! I read his debut novel for #NewYearWhoDis & although I didn't like it quite as much as Quesadillas, you can definitely see the promise 4y
vivastory Also, Villalobos' covers are fantastic! 4y
britt_brooke @QuintusMarcus That makes me feel better! 😂 This book - and discussion - has actually inspired me to tackle more books I own, so thank you! 4y
britt_brooke @vivastory His covers are brilliant! 🤩 I want to buy them all. Thanks for the heads up about Down the Rabbit Hole. Totally makes sense. 4y
QuintusMarcus Just remember what Italo Calvino said about the perfect personal library - it should consist of books you have read, and books you propose to read. I don‘t remember him saying anything about proportions, though! 4y
britt_brooke @QuintusMarcus That‘s perfect! 4y
Copwithabook Love the bookmark!! 4y
britt_brooke @Copwithabook Thanks! 💚 4y
123 likes6 stack adds14 comments
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britt_brooke
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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School pick up line. 💤 Love that speckled nose!

#dogsoflitsy

Velvetfur Aaww how adorable! Is pup a spaniel? 😁 4y
MsMelissa I‘m always here for cute pictures of Champ 🥰 4y
Tattooedteacher There‘s nothing like puppers in the car line. 4y
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Leftcoastzen Awwww! 4y
britt_brooke @Velvetfur Thanks! 💚 He‘s an Australian Shepherd. 4y
britt_brooke @Tattooedteacher He loves it! So do the kids. It‘s adorable. And he‘s made friends with the principal and several teachers. 💚🐾 4y
Suet624 Oh boy. I‘m jealous. 4y
ladym30 What a sweet face!❤️ 4y
Velvetfur @britt_brooke I just did a Google search - ah, now I know the name of that breed I've seen before with the lovely coloured coat!! I love those sweet doggies 😍 4y
britt_brooke @Velvetfur Yes, I bet you‘re talking about the merle coats? They‘re almost tie-dyed looking. So beautiful! Champ is called a red-tri. He‘s brownish red with little bits of tan and a floofy white chest and legs. 💚🐾 4y
KVanRead So sweet! 4y
Velvetfur @britt_brooke yes, marbled is the word! Aww he sounds so pretty 😍 4y
136 likes15 comments
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britt_brooke
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Quite the chapter heading. 🐮😂 Loving the hell out of this book, btw. Planning to tackle his backlist soon.

Librariana I love everything about this picture: the bookmark, the title of the chapter, the fact that you're excited to tackle this author's backlist... all of it! 4y
britt_brooke @Librariana 🥰🥰🥰 4y
Soubhiville 🤣 that sounds... strange. 4y
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britt_brooke @Soubhiville I ended up stopping there, so I‘ll have to see today. 😂 4y
CallMeIshmael I‘m in 4y
britt_brooke @CallMeIshmael Btw, if you haven‘t read this yet, I think you‘d like it. It‘s a damned good social satire! 4y
88 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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britt_brooke
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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I‘ve had this book in my possession for years, and today seemed like a good day to finally crack it open. 😂

#firstline

Bookzombie That first line makes me want to read it. Lol. 4y
britt_brooke @Bookzombie Right?! 😂 4y
vivastory This is a great one. Read it years ago and still think about it 4y
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britt_brooke @vivastory I‘m only a few pages in, but def enjoying so far! I don‘t know why it‘s taken me so long to get to it. Feels like my wheelhouse. 4y
Suet624 Love this! 4y
britt_brooke @Suet624 It immediately drew me in for sure! 😂😂 4y
Cinfhen F@ck ya 4y
92 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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Bertha_Mason
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos

"It had always been too late, right from the start. Time had actually become distorted, because in each and every present moment that went by, from the arrival of the ultimatum up to the denouement, it was always too late, as if the end had occurred at the beginning and all that remained after that was to implement protocol."

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Bertha_Mason
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos

"In the state-owned ISSSTE shop, there was an apocalypse taking place. Never-ending queues of haggard, badly dressed beings surged towards the opening doors, as if instead of buying supplies they wanted to be crushed to death and put an end to so much senseless damned suffering once and for all."

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mrp27
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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#augustisatrip #mexico #readingresolutions #green

From my want to read list. I always have a soft sport for Mexico/Mexican stories.

AshleyHoss820 If you haven‘t read it yet, I would suggest 6y
vkois88 👍👍👍 6y
mrp27 @AshleyHoss820 Thanks for the recommendation! I'm not familiar with the title but looks very good. 6y
AshleyHoss820 @mrp27 No problem! It‘s a quick read! 😊 6y
53 likes4 comments
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Yossarian
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fajita-heist-texas-man-sentenced-50-years-s...

My daughter has a quesadilla addiction. I am trying to save her from the same fate as this man, recently arrested for stealing over $1 million worth of fajitas.

vivastory Quesadilla methodone 😂😂 7y
Insightsintobooks Must have been some amazing fajitas. ... wow.. *shakes head* 7y
Captivatedbybooks 😂😂😂😂 7y
SandyW 😂😂😂😕 7y
77 likes5 comments
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RealLifeReading
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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7 days 7 book covers .
Post a book cover you love. No explanation, no information on the book. Just a book cover you love
Day 3

thecurlybookworm This is beautiful! ❤️ 7y
britt_brooke I love this cover, too! And I‘ve had this book for over a year and still haven‘t read it. 🤦🏼‍♀️ 7y
2BR02B I like how the cover has nothing to do with the title. 😆 7y
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Kalalalatja I love how bright it is! 7y
MissAimz_55 Amazing !! 7y
Thndrstd I‘m intrigued 7y
RealLifeReading @britt_brooke yes I remember your commenting before on a previous post about this book! 7y
RealLifeReading @2BR02B that is very true. It's also quite amazing how boring the other version of the cover is 7y
RealLifeReading @Kalalalatja it definitely stands out! 7y
RealLifeReading @Thndrstd it's a strange read 7y
104 likes3 stack adds10 comments
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peggyriley
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Yesterday's charity bookshop haul. 📚🍾

11 likes1 stack add
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tstan
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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#bookcolortag @JenP @Kristelh Lime green it is! Along with some of today's green food harvest, and a red hot chili pepper! Challenge to @CafeMom : purple!

CafeMom Well you have faith in me that I know what I'm doing. So I make a stack of books with the color purple? Is this list books only? 7y
tstan Just any book spines on your shelf that are purple. Have fun!😊 7y
BarbaraBB Wow! Great pic! 7y
EchoLogical Love it! 😍 7y
JenP Nice photo! 7y
16 likes5 comments
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Jenken1998
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Pickpick

Book 42 of 2017. A fast paced sarcastic quirky little book centered around a family in Mexico in the 80's dealing with poverty, class warfare and corruption.. there also may or may not be aliens 👽 , lesbian cows 🐮 and an uncle named Pink Floyd #2017readingchallenge #readingchallenge2017 #books #bookstagram #readathon #book3

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Jenken1998
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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#libraryhaul .. ran some errands. Made my hubby drive so I could read 😁

valeriegeary Nice stack! Some good ones in there! 8y
10 likes1 comment
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RealLifeReading
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Perhaps my favourite of all the #greencovers because it is so remarkably green. #marchintoreading #bookanddinner

coffeenebula Green cover? All I see are delicious looking noodles 😍 8y
DebinHawaii That is a mighty green book! 💚💚💚 8y
MaryAnn1 Oh yummmm😋 8y
170 likes1 stack add3 comments
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RealLifeReading
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Today's swim class read is the eye-catching Quesadillas which matches the 3yo's goggles

vivastory I hope you enjoy. I really loved this book, easily one of the funniest I've ever read. 8y
BooksForEmpathy Love the picture!! 8y
ramyasbookshelf It really is the same shade of green! Haha! 8y
134 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Cydster61
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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5 likes1 stack add
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Cydster61
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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When those book lists on Facebook give your library loan limit a run for its money....and then everything comes in at once....

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RealLifeReading
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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#seasonsreadings day 23: #redsandgreens
It's the eve of Christmas Eve! And here are some red and green books to up the Christmassy mood! Are you all ready for Christmas? 🎄🎄🎄 🎁 🎁🎁🍪🍪🍪🍷🍷🍷🍻🍻🍻🎉🎉 🎅

erzascarletbookgasm I ❤️ those Puffin Classics hardbacks! 8y
cathysaid Love the Wind in the Willows spine. 8y
Faibka Quesadillas? I have to read that one! 8y
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MemoirsForMe Coco! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
LeahBergen Lovely!! ❤💚 8y
britt_brooke Pretty! 8y
kspenmoll Have been too busy with Life but hope to get back to posting- green & reds posts are lovely! Mine is coming eventually! (edited) 8y
159 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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RealLifeReading
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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#seasonsreadings2016 day 19: #silhouettesoncovers
Love the use of silhouettes on these beautiful covers... and
I really ought to just read these books already!!

howlinglibraries If you like And Then There Were None, there's a great 3-episode "miniseries" adaptation with San O'Neill and Burn Gorman. (edited) 8y
CorleyMullins @howling_libraries where can I find this adaptation? I'm a huge Christie fan. 8y
howlinglibraries @CorleyMullins I actually grabbed it from the mail DVD service on Netflix, but it's also on Amazon here! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A9IV54W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_3-bwyb384N5CA (edited) 8y
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[DELETED] 206653737 Ooooh I love The Wildings cover, so cool with the cat silhouettes! 8y
KarenUK One of my favorite Christie novels 💕 8y
alanacristin Whoa, that looks fabulous 8y
erzascarletbookgasm High Five for And Then There Were None 🙌 8y
vivastory I'd never heard of Nilanjana Roy. "Wildings" sounds really interesting, just ordered it. 8y
127 likes1 stack add8 comments
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RealLifeReading
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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#photoadaynov16 day 4: #setinasmalltown
Having lived most of my life in a city-state (current population 5.6m on an island of 278 sq miles), small towns always fascinate me. Here are a variety of small towns - the Swiss Alps, a small town in Mexico w more cows than people, a little village in Iceland, a reservation on the north coast of British Columbia, Highbury, England and the beautiful Prince Edward Island!

saresmoore So many stunning covers! 8y
I-read-and-eat The tricking of Freya sounds good! Beautiful covers on all! 8y
badnorthern Eden Robinson 🙌 8y
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Donna_sBookMinute Another beautiful AoGG cover! 8y
Mc_cart_ny That Anne cover is gorgeous!! 8y
erzascarletbookgasm Such lovely covers 💗 8y
vivastory Quesadillas is in my TBR pile. Villalobos sounds great. 8y
read_diverse_books That's the prettiest cover for Anne of Green Gables I've seen! 😍 8y
elkeOriginal Interesting Emma cover! 8y
155 likes4 stack adds9 comments
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Anabnieto
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Indeed a tragedy. I have to say I am not reading as much as I once did but I still find time to do it and enjoy seeing more and more people in the subway immersed in their books. I am a podcast addict and that takes time from my books but there is time for everything.... And it should. Read this article. Www.washingtonpost.com

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Kathrin
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
Pickpick

What a bizarre little book! I loved every minute of this strange and funny encounter! The author definitely wasn't concerned about rooting the story in reality, but who cares... Quick and easy read, very much recommended!

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Kathrin
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Really loving the sarcastic tone so far.

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PatriciaTina
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Pickpick

Well-written, fast-paced, consistently interesting, hilarious and bizarre; these are just some of the ways I can describe this wonderful novel. Read it, you won't be disappointed!

BookishFeminist Yay, glad you liked it! I feel like Villalobos is a hidden treasure 8y
8 likes1 stack add1 comment
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PatriciaTina
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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And we're off to an interesting start! 😂

BookishFeminist Oh you'll love this book! It's so snarky 😂 8y
PatriciaTina Ohh yay! I've heard so many good things, and I'm definitely loving it so far! 😃 8y
9 likes2 comments
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Books_Wine_Repeat
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Yay! 🙌🎉📚📚💕🎉

BookishFeminist YES you'll love Quesadillas! So good. 8y
RealLifeReading Hooray! 8y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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smccallum
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Pickpick

Found this very enjoyable. Funny, wacky and an quick read ideal for Summer!

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becausetrains
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Too pissed to start this book on my morning commute 🚍🚇 (fellow men: consider yourself on notice for any sexually- or racially-abusive actions 😡) but at least I have it for after work.

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BookishFeminist
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Pickpick

A boy living w/his big Mexican family next to Polish neighbors goes to find his missing twin bros, convinced they've been abducted by aliens. Villalobos delivers biting satire of Mexico's political & socio-economic class system that's philosophical, smart & absurdist, yet laugh out loud funny. 👽

BookishFeminist I can't do this book justice ???? "Both profoundly moving and wildly funny, Mexican author Villalobos's Quesadillas is a satiric masterpiece, chock-full of inseminated cows, Polish immigrants, religious pilgrims, alien spacecraft, psychedelic watermelons, and many, many "your mama" insults." 8y
Yossarian And what, you finished it at 4 am? That's enough of a recommendation right there. 8y
HardcoverHearts You had me at "your mama " jokes. 8y
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RealLifeReading Added that to my tbr for sure! 8y
Mayread This gives me instant cravings for kielbasa quesadillas. Off to the grocery store for breakfast. And bumping to top of my library queue. 8y
BookishFeminist @Yossarian LOL. You would check the time stamp on my posts--I'm a night owl & finished this a few days ago. But it was worth posting about at 4am! 8y
BookishFeminist @HardcoverHearts Right?! That sold me too. The protagonist is such a sarcastic snot. So worth it! 8y
BookishFeminist @RealLifeReading Yay, enjoy!! 😊 8y
BookishFeminist @Skiles Kielbasa quesadillas?! That sounds delicious. Can't wait to see your thoughts! Maybe post your read with one of those tasty quesadillas (& share your recipe)? 😜 8y
Yossarian Noticing the "4 hours ago" note at 8 am -- It's like cyber-stalking for the extremely lazy. 8y
BookishFeminist @Yossarian It sure is--especially when you know what coast I'm on 😳 8y
77 likes29 stack adds11 comments
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BookishFeminist
Quesadillas: A Novel | Juan Pablo Villalobos
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Well it's not a quesadilla, but it's delicious! And so is this book! I randomly picked this off the library shelf to read for World UFO Day yesterday & wasn't expecting the super smart, biting absurdist satire about Mexico's class structure. I have also busted out laughing many times in public. 🌭

BestOfFates I bought that after a strong recommendation a year ago and still haven't read it - will have to move it up the pile now! 8y
JPeterson Mmm. Bens Chili Bowl. 8y
Donna_sBookMinute I love books that cause that reaction! Chili looks good but would need to be on a burger for me. 8y
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Trav I love when a book does that to you -- the ability to make you laugh out loud. 8y
BookishFeminist @BestOfFates Yes, it's wonderful! Such a quick read too. Only ~160pgs that move fast. :) 8y
BookishFeminist @JPeterson Mmm indeed. Had to happen tonight. 😊 8y
BookishFeminist @Donna_sBookMinute I do too! I've been having good luck lately with finding random books off the shelf. Chili was delicious! It would go great on a burger. 👌🏼 8y
BookishFeminist @Trav Ditto--I wasn't expecting it either, which is even better. I snuck off to "grab a table" while my partner ordered dinner. A/k/a "gonna keep reading this book" ? 8y
acc5446 "Quesadillas is a satiric masterpiece, chock-full of inseminated cows, Polish immigrants, religious pilgrims, alien spacecraft, psychedelic watermelons, and many, many "your mama" insults." SOLD. 8y
BookishFeminist @acc5446 LOL right? Best book description ever. 8y
89 likes14 stack adds10 comments