Yo! | Litsy

bailed

I have only made it about halfway through with this book. Not sure why I have been struggling with it. I think it might have been that there were multiple stories & characters & I was having a hard time keeping everyone straight. I like the premise of the story & I know Julia Alvarez is a revered author but this one didn‘t work for me. @Billypar I am trying to work through some of your other recommendations. This month has gotten busier than

monalyisha, TheAromaofBooks

ncsufoxes expected & I didn‘t get to anymore. I am going to try & read more of your suggestions in the coming months. @monalyisha thank you for hosting. I unfortunately failed the #auldlandspine challenge by reading at least one book in January. I did keep trying to get back to the book to finish it & just couldn‘t find my grove. #bookspin 2y

Billypar No worries! I've definitely been there when it comes to unexpectedly busy months. I also think there are certain books that are tougher to read in shorter sessions on busier months (which, as I scan my 2022 list seems like most of them tbh - not sure why!). If I had to pick two that might be better on that front, I would choose Subdivision and the Amber Ruffin book. 2y

TheAromaofBooks Sometimes a book just doesn't click!! 2y

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Billypar

Yo!: A Novel | Julia Alvarez

pick

Interesting structure where each story is about the main character Yolanda Garcia (Yo) as seen through the eyes of someone in her life. The first one is told from her mom about Yo as a child and they follow her forward into her life as a writer in adulthood. We meet a diverse array of voices throughout, but Yo's character shines in her eagerness to influence the lives of those around her, even while being thwarted by indecision in her own life 👇

Billypar Yo's character is also viewed in terms of her identity as a writer - how she navigates taking stories from her life, after learning from an early age that the truth can be dangerous in the wrong hands. For Yo, stories offer a different truth, but also an elusive one: if she knows how her characters grow, shouldn't she know more about the shape of her own life? I never read the Garcia Girls novel but now I want to know more about Yo and her family. 2y

Billypar Thanks for the recommendation @Reggie ! 2y

Reggie Yay, I‘m so glad you liked it. In college one of my Chicano lit teachers had us keep a journal and would give us assignments like write down conversations you hear and public. NOTHING, that had to do with Chicano lit. Lol, and it made me think of that story of the student who comes back to college and buys her short story collection to realize his story was in there. Lol But really, I know she‘s not the first to do this but a book about someone 2y

Reggie told in short stories by the people around them. It was one of the first books I read that showed me how structure can be played with. I love the one about the professor who is mourning his young lover and just says go publish your stories, quit wasting time. There‘s a lot to love in here. 2y

Billypar @Reggie That's such an interesting assignment - maybe a good way to improve dialogue writing, but it is odd in the context of a Chicano lit course! I did like how we didn't hear much from Yo directly about her process for writing and borrowing from life - it made me more curious to picture how she'd describe it. I liked all the stories - I'm not sure I have a favorite but so many small moments will stick with me (the Mom in the fur coat is one 😅) 2y

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Suet624

Yo!: A Novel | Julia Alvarez

Only in Vermont would you have Vermont authors Julia Alvarez, Jay Parini and Chris Bohjalian organizing and contributing to a tiny town (Weybridge, VT) Haiku Competition. This year it was held virtually and entries came from around the world.

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/the-weybridge-haiku-competition-enters-year-...

#Vermont

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JGadz11

Yo!: A Novel | Julia Alvarez

I plowed through this. So, so good.

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Jas16

Yo!: A Novel | Julia Alvarez

Some #punctuation for#riotgrams after a lazy search.

bookriot

tpixie Great interpretation! 7y

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Lcsmcat

Yo!: A Novel | Julia Alvarez

A diverse selection of #yellowcovers #riotgrams @Liberty

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rachellayown

Yo!: A Novel | Julia Alvarez

My pick for #unforgettablewomen is Yolanda García. ¡YO! is one of my favorite novels, which explores Yolanda (a novelist whose characters were based on her family) from the perspective of her loved ones.
(Just thinking about it makes me want to reread it!)

LauraBrook I'd forgotten about this book! It's so great! Wonder where my copy is, now I want to reread too! 8y

rachellayown Yeah, it's been years since I read it @LauraBrook but I LOVED it! 8y

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