Karla Cornejo Villavicencio is a terrific stylist. If you liked Elif Batuman's The Idiot you'll enjoy this.
Karla Cornejo Villavicencio is a terrific stylist. If you liked Elif Batuman's The Idiot you'll enjoy this.
I‘ve read memoirs that feel like novels and here is a novel that feels much like a memoir in places. Catalina‘s story as an undocumented Harvard student is informed by that of the author and reminds us that no one is a monolith. I thought this was good but that it could use a little more of a punch towards the end.
NBA longlist, fiction
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Leading with a bold voice and an energetic personality, the prose in “Catalina” dances along the page. I got lost at times in Catalina‘s thoughts, but I will remember the vulnerability and strength of her character. 🎧
I had an Erich Segal “phase” sometime in college (which started by reading Love Story, of course), and think this was one of the novels I read at that time. And it‘s about a bunch of college students as well, so it fits the prompt perfectly.
#SchoolSpirit September 4th #College
3.5⭐️ I liked this. The story felt very raw from the get-go, but then it started to lose me towards the end.
I recognize what the author was trying to do, and I know that she was looking to convey Catalina‘s roller-coaster of emotions for what she was going through, and even though I never lost interest in the story, it didn‘t live up to the hype for me.
#NetGalley Pub Date: 7/23/24
Read Part 1 of this and enjoying it…Even though I feel that this book it‘s going to break my heart…