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Playing catch-up with reviews….

I really liked this novel, which did feel rather like a memoir at times, and it feels even more relevant now after the events of last week, being about undocumented migrants.

At times it was a little bit too ‘stream of consciousness‘ for me and I struggled to understand the relevance or tangent of Catalina‘s thoughts but, overall, a hard-hitting worthwhile read.

Thank you for gifting it to me @MicheleinPhilly 😘

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

Our most recent book club pick was an emotional read. Two sisters, Chinese American, live in opposite corners of the globe following the men in their lives. Stable, worried Miranda is in Switzerland but makes trips to visit Lucia whenever trouble arises. And it sure does: Lucia‘s life is erratic. She‘s suffering from a mental illness and therefore quite impulsive, living in Ecuador with her man‘s family. I‘m lukewarm: the middle section was a slog

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

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. 🎧

A surprising amount of Henry Kissinger.

Fingers crossed this makes it to you on time, @ShelleyBooksie . It only has to go 100km. 🤣
#LLSS
@Deblovestoread @Bookgoil
#underthewire

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…

This short novel made me think about so many different things: living with nature vs. controlling it, how even the kindest people can be irrational due to cultural rules and customs, how reading can offer an escape in the most unlikely places, how to make the best of the hand you were dealt...

Will spend some more time contemplating 🤔

#foodandlit
@Texreader @Catsandbooks