-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I loved the writing of this book. Took me into many interesting lives. But I have to say I wanted more from each of the characters. So many just disappeared. I know it was a slice of life novel, but I liked the characters and wanted more. "
- Laurel, 1/7/2014
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" SKIP this read! It jumps all over the place and I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters that were introduced throughout the book. "
- Graciela, 11/26/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Powerful and nuanced. The main sections could have been used a little better, a little. "
- Luis, 10/9/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" fairly good read..nothing spectacular though. "
- Izzyd, 10/4/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Loved it.. author teaches at UC RIverside "
- Lynda, 2/26/2013
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Alex Espinoza enters the minds of vastly different characters with such grace, wisdom and knowingness. Many of these interconnected stories broke my heart in the best way. "
- Heidi, 12/20/2012
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I was way too excited about this from reading the back cover...but once I got over my initial disappointment it was suprisingly entertaining. However, I did not learn much. "
- Virginia, 3/15/2012
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" This was an amazing collection of character vignettes. I had met the author at a conference and he talked about how he set the novel up in the fictional town but how it is connected to his home town of Riverside. Very good book and just had me turning pages to find out more about these characters. "
- Rene, 1/31/2011
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Enjoyed it, though it was difficult to follow in places. Loved the description of the botanica and how its crazy/diverse contents got woven into everyday lives. "
- Ellen, 10/7/2010
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" i just finished this book and i loved it. absolutely loved it. i thought it was a beautifully interconnected set of stories, with the characters flowing effortlessly back and forth. this is a first novel and i cannot wait for him to write another. "
- Margo, 2/13/2010
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" Alex Espinoza has a great eye for detail and a generous literary spirit. Some of the vignettes in this collection of connected short stories touch down lightly, but others are intense--it's impressive that a voice so gentle can also be unblinking. "
- Cheryl, 9/22/2009
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I thought that Espinoza's book was interesting in parts, but overall, I didn't think that it fit together very well or was particularly well-written. "
- Claire, 5/15/2009
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" i enjoyed this story. it reminded me much of my good friend kate. it's almost like several short stories woven together by the main character perla. "
- Stephanie, 1/3/2009
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I don't really have anything negative to say about this book. My mind was blown. "
- Samantha, 6/23/2008
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" The Spanish translation in this book is horrible! "
- Norka1010, 6/13/2008
-
Overall Performance:




Narration Rating:




Story Rating:




" I really enjoyed this novel. The author takes a place and develops the characters who live there. It is similar to Maeve Binchy novels when it comes to the development of characters, but such a different time and place! "
- Jen, 4/15/2008
> Hide All