“Extraordinary.” –Stephen King “This book is not simply the great American novel; it’s the great novel of las Americas. It’s the great world novel! This is the international story of our times. Masterful.” –Sandra Cisneros También de este lado hay sueños. On this side, too, there are dreams. Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco. She runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, … Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco. She runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while there are cracks beginning to show in Acapulco because of the drug cartels, her life is, by and large, fairly comfortable.
Even though she knows they’ll never sell, Lydia stocks some of her all-time favorite books in her store. And then one day a man enters the shop to browse and comes up to the register with a few books he would like to buy–two of them her favorites. Javier is erudite. He is charming. And, unbeknownst to Lydia, he is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city. When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published, none of their lives will ever be the same.
Forced to flee, Lydia and eight-year-old Luca soon find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence. Instantly transformed into migrants, Lydia and Luca ride la bestia–trains that make their way north toward the United States, which is the only place Javier’s reach doesn’t extend. As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte, Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to?
American Dirt will leave readers utterly changed. It is a literary achievement filled with poignancy, drama, and humanity on every page. It is one of the most important books for our times.
Already being hailed as “a Grapes of Wrath for our times” and “a new American classic,” Jeanine Cummins’s American Dirt is a rare exploration into the inner hearts of people willing to sacrifice everything for a glimmer of hope.
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Talk about a page turner!
Right from the opening sentence this book grabs you and does not let go until the very end. On the run from a vengeful cartel leader, a woman and her young son make a harrowing escape from their home in Acapulco with the hope of making it to the United States.
This book was fast paced and exciting, describing a mother and son’s journey across Mexico to escape the cartels. The story was quite stressful to read at times, but the characters and their relationships were interesting and compelling.
I know the criticism surrounding this book, which I think is unwarranted. You can fault publishers’ choices and ad campaigns without vilifying the author who has written a beautiful book about the migrant experience. I think it can open eyes to the painful non-choices our neighbors face.
If even a fraction of this book is true to the immigrant experience then it will change your whole perspective.
I found the story to be gut wrenching and shocking. Despite hearing about all the immigrants in real life who are trying to escape life-threatening situations in their towns and cities by coming to the United States, I didn’t realize how truly horrific those situations could be and how harrowing their journey. Until I read this novel.
The way the author developed her lead characters helped me to empathize with their experience on a personal level. The characters gave me a glimpse of what it’s like to “walk in another’s shoes” and a better understanding of the pain and despair of people who risk everything to be safe and free.
I gave American Dirt a four rating because it was, for me, a compelling story and page turner, and an important subject for our times. But there were some distractions that kept pulling me out of the story. All the points of view jumping from one character to another and back again, sometimes from one sentence to another, even from character to narrator and back again was confusing and didn’t seem to meet basic publishing standards. There also were a lot of strange metaphors, awkward syntax and strained similes. I didn’t expect any of this from an experienced author, professional editor and respected publisher.
I found this book surprising in so many ways. An eye opener about how life can change in an instant. The struggle and determination to survive through heartbreak, fear and to protect. Really enjoyed it! A must read.
Vivid descriptions of a mother and son’s journey from Mexico to the US Border to escape violence of the cartels. Fast paced and suspenseful. Brought home to readers the anguish, cruelty and hardships faced by the immigrants determined to find a new life.
This is one of those books that literally grabs you on page 1 and doesn’t let go until you’re reached the end. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Stunning. Shocking. Powerful. Far and away the best book I have read all year.
This book was so enlightening, so informative, and so tragic. The characters were genuine and relatable. I felt a sadness for each one of them, but, even more sadness for what these poor people go through in an effort to find a new and safe life for their families. Just amazing. Thank you!
This story pulled me into the world of the protagonist and her family immediately. Though a fictional story, it helped me better understand and appreciate the precarious and dangerous situations that cause immigrants to flee from all they have come to know and love about their home country. This was a heart-wrenching story of grit and determination to survive. The author’s development of the characters made me care about some and despise others. The story caused me to question and revisit the motivations of the characters. Good read.
What an incredibly powerful book! The writing of Jeanine Cummins is exceptional! I listened to the audio version and the narrator, Yareli Arizmendi, was absolutely wonderful! The story is gut wrenching and though a work of fiction, eye opening to the plight of immigrants fleeing their countries. You will be moved by this story no matter what your thoughts on immigration are.
So much has been written about this book. I’ll stay clear of the politics and address the storytelling. As a story it reminds me of a hero’s journey which is usually very satisfying. American Dirt left me waiting to really feel something. The use of the third person omniscient didn’t work in this case. It allowed the author to hold the characters at arm’s length and that made it hard to empathize when the plot itself should’ve made it easier.
As a non-Latina, I will not comment on the controversy, but I will say that I’ve spent a lot of time in Mexico and learned from a variety of sources (some much more reliable than others) some of the details of crime and corruption at all levels of government and society, so will comment with that perspective.
American Dirt started out very strong and I was quickly immersed in the story. The downfall of Acapulco was, I believe, every bit as bad as Cummins has portrayed. (Just a couple of days ago, yet another journalist was beheaded in the state of Veracruz.)
As Lydia fled with her son, I could vividly picture the scene. My heart was with her and the other migrants fleeing the country.
But, as the book progressed, I was less and less engrossed. I’ve mulled it over for several days trying to pinpoint the problem and this is my conclusion–too much telling. Here’s an example. The young man who betrayed Lydia and her son to the drug lord, is killed. We are told that Lydia, looking at his body, is filled with rage. Of course she would be filled with rage, but show us that rage. Have her spit on the body, kick it, swear at it….
A second problem, for me, was that the story became somewhat melodramatic. A faster pace, and less introspection as they fled might have solved this problem.
Having said all this, I would still recommend the book as a good inside look at the complexities of life in a country ruled, for the most part, by crime and corruption.
BLURB
As a non-Latina, I will not comment on the controversy, but I will say that I’ve spent a lot of time in Mexico and learned from a variety of sources (some much more reliable than others) some of the details of crime and corruption at all levels of government and society, so will comment with that perspective.
American Dirt started out very strong and I was quickly immersed in the story. The downfall of Acapulco was, I believe, every bit as bad as Cummins has portrayed. (Just a couple of days ago, yet another journalist was beheaded in the state of Veracruz.)
As Lydia fled with her son, I could vividly picture the scene. My heart was with her and the other migrants fleeing the country.
But, as the book progressed, I was less and less engrossed. I’ve mulled it over for several days trying to pinpoint the problem and this is my conclusion–too much telling. Here’s an example. The young man who betrayed Lydia and her son to the drug lord, is killed. We are told that Lydia, looking at his body, is filled with rage. Of course she would be filled with rage, but show us that rage. Have her spit on the body, kick it, swear at it….
A second problem, for me, was that the story became somewhat melodramatic. A faster pace, and less introspection as they fled might have solved this problem.
Having said all this, I would still recommend the book as a good inside look at the complexities of life in a country ruled, for the most part, by crime and corruption.
http://www.darlenejonesauthor.com
http://www.darlenejonesauthor.com
Great book!!!! The story of the immigrant experience was enlightening – amazing what the desire to change one’s life can give you the strength to do!!!!
Ignore the smokescreens around this novel. A darned fine story peopled with lovable, relatable characters on a prototypical heroes’ quest against overwhelming odds; pursued by a complex villain whose good/evil character inflames the emotional conflict. Told in polished prose with vivid descriptions that put the reader in every scene.
Okay, it’s also an important theme for our times, one that puts names, faces, hearts, and souls on the genuine people who undertake that innately human quest toward better lives, or–more compelling–to flee certain death. In different circumstances, they could be our own family, friends, neighbors, or enemies. They are neither nameless nor faceless. They are us.
Just read it.
a real eye opener, a great adventure and unpredictable
Great book about a journey to America. The author has a wonderful way of describing the journey.
Relates to our immigration situation. Suspenseful! Tragically sad how people’s lives can be destroyed by drug industry. Reminds us how honest journalists are becoming an endangered species. I highly recommend this book. It’s entertaining but thought provoking causing a reader to think deeper in search of answers in today’s world problems.
All I can say about this book is WOW. I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters! The plot of the story is so tragic and sad, but so realistic. I grew up in the Southwestern, USA and the story of desperation of immigrant to the United States is tragic. These lives, their stories, the desperation. It was captured so beautifully in this tale. I loved it.