Jeanette R. (thebeakeeper) reviewed on 4/18/2010 + 167 more book reviews

let me begin by stating that i really really really like julia alvarez. i have been waitingto read this forever, and was so excited to finally receive it.

and so disappointed after reading it. i felt like this was two or three books in one. i was expecting more about actual quinceaneras and why they are tradition. the last 100 pages or so is all about julia alvarez's life- having nothing to do with quinces. it was as if she ran out of material so started her own biography.

she also ends with quotes and essays from other writers which were extremely boring and i had to really push through and force myself to read this. by about page 175 i wanted to set it down- permanently.

my partner is mexican and i being white, grew up with absolutely no culture, so i want to make sure our kids have that mexican culture and have traditions like quinces. i felt like i learned a little about them from this book, but im left wanting much much much more.

if i hadnt read her fiction books, and started with this, there's no way i'd pick up another book by alvarez. she needs to stick with the topic, and with fiction.

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