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How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents
by Julia Alvarez | Literature & Fiction
Registered by buttonbright of Raleigh, North Carolina USA on Thursday, December 04, 2003
Average 8 star rating by BookCrossing Members 

status (set by -Lara-): to be read


16 journalers for this copy...

Journal Entry 1 by buttonbright from Raleigh, North Carolina USA on Thursday, December 04, 2003

This book has not been rated.

I found this book on the discount shelves of a local used book store.

Amazon reviews. 

Journal Entry 2 by buttonbright from Raleigh, North Carolina USA on Saturday, December 06, 2003

This book has not been rated.

I am sending this book to Kittiwake in the UK. It was on her wish list.

Wish? Did someone say wish?

Mekka lekka hi mekka hiney ho!
Mekka lekka hi mekka chiney ho!

The wish is granted. Long live Jambi.

 

Journal Entry 3 by kittiwake on Saturday, December 13, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Arrived last night from the USA. I have heard good things about this book, and will post again once I read it.


Thanks buttonbright. 

Journal Entry 4 by kittiwake on Thursday, January 08, 2004

10 out of 10

The story of the four Garcia de la Torre sisters whose family left the Dominican Republic to live in New York. They gradually get over their home-sickness, but even as adults they are unsure whether they have lost more than they have gained. I liked the way it was written, going backwards in time starting with their adult life in New York and ending up with them as small children on the island.

Poignant and very enjoyable. 

Journal Entry 5 by kittiwake on Friday, January 09, 2004

This book has not been rated.

I will be posting the Garcia Girls off to YowlYY in London tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 6 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Monday, January 12, 2004

This book has not been rated.

I've read loads of good things about this book, not last the recommendation posted on BCUK (the Yahoo mailing list for the UK bookcrossers) by kittiwake, and this is why, despite having a whole TBR 3-storeys bookshelf, I asked to read this book! I hope to be able to read it soon and make a proper journal entry.
Thanks to kittiwake for sending it my way :-) 

Journal Entry 7 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Friday, September 09, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Well, can you believe it? I have only one bookring in progress now, and absolutely no other books to be read apart from the few hundreds on my TBR pile...so I've chosen this one to be started today. I look forward to it!

Update on 18.09.2005:
I am almost finished with the book, and after a slow start I am now loving it. The description of the girls is so good, one can almost see them. I've done some research on the web and found a little bit more on the author, who for some ways has written here a authobiographical novel, as the experiences made by the Garcia girls are very close to hers. For more information just click here.
More when I am finished with the book.

Pic of the Domenican Republic from the air by kerry_ann_g 

Journal Entry 8 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Monday, September 19, 2005

9 out of 10

A wonderful novel! The narration goes backwards, starting with the four sisters, all grown up and with their own families, who have one of the yearly reunions for the father's birthday, and with a stitching of stories narrated by each sister, we participate in what the life of a well-off family originary of the Dominican Republic was, once the father had to flee the country for fears of being persecuted and jailed by the government. Tales of a new life in the United States, holidays in the island, to "keep in touch with the traditions and what the girls are and come from", trouble at school and trouble at home, and the terrible times when "the father almost got killed" due to the candidity of the children.
A very enjoyable read, which should now be shared with as many bookcrossers as possible.

Pic by mmoysiuk 

Journal Entry 9 by YowlYY from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Monday, September 19, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Shipping list for the bookray:


blaisezabini12 (Romania)
Introoder(Italy)
Angel1509 (Nottingham), Heaven-Ali (Birmingham), LyzzyBee (Birmingham)
KarinAlyssa (Canada)
KarenZero, rhythmbiscuit, EMA375, mskdm20 (USA / intl.)
Lizzyblack, cheeky42
-Lara- (Italy)<---the book is here!
last-unicorn (Italy)
Sarina79 (Italy)
Shandy (Italy)
Cross-patch (Leicester)
book-man-8 (Germany)
darkpunkangel (Canada)

Smileys courtesy of © Camilla Eriksson 

Journal Entry 10 by blaisezabini12 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, September 27, 2005

9 out of 10

Picked up today from the post office together with 4 other rings/rays:) Thank you so much for the lovely postcard and from sending the book to Romania. Will post more after reading!

19 October 05: I loved the way in which the author organised her chapters. It's interesting to read a story starting from the present and going back in the past. It's also interesting to notice how the 4 girls have evolved in time, the way in which every little story reveals something more. My favorite bits were the ones which present their chilhood in the Dominican Republic.
I have the address of the next reader and I'm going to send the book probably on Monday.
Thank you YowlYY for organising this lovely ray.

26 October 05: mailed today to the next reader on the list! Enjoy:) 

Journal Entry 11 by Introoder from Roma, Lazio Italy on Thursday, November 10, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Got the book yesterday. Thanks to blaisezabini for posting it.

I am fascinated by Latin American literature (probably also influenced by a long period of my life lived there), and the good comments on this book convinced me to participate to this ray.

I'll start reading this book as soon as I finish my current read (and I will keep ignoring my TBR shelf, but that's life... ;-)

More on the book when I start it. 

Journal Entry 12 by Introoder from Roma, Lazio Italy on Tuesday, December 13, 2005

9 out of 10

A wonderful book, really!! Much has been said about the way Alvarez organises the chapters of the book, narrating backwards. It's actually quite an innovative style, which I loved a lot.
What I'd like to add is the 'feeling of being at home' that reading this novel gave me. I spent a few years in Latin America, and a few of the characters, peculiar situations (chaperoned girls, family get-togethers, 'hair-and-nails' girls) are so true, vivid and realistically explained, that it really seems to have known these peoople forever.

But also very realistic is the atmosphere of the coup, and the actitude of the secret police, and of the persons who escape them. believe me, the actitude of Laura shivering every time she sees a black VW is not fiction... Some very close friends of mine still get nervous and hide when they see Ford Falcons in Santiago, Chile.

I have really really loved reading this book. Thanks a lot to YowlYY for sharing it with us. The book goes in the post today, towards angel1509 

Journal Entry 13 by angel1509 from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Wednesday, December 28, 2005

This book has not been rated.

rec'd on Christmas Eve as part of a bookring 

Journal Entry 14 by angel1509 from Nottingham, not specified not specified on Sunday, January 29, 2006

7 out of 10

A good read, most enjoyable, with some well drawn characters and interestng descriptions of the ability of children to adapt to political turmoil. 

Journal Entry 15 by angel1509 at Royal Mail, UK in Postal Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 28, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Released 6 yrs ago (2/28/2006 UTC) at Royal Mail, UK in Postal Mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 16 by wingHeaven-Aliwing from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 01, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Arrived today - thanks very much I'm looking forward to this one - I should be able to get to it by the weekend. 

Journal Entry 17 by wingHeaven-Aliwing from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, March 05, 2006

9 out of 10

I started ths book yesterday afternoon, and finished it a few hours ago, I have loved every word. The Garcia girls, and their parents are characters so endearing and well drawn - espically fifi and Yolanda that you feel an instant attachment to them. I thought the moving backwards in time through the chapters was actually really powerful, somehow highlighting the expierences of the family as immigrants, and how hugely that differed to what they had left behind on the tenderley remembered island.

Thanks for organising this ring Yowlyy.

I will be passing this on to Liz this week, probably through another bcer who will be seeing her before me, if that doesn't work, I'll just post it. 

Journal Entry 18 by wingLyzzyBeewing from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 14, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Passed to me by fellow-Brummie and sucker for a book about the immigrant experience, Heaven-Ali, via our friend and go-between Ratwoman! Started it on the bus on the way home and loving it already. I have a feeling it will be an interesting contrast to my at-home read, Untold Stories by Alan Bennett. 

Journal Entry 19 by wingLyzzyBeewing from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 21, 2006

8 out of 10

I finished this a couple of days ago.

I enjoyed this book - its backwards nature made it in some ways more accessible than those books on similar subjects that jump around in the chronolgy. You could see what had shaped a more recent experience, going back to their original lives.

Well done, interesting and I'm glad I read it - thank you!

I have KarinAlyssa's address and have PM'd to check I have the right address still. Waiting a couple of days then will re-send the request. 

Journal Entry 20 by wingLyzzyBeewing at on Friday, March 24, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Released 6 yrs ago (3/24/2006 UTC) at

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to KarinAlyssa, airmail, today 

Journal Entry 21 by KarinAlyssa on Friday, April 14, 2006

This book has not been rated.

I came home for Easter and found 3 rings and I have already 1 to be read. Why can't a ring appear alone ??? Thanks LyzzyBee for mailing it across the pond and the nice poscard. Thank you YowlYY for sharing it through a ring. 

Journal Entry 22 by KarinAlyssa on Sunday, May 07, 2006

8 out of 10

Although I got lost a few times with the sisters and their numerous family members, I enjoyed this book tremendously especially the format as I could read one or two chapters of their life, close the book and come back for more without feeling like I was abandoning this book. It was a tad slow at the start for it was important to distinguish all those characters, but once it was done, I was able to enjoy the Garcia sisters story, a story that is really close to mine. So close, that I remembered having the same reactions at some points in my life and although I knew I wasn't alone, I was glad to see someone experiencing it the same things albeit a few decades ago.

Thank you YowlYY for sharing this book through this ray, it should be mailed to KarenZero on Tuesday. 

Journal Entry 23 by KarenZero from Brooklyn, New York USA on Saturday, June 03, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Book arrived safely. Will read ASAP. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 24 by KarenZero from Brooklyn, New York USA on Monday, June 26, 2006

This book has not been rated.

I've been PMing rhythmbiscuit but have not heard back yet for an address. I will keep trying and then PM the next reader! Thoughts on the book to come later... 

Journal Entry 25 by KarenZero from Brooklyn, New York USA on Wednesday, June 28, 2006

9 out of 10

I really enjoyed this book! The characters felt very real and interesting and I wanted there to be more when I was done.

I PM'ed rhythmbiscuit multiple times and will PM the next reader now.

Thanks for sharing the book! 

Journal Entry 26 by rhythmbiscuit from Thornton, Colorado USA on Tuesday, July 25, 2006

This book has not been rated.

I've been out of town, so I'm sorry I didn't journal earlier. The book arrived safely, and I will start reading it ASAP! 

Journal Entry 27 by rhythmbiscuit from Thornton, Colorado USA on Thursday, July 27, 2006

This book has not been rated.

I recently found another copy of this book at an OBCZ. I have contacted the next person for his or her address, and I will mail this copy soon. 

Journal Entry 28 by rhythmbiscuit at Sent to another bookcrosser in n/a, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, July 29, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Released 5 yrs ago (7/29/2006 UTC) at Sent to another bookcrosser in n/a, Bookray -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

I will mail this book to EMA375. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 29 by EMA375 from Santa Clarita, California USA on Wednesday, August 02, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Yikes, three bookrings have arrived at once! I'll try to get to this ASAP! 

Journal Entry 30 by EMA375 from Santa Clarita, California USA on Friday, August 11, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Great book! I really enjoyed the style the author used to break up the chapters. I already put this book in the mail for the next bookcrosser, mskdm20.

Enjoy!

 

Journal Entry 31 by mskdm20 from Anna, Texas USA on Thursday, August 24, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Received book last week. Sorry for the delay.
Can't wait to read it. 

Journal Entry 32 by mskdm20 from Anna, Texas USA on Wednesday, September 27, 2006

10 out of 10

Such a wonderful book! I just finished it today, and I must say that I loved it!
I really wish the author would have written more about how they escaped to NYC though.
My fav short story in this novel had to be, "Floor Show." I just loved the ending!

Well, I shall be sending this book off to whomever is next on the list. 

Journal Entry 33 by mskdm20 from Anna, Texas USA on Sunday, October 08, 2006

This book has not been rated.

I did e-mail the next person on the list for their address, but I never heard a reply. I'm going to try again, and wait awhile, if I still don't hear a reply then I'm going to have to send this to the next person after her. 

Journal Entry 34 by mskdm20 at ad un bookcrosser in Como, Lombardia Italy on Sunday, October 22, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Released 5 yrs ago (10/27/2006 UTC) at ad un bookcrosser in Como, Lombardia Italy

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to Elisabetta, enjoy!! 

Journal Entry 35 by winglizzyblackwing from Ponte Lambro, Lombardia Italy on Monday, February 12, 2007

This book has not been rated.

I made a J.E. a couple of weeks ago, but I notice now that it doesn't show here.. :(

Anyway, I received the book safely after travelling for longtime alone, this was surprising :)

I liked the book, even if sometimes I found this "jumping" from time and people a bit frustrating :P

The characters are just lovely, and I enjoied reading the book discovering new thing about them!

Thanx a lot, I'll be sending it soon!! :) 

Journal Entry 36 by cheeky42 on Thursday, February 22, 2007

This book has not been rated.

I just got the book. I'll start to read it as soon as I finish the other rings that are awaiting on my tbr. Thank you, francesca 

Journal Entry 37 by cheeky42 on Thursday, April 26, 2007

8 out of 10

I'm sorry it took me so long to read this book, but I had lots of rings awaiting in my TBR. I really enjoyed it: the four sisters and their world of aunts, cousins and parents simply enchanted me. Thank you for this ring! 

Journal Entry 38 by -Lara- from Genova, Liguria Italy on Thursday, May 24, 2007

This book has not been rated.

arrivato il libro...in coda dietro altri ring :) 



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