The Tortilla Curtain
by T. Coraghessan Boyle
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.74 You Save: $8.26 (55%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.25 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Tortilla Curtain
Book Review: Dynamite
Summary: 4 Stars
Not in a long time have I been gripped like this by a novel, fretting, twisting, turning to the next chapter with my teeth clenched, hands clasped onto the slippery book covers, waking up to find out we still don't know what's next. This book sucks its reader into a vortex, the same its characters are remorselessly pulled into. And Boyle is a master at varying pace; the more sedate chapters are just short and interesting enough they don't turn into an interference.
The Tortilla Curtain is a hard-hitting tale. Parallel universes intersect to periodic, catastrophic effect, that of miserable Mexican illegals and wealthy, spoilt Californian locals. Candido and his young, pregnant wife live from hand to mouth, in constant danger from vagrants and vigilantes, not to mention the elements. For them, the American dream is just that: a dream, quite distinct from the nasty struggle for survival that is their lot. At the beginning of the novel, Candido gets hit by Delaney's car. Delany Mossbacher is the liberal whose beliefs fail the test of reality, writing articles on nature while his community is being fenced in, worrying about his estate-agent wife's dogs instead of the man he has almost killed and who is now starving on his doorstep.
The book opens with a quote from The Grapes of Wrath. It begins where the literary monument to the depression dropped off, on a roadside in California. And this is another catastrophe of destitution facing indifference, then hostility. My only complaint about The Tortilla Curtain is with its ending, which also echoes Steinbeck's book (there is a flood, a life is saved, and something else happens which I won't betray). Boyle's novel is ironic, frequently biting and sarcastic. The Grapes of Wrath is pure tragedy. One can't have a Steinbeck ending without the same classical build up to it; it is just too brutal. Or so was my feeling: please judge for yourself, you will find it worthwhile!
Book Review: Tortilla Curtain- A Book for Tolerant Audiances
Summary: 3 Stars
The novel Tortilla Curtian is what one would call a learning book. Tortilla Curtain is written by, T. Coraghessan Boyle. we first meet Delany, who is a typical Californian. We then meet Candido, while he is laying on the ground bleeding. Being struck by our friend Delany. We then see the real side of Delany as he gives Candido twenty dollars for hitting, and forgets the whole incident; after all in Delany's mind Candido is just another illegal immigrant. Candido has immigrated her for a better life not only for himself but also for his 17-year old wife, and un-born child. As the novel progresses we learn about all of the heartache and hardships that eache character has to overcome. This novel is the story of many immigrants' lives, however Boyle takes the issues another step further. He does an excellent job in describing each incident that Candido and his young wife, America ezperience. He also shows the true emotions of the characters, rather than trying to sugar coat the real truth, in some places of the word. Even though this book is considered fictional, most people at first reading, would believe it to be non-fictional, because of all the drama that is encountered in through out the novel. however overall this book is not a book to read by or to those who do not wish to hear discrimination. This novel has a great deal of discrimination, which should not be taken lightly. Candido often refers to Delany as an "Anglo". He also often makes comments about the white race that can be offensive. However it works both ways, a couple of sections in the novel Candido is referred to as a " A stupid mexica" or " Beaner". While writing this Boyle really does stick his neck out on the line. Most authors wouldn't even consider touching those subjects. And for that he shouls be given applause, but overall this novel is not the best reading material, for audiences that could take offense to some of the topics covered throught out the novel.Book Review: The Tortilla Curtain Review
Summary: 3 Stars
The Tortilla Curtain, by T.C. Boyle, is a story about two couples living in America. Delaney Mossbacher, a nature writer, and his wife Kyra, a real estate agent, live in a gated development. Candido Rincon and his wife America, both illegal immigrants, live at the bottom of Topanga Canyon. However, Delaney and Candido's paths cross when Delaney almost kills Candido in a car accident. This triggers a chain of events that leads to an even more dramatic confrontation.
T.C. Boyle did a good job of writing the story and giving his opinion. His opinion about the two couples was made very clear. T.C. Boyle used contradiction and sarcasm to express his feelings and opinions on the issue that is still going on in Southern California. T.C. Boyle also made it very clear who the victim or victims are in the story and he wrote in a way that made the reader actually care and feel for the victims in the book.
I am a type of reader that has a hard time finding books that keep me interested and motivated to keep reading, well this story did just that. Every night I would pick up the book and be like "Ok I'm going to read 20 pages", well 20 pages turned into 40 pages. I just couldn't get enough of the book. I wanted to keep reading to figure out what was going to happen next. I wanted to know what was going to happen to Candido and America, and if Delaney and his wife ever go what they deserved.
This book is great to read because a) it's not required to read in school, except it was required for us to read by Ms. Hanes. 2) It shots out little bits of issues that we are still dealing with today, and c) because it is a great story that will make you just say "Oh My Gosh!" both the good way and the bad way. So go and pick up a copy of The Tortilla Curtain, and you will see for yourself what I mean.
Book Review: Disturbingly over the top
Summary: 3 Stars
Boyle certainly makes his point here, presenting the issues he raises with stark clarity. In the intersection of the lives of the Ricon's (a pair of illegal immigrants living rough and barely surviving in the hills above Los Angeles) and the Mossbacher's (a very well-off, politically correct couple living in a gated community within shouting distance of where the Ricon's are "camping") all of the issues of extreme poverty vs. wealth, "illegal" immigration, race relations, and modern mankind's relation with its environment are presented in a manner that the reader would have to be dead from the neck up not to get.And therein lies the problem: Boyle has used his craft in such a crude manner that one feels beaten down and worn out by the time the book comes to its ambiguous ending. Absolutely anything and everthing bad that could ever happen to an poor, illegal immigrant happens to the Ricon's. The ONLY things bad that happen to the Mossbachers is when the environment in which they live takes it's toll, whether it be having their dogs eaten by a coyote or a brush fire in the canyon in which they live in, events to which the Mossbacher's respond in predictably self-indulgent ways. There is no relief from the constant harangue.
Both couples are parodies. Now there is nothing wrong with parody but here, where there is no humor, it struck me that a more subtle hand would have made a more readable book. I strongly disagree with those who have reviewed this as "trash"; it's not a bad book; on the contrary, it is well worth reading. (If I could have, I would have rated it three and a half stars as a little better than average). But I equally have trouble with those five star ratings as one of the best books ever or even one of Boyles' best. It is simply too inartful and too crude.
Book Review: A Very Thoughtful Book About A Complicated Issue
Summary: 5 Stars
I happen to live in Southern California and am constantly reminded about the issue of undocumented or illegal immigration. I love where I live and wouldn't move anywhere else.In any case, the issue of illegal immigration in Southern California is a polarizing one. On one side you have one group that doesn't seem to care one whit about borders and laws. On the other side, you have people who might have a bit of a racist bent that want to ship out every Spanish speaking person regardless of their legal status.
The fact of the matter is that neither side has a monopoly on the truth. I believe that every major issue including this one and abortion and the death penalty have multiple shades of gray. In this book, T.C. Boyle makes sure to avoid taking a specific position on undocumented immigration. His characters can prove to be geinuses or bufoons and they can be on either side of the issue. This is not a book that preaches at you with a hard-bitten opinion. Instead, it's a book that makes you think and that's the beauty of it.
I've read all the other reviews on this site and sometimes have to laugh. Perhaps if you live in Germany, this book loses some relevance. And then there are those critics that want to critique Boyle's use of satire etc. Then there are those who think he exaggerated some of the tragic circumstanes that befall the main characters (It's called humor!and in Southern California it's not all that far from reality)
Here is the bottom line. Immigration is a big issue no matter where you live in the United States. Boyle has written a thoughtful book that is sometimes funny, always thought-provoking and hard to put down due to vivid characters that come to life with sparkling dialogue.
Please read this book and allow yourself to think seriously about an increasingly important topic.