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The Transplant
The Transplant offers an insightful account of two young people living in United States illegally. Witty and tragic, it portrays their endless and fruitless pursuit of legalization. Agata, a young Polish au-pair who arrives in the United States in the late 1990’s, strives to maintain her legal status through hard work but, due to a fateful event, finds herself unable to do so. Faced with dangerous circumstances and few if any options, she flees from her host family only to find herself living and working illegally. Eventually she meets Mario. His single minded devotion to his ailing mother led him to risk his life and cross the border so that he could earn enough money to pay for the kidney transplant that would save her life. With the birth of their daughter Adriana and the need to ensure that their family stay intact, Agata and Mario become painfully aware of the need for legalization and attempt to gain legal status by any means.
472 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2012
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September 9, 2014
Playing Jokers Blog: all suits of genres and bookish news
A few weeks ago, there was a prompt for book bloggers to post about. The question was, “What was the last book you threw across the room?” At the time, I was having a hard time coming up with an answer. Typically, books will only disappoint and not anger me (if they don’t please, delight, or excite, obviously).
The Transplant actually angered me.
Agata is a Polish girl who yearns for a better life than the factory job she could have near her hometown. So she becomes an au pair to a German family who treat her so much better than most of the other families that received foreign nannies. When the family gets an opportunity to live and work in America for a year, Agata follows them, excited for the growing opportunities. But things get turned upside down and through a myriad of unfortunate events, she becomes an illegal alien in the U.S.
Mario is Mexican and wants to make money for his mother whose health is failing. He jumps the proverbial and not-so proverbial fence into U.S. and becomes a manual laborer to make enough money to support his family and for him to subsist.
The book felt like it was written by different people. I cannot think why this was done on purpose for some grander message about how those people forced to become illegal aliens change as people. It seems entirely too far stretched for that to be the reason. The first third of the book was exclusively Agata’s story. Her parts were written almost primarily in third person limited, allowing the reader to feel connected to her. However, it was there that I witnessed something I had never seen done before in books. If someone angered Agata, she would have homicidal thoughts that were strikethrough, showing that she didn’t actually go ahead with killing someone. For example, if I were to write like that now:
See how that could be confusing? What was most confusing about this was that it only happened in the first third of the book. If this was a stylistic decision, there should have been some consistency, or perhaps a clear delineation from one style to another.
Mario’s section read differently, with more focus on events than what he was feeling. It made me feel more detached from his story than I had felt towards Agata. The final part read like a summary, making me really begin to wonder the motives behind this story. There were times when I wondered if I was reading some thinly veiled propaganda piece for comprehensive immigration reform (the weirdly placed Department of Homeland Security seal and the Uncle Sam image on the back would be further support for this being a propaganda story). I do not like being told how I should feel about an issue. Reading this story did not make me suddenly change my mind on how I feel about illegal immigration.
And I won’t even get into the ending. It is in the last five pages that warranted this book on the list of books that I either actually threw or wanted to throw down. I felt like I wasted my time in getting invested in these characters. In fact, prior to the ending, I was going to give this book 2 stars “it was okay”. The ending downgraded it for me to 1 star “didn’t like it”. I was going to recommend the book to any friends I had who wanted to read something about this subject matter. But I’m not sure I could now without the caveat that the ending could make you feel like you wasted your time reading it. Which is really unfortunate to say about any book. I’m grateful for receiving this book for free from a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway for my honest review. This book did receive some raving reviews from other members so definitely check them out.
A few weeks ago, there was a prompt for book bloggers to post about. The question was, “What was the last book you threw across the room?” At the time, I was having a hard time coming up with an answer. Typically, books will only disappoint and not anger me (if they don’t please, delight, or excite, obviously).
The Transplant actually angered me.
Agata is a Polish girl who yearns for a better life than the factory job she could have near her hometown. So she becomes an au pair to a German family who treat her so much better than most of the other families that received foreign nannies. When the family gets an opportunity to live and work in America for a year, Agata follows them, excited for the growing opportunities. But things get turned upside down and through a myriad of unfortunate events, she becomes an illegal alien in the U.S.
Mario is Mexican and wants to make money for his mother whose health is failing. He jumps the proverbial and not-so proverbial fence into U.S. and becomes a manual laborer to make enough money to support his family and for him to subsist.
The book felt like it was written by different people. I cannot think why this was done on purpose for some grander message about how those people forced to become illegal aliens change as people. It seems entirely too far stretched for that to be the reason. The first third of the book was exclusively Agata’s story. Her parts were written almost primarily in third person limited, allowing the reader to feel connected to her. However, it was there that I witnessed something I had never seen done before in books. If someone angered Agata, she would have homicidal thoughts that were strikethrough, showing that she didn’t actually go ahead with killing someone. For example, if I were to write like that now:
“What did you think of the book,” her friend asked. Glaring at the book, shepulled out a lighter and sparked it, watching in morbid delight as the pages began to crinkle and brown, turning into ashplaced the book down and sighed.
See how that could be confusing? What was most confusing about this was that it only happened in the first third of the book. If this was a stylistic decision, there should have been some consistency, or perhaps a clear delineation from one style to another.
Mario’s section read differently, with more focus on events than what he was feeling. It made me feel more detached from his story than I had felt towards Agata. The final part read like a summary, making me really begin to wonder the motives behind this story. There were times when I wondered if I was reading some thinly veiled propaganda piece for comprehensive immigration reform (the weirdly placed Department of Homeland Security seal and the Uncle Sam image on the back would be further support for this being a propaganda story). I do not like being told how I should feel about an issue. Reading this story did not make me suddenly change my mind on how I feel about illegal immigration.
And I won’t even get into the ending. It is in the last five pages that warranted this book on the list of books that I either actually threw or wanted to throw down. I felt like I wasted my time in getting invested in these characters. In fact, prior to the ending, I was going to give this book 2 stars “it was okay”. The ending downgraded it for me to 1 star “didn’t like it”. I was going to recommend the book to any friends I had who wanted to read something about this subject matter. But I’m not sure I could now without the caveat that the ending could make you feel like you wasted your time reading it. Which is really unfortunate to say about any book. I’m grateful for receiving this book for free from a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway for my honest review. This book did receive some raving reviews from other members so definitely check them out.
August 23, 2013
A goodreads first reads win....
Two separate accounts of a couple of illegal immigrants struggling to gain legal status while living in Illinois. Eventually their stories become one. I must say I had no idea all the ways one could go from being a legal documented immigrant to an illegal. In the book, one of those reasons was 9/11. When Agata, a Polish au pair, could no longer renew her au pair status, she could have gotten a student visa but then our govt. stopped issuing them to anyone, no matter what nationality. Much of her hard earned money is thrown away on various applications and forms, only to be turned down or told to try again later. Agata’s story was definitely the more interesting part of the book for me.
The other story involved Mexican illegals, most specifically Mario who just wanted to make enough money to send back to his sick Mother in Mexico. I was bored and turned off by this section and will admit to skimming over it to get to Book 3, when it all comes together. Much was said about the almost yearly effort by Congress to pass immigration reform, telling the illegals that now is the time to pay any income taxes owed to prevent fines once the reforms pass, only to have the legislation fail year after year, but not until the govt. has reaped the benefit of the tax payments. Also discussed was the building of the wall on the Mexican border, which will be fruitless when the cartels finish building their underground tunnels to circumvent the wall. Agata and Mario as a couple with a new baby work effortlessly to find a way to become legal, in fear that one or the other will be deported.
It was not a bad read and I learned some things along the way. Overall I was not thrilled with the writing or some of the attempts at humor. The author seemed to have a fixation on excrement -- how many pounds of stuff was in Elvis’ colon when he died, some very gross descriptions of dirty bathrooms, a dog that had diarrhea in every room of an apt. that Agata then had to clean -- added nothing to the story whatsoever and just made me say what the heck? But the ending is quite a shocker.
Two separate accounts of a couple of illegal immigrants struggling to gain legal status while living in Illinois. Eventually their stories become one. I must say I had no idea all the ways one could go from being a legal documented immigrant to an illegal. In the book, one of those reasons was 9/11. When Agata, a Polish au pair, could no longer renew her au pair status, she could have gotten a student visa but then our govt. stopped issuing them to anyone, no matter what nationality. Much of her hard earned money is thrown away on various applications and forms, only to be turned down or told to try again later. Agata’s story was definitely the more interesting part of the book for me.
The other story involved Mexican illegals, most specifically Mario who just wanted to make enough money to send back to his sick Mother in Mexico. I was bored and turned off by this section and will admit to skimming over it to get to Book 3, when it all comes together. Much was said about the almost yearly effort by Congress to pass immigration reform, telling the illegals that now is the time to pay any income taxes owed to prevent fines once the reforms pass, only to have the legislation fail year after year, but not until the govt. has reaped the benefit of the tax payments. Also discussed was the building of the wall on the Mexican border, which will be fruitless when the cartels finish building their underground tunnels to circumvent the wall. Agata and Mario as a couple with a new baby work effortlessly to find a way to become legal, in fear that one or the other will be deported.
It was not a bad read and I learned some things along the way. Overall I was not thrilled with the writing or some of the attempts at humor. The author seemed to have a fixation on excrement -- how many pounds of stuff was in Elvis’ colon when he died, some very gross descriptions of dirty bathrooms, a dog that had diarrhea in every room of an apt. that Agata then had to clean -- added nothing to the story whatsoever and just made me say what the heck? But the ending is quite a shocker.
June 12, 2013
There is plenty of food for thought in this book which delves into the world of illegal immigration. The Transplant touches on the figurative meaning as well as the literal, and will come full circle by the close of the story, after a fashion.
America, the land of opportunity, also holds plenty of nightmares for the two main characters, Agata and Mario. They will not come together until well into the book, but I never did feel any real chemistry between them. While Mario was certainly smitten with Agata, his efforts at wooing her came across as bordering on stalking, with the creep factor looming large. As for Agata, the early part of her story contained marked out text showing us what she was REALLY thinking rather than what she actually said or did, and it was just plain weird. It never did tie into anything else and the exercise was dropped after the first third of the book.
The portions of the story that really worked well were the telling of the living and working conditions of the Mexican painting crew. The author stayed on task there and it was compelling. Within the ranks of the illegals, there are the kind-hearted and the opportunists, the loyal as well as the untrustworthy, good guys and scumbags, not unlike all of us here.
The description of Felipe’s homemade bean chili and the resultant fumes from those partaking was humorous. Supplies were purchased (yes, and sometimes stolen) from stores going by the names of Ouch-Mart and Please Buy. The names of those stores killed me.
This was a published edition, and really could have used one more edit to clean up a couple of typos and to cut down on the frequent misuse of the word ‘leered’. Would also highly recommend getting rid of the marked-out text business. This was a First-reads giveaway, thank you.
America, the land of opportunity, also holds plenty of nightmares for the two main characters, Agata and Mario. They will not come together until well into the book, but I never did feel any real chemistry between them. While Mario was certainly smitten with Agata, his efforts at wooing her came across as bordering on stalking, with the creep factor looming large. As for Agata, the early part of her story contained marked out text showing us what she was REALLY thinking rather than what she actually said or did, and it was just plain weird. It never did tie into anything else and the exercise was dropped after the first third of the book.
The portions of the story that really worked well were the telling of the living and working conditions of the Mexican painting crew. The author stayed on task there and it was compelling. Within the ranks of the illegals, there are the kind-hearted and the opportunists, the loyal as well as the untrustworthy, good guys and scumbags, not unlike all of us here.
The description of Felipe’s homemade bean chili and the resultant fumes from those partaking was humorous. Supplies were purchased (yes, and sometimes stolen) from stores going by the names of Ouch-Mart and Please Buy. The names of those stores killed me.
This was a published edition, and really could have used one more edit to clean up a couple of typos and to cut down on the frequent misuse of the word ‘leered’. Would also highly recommend getting rid of the marked-out text business. This was a First-reads giveaway, thank you.
July 11, 2013
I've often heard the term 'parallel universe' or 'parallel world' used in science-fiction. But The Transplant by Alexandra Ulysses rips the veil off of a real parallel world that exists here in America - the world of illegals. We follow the stories of two such people in this book: Agata, the polish au-pair who arrives in the U.S. legally under a work visa but who, through no fault of her own or her employers, is pushed into the unseemly underground network of illegals; and Mario, the Mexican itinerant worker who arrives here with groups of other Mexicans anxious and ready to work long, hard hours to make the money needed to get his ailing mother on the kidney transplant list - his story begins with him already in the network of illegals. What follows is a story of hardship, stamina, and sheer will to survive under the worst conditions imaginable - all while living with the threat of deportation hanging over their heads. In spite of all of the frustration, degradation, and back-stabbing among their own kind Agata and Mario come together and have a child - a beautiful baby girl who because of her birth in the U.S. is a citizen where her parents are not.
This book is well-researched, well-written, and well-plotted. Rich details make the reader feel present in the story along-side the characters. And as in real-life there are twists and turns and frustrations alongside the smiles, laughs, and small milestones that keep these people going. The ending will leave you speechless.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. For me it was a page-turner and I found myself staying up way too late rather than put it down. For those of us who might bear ill-will against the illegal workers here, this book brings to our attention that they are folks just like us looking to make a better life for themselves. And while these characters are contemporary we would do well to remember that most of our ancestors arrived on America's shores as immigrant workers. I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of the book in a giveaway from Library Thing and this in no-way influenced my review
This book is well-researched, well-written, and well-plotted. Rich details make the reader feel present in the story along-side the characters. And as in real-life there are twists and turns and frustrations alongside the smiles, laughs, and small milestones that keep these people going. The ending will leave you speechless.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. For me it was a page-turner and I found myself staying up way too late rather than put it down. For those of us who might bear ill-will against the illegal workers here, this book brings to our attention that they are folks just like us looking to make a better life for themselves. And while these characters are contemporary we would do well to remember that most of our ancestors arrived on America's shores as immigrant workers. I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of the book in a giveaway from Library Thing and this in no-way influenced my review
April 29, 2016
I was so happy to have won this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's Giveaway. I thought it sounded like it would be good especially with "transplanted" immigrants and an actual organ transplant that needs to take place. Unfortunately, I was wrong and couldn't even finish it. The story was boring and the editing was bad. In one instance, Agata, is speaking with one child she babysits. In the next sentence she has a bloody nose. I had to reread it thinking I missed something but I didn't. I guess I'm just supposed to infer that the kid hit her or she just randomly happened to get a bloody nose. I also became tired of the cross-outs. Not only were they annoying to the flow of the book, but they were extremely vicious thoughts that Agata would envision wanting to happen. In one instance she has boarded the plane for the U.S. and needs to use the bathroom. Even though that's something anyone knows to do before boarding a plane or going on any trip for that matter. She tells the stewardess that she has to pee (yes, she used the word pee) and the stewardess tells her she has to wait until they are airborne. Agata's crossed-out thoughts are as follows: "Agata looked around the plane to see if anyone was watching. She then pulled out a hatchet from the overhead bin and hacked out a hole in the bathroom door, but first she bludgeoned the stupid stewardess to death." (page 69) Really? All this because Agata just couldn't use the bathroom at the airport lobby and had to now wait until takeoff? Then later on after Agata used the bathroom, this same stewardess asked her if she wanted some coffee. Agata's crossed-out words are: "Agata unbuckled the seat belt, stood up, pulled out her hatchet from the overhead bin and killed the bitch all over again. "(page 69) Is this the poor immigrant I am supposedly supposed to relate to or feel sorry for? Or did I misunderstand that this was a dark comedy novel instead? I really tried to keep reading but just couldn't fathom reading 400 more pages of this same bad writing.
July 20, 2013
I have never read anything quite like this book! WOW! It puts a face on immigration. In three stories. First there is Agata from Poland who goes to Germany as an au pair, then to the US with the family. The character Agata is mesmerizing, a real girl in the very real world. Hard worker with a mind of her own, thankfully. Everything that happens to her was a surprise to me. Very unconventional. She ends up needing her estranged father who is already in the US.
The next "book" is about immigrants from Mexico. A band of them to be exact. The tale is how dangerous it is physically; these people risk their lives to get here! They rely on others who have come before, living in very crowded housing, sometimes ending up in sleeping bags on living room floors, doing grueling work with no end in sight. And since they are illegal, no recourse for damages done to them. They play with getting illegal paperwork to be able to open a bank account, get a driver's license, the everyday needs of a working society.
The last "book" has Agata from Poland meeting Mario, one of the Mexican immigrants. They start up a relationship and then a family. Both work hard for the chance to live normal lives here in the US. Very disparate personalities and a surprise when they make it work, but with the all pervading fear that they will be caught before there is immigration reform.
And here we are today with the same damned problem. When did the US turn its back on the "Melting Pot" promise? As a child I remember being so proud of our nation for welcoming these desperate people and giving them a true home. I wish that I could look at the issue and think that we will succeed with a workable immigration plan. This book was an eye opener! It is NOT to be missed! Oh, yeah, VOTE!
The next "book" is about immigrants from Mexico. A band of them to be exact. The tale is how dangerous it is physically; these people risk their lives to get here! They rely on others who have come before, living in very crowded housing, sometimes ending up in sleeping bags on living room floors, doing grueling work with no end in sight. And since they are illegal, no recourse for damages done to them. They play with getting illegal paperwork to be able to open a bank account, get a driver's license, the everyday needs of a working society.
The last "book" has Agata from Poland meeting Mario, one of the Mexican immigrants. They start up a relationship and then a family. Both work hard for the chance to live normal lives here in the US. Very disparate personalities and a surprise when they make it work, but with the all pervading fear that they will be caught before there is immigration reform.
And here we are today with the same damned problem. When did the US turn its back on the "Melting Pot" promise? As a child I remember being so proud of our nation for welcoming these desperate people and giving them a true home. I wish that I could look at the issue and think that we will succeed with a workable immigration plan. This book was an eye opener! It is NOT to be missed! Oh, yeah, VOTE!
January 9, 2023
I'm with several of the other reviewers in that this is a book I could just not continue. I typically try to soldier on through if its for Early Reviewers, but not this one.
I'm all for a good story, and I'm happy that other reviewers were able to get through the book but I was so put off by poor editing that it was distracting to the story. Unfortunately, paired with that I found the pacing slow and the characters not so interesting. I made it about 100 pages in and then gave up.
I'm all for a good story, and I'm happy that other reviewers were able to get through the book but I was so put off by poor editing that it was distracting to the story. Unfortunately, paired with that I found the pacing slow and the characters not so interesting. I made it about 100 pages in and then gave up.
August 1, 2013
Agata lives in Poland. Her family is very poor and her future prospects are bleak. So, she takes a job as an au pair and when her employers move to the US, Agata accompanies them, despite the objections of her mother.
Mario risks his life crossing the Mexican / US border in the middle of the night. He hopes to earn enough money in the States to pay for the kidney transplant that his ailing mother can’t afford.
They fall in love and have a child. Mario waxes floors and paints, Agata cleans houses. Their life together would be ordinary, except that at any moment either of them might be arrested and deported, because they are both illegal aliens. Desperate to stay in the US, they resort to lying, stealing and falsifying documents. They live in fear of “La Migra” – the immigration police. For Mario, the prospect of an arranged marriage to an American citizen becomes more and more appealing, since it is the only sure path to citizenship and gainful employment.
Before reading The Transplant, I hadn’t realized how vulnerable illegal aliens are – when they are robbed, injured, or abused, they don’t dare seek help. I also didn’t realize how many people profit by exploiting this population. Agata falls victim to a fake legal assistance agency. Mario buys a social security number, which turns out to belong to a dead man. They pay an immigration lawyer two hundred dollars to tell them that there’s nothing he can do to help them.
Prior to reading this book, I wasn’t aware that some illegal aliens are able to use the system to their advantage: Agata’s friend Gitta out maxes her many credit cards purchasing luxury items and then goes back to her home country, with no intention of ever paying. Mario’s Uncle becomes rich by employing illegal aliens at subsistence wages. One of his Mario’s friends makes his money trafficking Mexican girls into sexual slavery.
The Transplant is educational, but it also works as a love story. Mario’s fervent devotion to Agata slowly wins her over despite her fear and cultural conditioning. I wanted them to find a way to stay together despite the odds.
I think some editing would make this book more powerful. When we’re introduced to Mario, he’s living with and working with a group of other illegal aliens from Mexico. Several of them are not really important to the story and serve only as distractions. Many pages are spent chronicling the various jobs they get. Reading about people waxing floors is about as interesting as, well, waxing a floor.
But this is a minor criticism. Overall, I thought that The Transplant was involving and enlightening.
Mario risks his life crossing the Mexican / US border in the middle of the night. He hopes to earn enough money in the States to pay for the kidney transplant that his ailing mother can’t afford.
They fall in love and have a child. Mario waxes floors and paints, Agata cleans houses. Their life together would be ordinary, except that at any moment either of them might be arrested and deported, because they are both illegal aliens. Desperate to stay in the US, they resort to lying, stealing and falsifying documents. They live in fear of “La Migra” – the immigration police. For Mario, the prospect of an arranged marriage to an American citizen becomes more and more appealing, since it is the only sure path to citizenship and gainful employment.
Before reading The Transplant, I hadn’t realized how vulnerable illegal aliens are – when they are robbed, injured, or abused, they don’t dare seek help. I also didn’t realize how many people profit by exploiting this population. Agata falls victim to a fake legal assistance agency. Mario buys a social security number, which turns out to belong to a dead man. They pay an immigration lawyer two hundred dollars to tell them that there’s nothing he can do to help them.
Prior to reading this book, I wasn’t aware that some illegal aliens are able to use the system to their advantage: Agata’s friend Gitta out maxes her many credit cards purchasing luxury items and then goes back to her home country, with no intention of ever paying. Mario’s Uncle becomes rich by employing illegal aliens at subsistence wages. One of his Mario’s friends makes his money trafficking Mexican girls into sexual slavery.
The Transplant is educational, but it also works as a love story. Mario’s fervent devotion to Agata slowly wins her over despite her fear and cultural conditioning. I wanted them to find a way to stay together despite the odds.
I think some editing would make this book more powerful. When we’re introduced to Mario, he’s living with and working with a group of other illegal aliens from Mexico. Several of them are not really important to the story and serve only as distractions. Many pages are spent chronicling the various jobs they get. Reading about people waxing floors is about as interesting as, well, waxing a floor.
But this is a minor criticism. Overall, I thought that The Transplant was involving and enlightening.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2013
How many of us living as citizens in America really know what it’s like to live as an illegal immigrant? How many of us have preconceived notions and prejudices against these people? How many of us even have preconceptions as to why they decided to come here in the first place and what they do while living here? “The Transplant” by Alexandra Ulysses offer us insight into the world of illegal immigrants in America. The novel follows the trials and tribulations of the lives of Agata from Poland and Marco from Mexico. Two people who want nothing more then to become legal citizens and live their lives productively and safely within the United States.
Ulysses offers the reader new insight and understanding into the lives of illegal immigrants. Marco risks his life crossing the desert into the United States for the sole purpose of making enough money to put his mother on the transplant list for a new kidney. Agata comes as an au pair with a legal working visa, but after 9/11 she is not able to renew her visa. The novel also indirectly follows the lives of Marco and Agata’s friends and coworkers, all illegal immigrants. Ulysses does an excellent job showing the different aspects and personalities of the group. They are all types of people, good and bad, just like any other group of people. I think it was important that while some of the immigrants ended up dealing drugs and other illegal activities, others would never participate in those occupations, even indirectly. The majority of the immigrants were good people who worked hard to provide for their families.
The novel is well written and captivating, especially during the last half. It was a little choppy; it would have been nice if it had flowed better. However Ulysses did a fantastic job with character development and attention to detail.
This was a great novel and a worthwhile read. It can be hard to change preconceptions about a group of people, but this book goes a long way educating about the ridiculousness of the immigration laws and the difficulty and hardship illegal immigrants go through. This is a novel every adult should read.
The novel was captivating, enlightening, and heart wrenching.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads. This in no way influenced my review. I did not receive compensation for, nor was required to, write a review.
Ulysses offers the reader new insight and understanding into the lives of illegal immigrants. Marco risks his life crossing the desert into the United States for the sole purpose of making enough money to put his mother on the transplant list for a new kidney. Agata comes as an au pair with a legal working visa, but after 9/11 she is not able to renew her visa. The novel also indirectly follows the lives of Marco and Agata’s friends and coworkers, all illegal immigrants. Ulysses does an excellent job showing the different aspects and personalities of the group. They are all types of people, good and bad, just like any other group of people. I think it was important that while some of the immigrants ended up dealing drugs and other illegal activities, others would never participate in those occupations, even indirectly. The majority of the immigrants were good people who worked hard to provide for their families.
The novel is well written and captivating, especially during the last half. It was a little choppy; it would have been nice if it had flowed better. However Ulysses did a fantastic job with character development and attention to detail.
This was a great novel and a worthwhile read. It can be hard to change preconceptions about a group of people, but this book goes a long way educating about the ridiculousness of the immigration laws and the difficulty and hardship illegal immigrants go through. This is a novel every adult should read.
The novel was captivating, enlightening, and heart wrenching.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads. This in no way influenced my review. I did not receive compensation for, nor was required to, write a review.
November 26, 2013
I received a free early reviewers hard copy of The Transplant from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and at times couldn’t put it down. The ending was so sad and tragic; it really made me aware of some of the terrible things that another person will do for wealth and the almighty buck. This book presents a different view of illegal immigrants in the US that I wasn’t completely aware of. The majority are very hardworking, good, people. Of course there are some scoundrels just like in all of society. They live with a constant fear that they will be caught before there is immigration reform and most seem to be willing to pay whatever penalties necessary in order to get US citizenship legally if and when it comes to fruition. Some come here with visas and a host individual or family but due to unforeseen events or circumstances beyond their control are unable to become citizens. There are circumstances where they have been taken advantage of but there are also circumstances where they have taken advantage and married a US citizen in order to become legal and then divorced them later when they obtained their citizenship. Some were only marriages on paper and the illegal paid the individual so they would marry them. Some of these arranged marriages were to enlisted men and women who were serving in foreign countries. The events on 9/11 played a big part in many visas being cancelled and many immigrants who were very close to becoming citizens suddenly became illegal aliens. We need immigration reform in this our country! It seems like we as American citizens living in the melting pot of the world have turned our backs on immigrants and no longer seem to welcome them nor seem to want to help them become citizens.
I noticed a few places in Book I where portions of the text were crossed out. I am wondering if these are areas that were missed during editing of the book. A suggestion to the author is that it would be very helpful to the reader if there was a glossary in the back of the book with the English translation for the words in Polish, Spanish, Czech, etc. used throughout the book. Again, I did enjoy this book and as a whole it was very well written.
I noticed a few places in Book I where portions of the text were crossed out. I am wondering if these are areas that were missed during editing of the book. A suggestion to the author is that it would be very helpful to the reader if there was a glossary in the back of the book with the English translation for the words in Polish, Spanish, Czech, etc. used throughout the book. Again, I did enjoy this book and as a whole it was very well written.
July 29, 2013
I received this book as an ARC.
The Transplant by Alexandra Ulysses is a psychological thriller about illegal immigrant life in the United States. It details the hopes, dreams, hardships and horrors of those that come across our borders hoping to make a better life for themselves and their families.
First we are presented with Agata, a young Polish immigrant, who initially comes to America through legal channels to work as an au pair for a German couple and their two sons. Interestingly enough, Agata ‘s father is an American, who was not in her life much up to this point, a situation that she is hoping to change now that they are living in the same country.
We are next introduced to Mario, a young Mexican, who comes to the US like thousands before him; under cover of darkness, through the desert. Mario’s motivation is his mother, back in Mexico, who is very sick and who needs expensive medication, and ultimately a life-saving procedure that she simply can’t afford.
The book follows Agata and Mario on their separate quests to fulfill their dreams until fate brings them together and they fall in love. For most of us, this would count as a positive life experience, but for Agata and Mario, it just serves to heighten their own awareness of their precarious status in America, and what might happen should one or both of them be caught and deported.
Throughout the book, we come face-to-face with the trials and tribulations experienced by an illegal immigrant on a daily basis, and we feel that we now have a complete picture of the most horrible things that can happen to them………..until, the shocking twist at the end!
My first thought was: slow moving. Then, after I got to the part where Mario was introduced, I was a little put off-I felt like I had switched books altogether. Then I realized, that this was probably a necessary technique in order to flesh out the challenges both Agata and Mario had experienced and what makes them who they are by the time that they meet. Once, I digested that, I was fully engaged with the story until the very shocking end-never would have seen that coming!
The Transplant by Alexandra Ulysses is a psychological thriller about illegal immigrant life in the United States. It details the hopes, dreams, hardships and horrors of those that come across our borders hoping to make a better life for themselves and their families.
First we are presented with Agata, a young Polish immigrant, who initially comes to America through legal channels to work as an au pair for a German couple and their two sons. Interestingly enough, Agata ‘s father is an American, who was not in her life much up to this point, a situation that she is hoping to change now that they are living in the same country.
We are next introduced to Mario, a young Mexican, who comes to the US like thousands before him; under cover of darkness, through the desert. Mario’s motivation is his mother, back in Mexico, who is very sick and who needs expensive medication, and ultimately a life-saving procedure that she simply can’t afford.
The book follows Agata and Mario on their separate quests to fulfill their dreams until fate brings them together and they fall in love. For most of us, this would count as a positive life experience, but for Agata and Mario, it just serves to heighten their own awareness of their precarious status in America, and what might happen should one or both of them be caught and deported.
Throughout the book, we come face-to-face with the trials and tribulations experienced by an illegal immigrant on a daily basis, and we feel that we now have a complete picture of the most horrible things that can happen to them………..until, the shocking twist at the end!
My first thought was: slow moving. Then, after I got to the part where Mario was introduced, I was a little put off-I felt like I had switched books altogether. Then I realized, that this was probably a necessary technique in order to flesh out the challenges both Agata and Mario had experienced and what makes them who they are by the time that they meet. Once, I digested that, I was fully engaged with the story until the very shocking end-never would have seen that coming!
August 8, 2013
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. It’s not a book I would have generally picked for myself because I think the description doesn’t really do it enough justice so I’m really glad that I won it and gave it a shot. It was well worth it!
I can’t give away any part of the story at all because you need to get in there and find out for yourself what you think of the book, so I’ll give what I can. This book will grab your attention from the very beginning and you will find it very hard to put it down. There are a few stories going on at once but as you are reading the author magnificently blends the stories together so that all of a sudden you realize that all the stories are now one. It’s very well written and the stories flow smoothly for the most part. You get attached to many of the character and find yourself laughing, crying, and screaming right along with them!
I did struggle just a bit with the rating on this one though. There are parts in the book where the story is so rushed you just lose track of time and have to take a step back to try to figure out how much has passed because it jumps so far ahead so quickly. The story reads so smoothly and perfectly for well over half the book, then it just starts skipping through time and leaving out so much that could have been and should have been important to the book. I suppose when you are hitting 500 pages or so that can be an issue though, or perhaps I was just too involved with the characters. The other thing was that I really, really, really did not like the ending at all! I am just going to have to erase it from my mind forever and create a new one.
However, since not liking an ending is really not a rating dropping thing just a personal thing (read the book you guys, you will understand this and I can’t elaborate to add humor or anything else to my rant here!!) the writing style, characters, storyline, plot, etc. more than deserve the 5 star rating. It would have been nice to have the extra time for the characters in the last quarter of the book, but it was still very good!
I can’t give away any part of the story at all because you need to get in there and find out for yourself what you think of the book, so I’ll give what I can. This book will grab your attention from the very beginning and you will find it very hard to put it down. There are a few stories going on at once but as you are reading the author magnificently blends the stories together so that all of a sudden you realize that all the stories are now one. It’s very well written and the stories flow smoothly for the most part. You get attached to many of the character and find yourself laughing, crying, and screaming right along with them!
I did struggle just a bit with the rating on this one though. There are parts in the book where the story is so rushed you just lose track of time and have to take a step back to try to figure out how much has passed because it jumps so far ahead so quickly. The story reads so smoothly and perfectly for well over half the book, then it just starts skipping through time and leaving out so much that could have been and should have been important to the book. I suppose when you are hitting 500 pages or so that can be an issue though, or perhaps I was just too involved with the characters. The other thing was that I really, really, really did not like the ending at all! I am just going to have to erase it from my mind forever and create a new one.
However, since not liking an ending is really not a rating dropping thing just a personal thing (read the book you guys, you will understand this and I can’t elaborate to add humor or anything else to my rant here!!) the writing style, characters, storyline, plot, etc. more than deserve the 5 star rating. It would have been nice to have the extra time for the characters in the last quarter of the book, but it was still very good!
August 12, 2013
The author cleverly combined three stories into one book.
The books were fairly well-written. In book one, the story
begins with a Polish family, including a daughter, who
desperately wants to go to America to live with her biological
father. He is an alcoholic and makes promises, yet never keeps
them.
The daughter, Agata, gets job as a au-pair in Germany. The story
continues from there. It involves her family in Poland, her
relationship with the family she works for, friendships developed,
then her decisions she must make from that time forward and how those
decisions ultimately affect her life.
Book Two is of Mario, and his four friends deciding to leave Mexico
to America to earn money to return to Mexico with in short while.
One of the friends, Juan, has an Uncle Eduardo who will give the jobs
once they arrive where he lives. This book describes their escape
across the border and the experiences they have once they arrive in
the US. This books also leads into book three of how Mario and Agata's
lives intertwine.
Book three encompasses all the separate individuals lives found in book
one and two.
Book one is quite interesting up until near the end. It then has excessive
profanity and seems disconnected.
Throughout book two, is excessive profanity. It has parts that are
interesting but mostly annoying and depressing. Book three does not
improve much.
The last two books were very difficult to keep one's interest. They just
contained constant profanity. The ending was weak.
Key points: Deportation, Illegal entry, Abuse, Racial prejudice, Employee theft,
Relationships, Discrimination, Credit fraud/Abuse
I own this through an Library Thing drawing. The author's generosity to allow
others to read and review, is appreciated. However, my honest review of this
book is Two and 1/2 stars.
The books were fairly well-written. In book one, the story
begins with a Polish family, including a daughter, who
desperately wants to go to America to live with her biological
father. He is an alcoholic and makes promises, yet never keeps
them.
The daughter, Agata, gets job as a au-pair in Germany. The story
continues from there. It involves her family in Poland, her
relationship with the family she works for, friendships developed,
then her decisions she must make from that time forward and how those
decisions ultimately affect her life.
Book Two is of Mario, and his four friends deciding to leave Mexico
to America to earn money to return to Mexico with in short while.
One of the friends, Juan, has an Uncle Eduardo who will give the jobs
once they arrive where he lives. This book describes their escape
across the border and the experiences they have once they arrive in
the US. This books also leads into book three of how Mario and Agata's
lives intertwine.
Book three encompasses all the separate individuals lives found in book
one and two.
Book one is quite interesting up until near the end. It then has excessive
profanity and seems disconnected.
Throughout book two, is excessive profanity. It has parts that are
interesting but mostly annoying and depressing. Book three does not
improve much.
The last two books were very difficult to keep one's interest. They just
contained constant profanity. The ending was weak.
Key points: Deportation, Illegal entry, Abuse, Racial prejudice, Employee theft,
Relationships, Discrimination, Credit fraud/Abuse
I own this through an Library Thing drawing. The author's generosity to allow
others to read and review, is appreciated. However, my honest review of this
book is Two and 1/2 stars.
July 13, 2013
** Received Copy From Author**
Putting aside the current U.S. issue with immigration, it was a really good book. Showing that most people do not have it all, that some must work much, much harder than others to achieve what they want out of life. Neither of these characters grew up with a golden spoon, their lives revolved around taking chances, making sacrifices, placing themselves in harms way and at times, depending on compete strangers to reach their goal. At times they take chances and end up getting taking advantage of. Their lives are completely surrounded by falling down, getting up and trying again. Their drive to succeed far out weights their need to just give up.
Now considering the current U.S. issue with immigration, it is damn near impossible to change one's mind on the topic. People are set in their ways and rarely do those ways change. Hopefully, though it does make some think. Think on how it would be to come from a place so dirty, tragic, violence filled with a near impossibility of finding a honorable job to feed yourself and your family. That it is so bad where you are from that it makes you leave everything you've even known and live a life of a criminal just to try and grab something better. The point maybe not to change your mind but to have more compassion towards it. To understand that people are literally risking their lives to live in the U.S.
It was a really good book. whether is changes your view of illegal immigration or if it only deepens your view, it is a great read nonetheless. It is no doubt a story about survival.
Putting aside the current U.S. issue with immigration, it was a really good book. Showing that most people do not have it all, that some must work much, much harder than others to achieve what they want out of life. Neither of these characters grew up with a golden spoon, their lives revolved around taking chances, making sacrifices, placing themselves in harms way and at times, depending on compete strangers to reach their goal. At times they take chances and end up getting taking advantage of. Their lives are completely surrounded by falling down, getting up and trying again. Their drive to succeed far out weights their need to just give up.
Now considering the current U.S. issue with immigration, it is damn near impossible to change one's mind on the topic. People are set in their ways and rarely do those ways change. Hopefully, though it does make some think. Think on how it would be to come from a place so dirty, tragic, violence filled with a near impossibility of finding a honorable job to feed yourself and your family. That it is so bad where you are from that it makes you leave everything you've even known and live a life of a criminal just to try and grab something better. The point maybe not to change your mind but to have more compassion towards it. To understand that people are literally risking their lives to live in the U.S.
It was a really good book. whether is changes your view of illegal immigration or if it only deepens your view, it is a great read nonetheless. It is no doubt a story about survival.
June 9, 2013
I just finished 'The Transplant' tonight...I usually can read a book in two nights but this is such a meaty read that it took me much longer. I must first say that this book is incredibly well written. The author did a great job with the story. Where the book fell flat for me was the characters. Despite the lengthly descriptions about the characters and their circumstances, I never really felt close to any of them. I also had some trouble with the passage of time between sections. Often months would go by from one section (paragraph) to another and it left me feeling disjointed.
I started the book unsure about how I felt about illegal immigration and ended the book feeling the same way. I wanted the characters and their plight to move me but they didn't. I felt sorry for them at parts and the cruelty of fate. Being an illegal immigrant in America is undoubtably a hard life but it's the life they chose. I kept thinking that if my desire was to find a better life in Mexico or a Slavic country, I wouldn't find it any easier - nor would the government make it easier for me either!
The only emotion that I really felt after reading the book was a bit of anger. As someone who works long hours and pays a lot in taxes, I don't appreciate having to pay for people who aren't here legally...no matter what their reasons for coming! *Please note that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I started the book unsure about how I felt about illegal immigration and ended the book feeling the same way. I wanted the characters and their plight to move me but they didn't. I felt sorry for them at parts and the cruelty of fate. Being an illegal immigrant in America is undoubtably a hard life but it's the life they chose. I kept thinking that if my desire was to find a better life in Mexico or a Slavic country, I wouldn't find it any easier - nor would the government make it easier for me either!
The only emotion that I really felt after reading the book was a bit of anger. As someone who works long hours and pays a lot in taxes, I don't appreciate having to pay for people who aren't here legally...no matter what their reasons for coming! *Please note that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
July 30, 2013
This book was like a punch in the gut. Nothing has opened up the immigration issue more than this novel has.
Personally, I never had very strong opinions on immigration and illegals in America. I always thought that everyone deserved a shot at a better life and if they want to come here let them, our forefathers got the chance, why can't they? It doesn't hurt me one iota, illegal immigrants generally take the jobs no one else want anyway. This book however, really made me take another look at the issue, it is sooo much more complicated than that!
This story follows Agata, a young Polish girl who comes to the US as an au pair, dreaming of a better life and Mario, a Mexican who just wants to earn enough money for his mother to get a new kidney. Over the course of about ten years these poor illegal immigrants try to do everything in their power to do the right thing, get legalized, and improve their lives, but time and time again they are shut down. Eventually their paths cross and Agata and Mario have a child. Both of their families disapprove, but they tough it out and try to make it work.
This story is heart wrenching and beautifully crafted. Mario and Agata try soo very hard and you want them to succeed. This story is just a fictional account of what happens to thousands of illegal immigrants every day, it's saddening and something must be done.
A definite eye opener and a must read!
Personally, I never had very strong opinions on immigration and illegals in America. I always thought that everyone deserved a shot at a better life and if they want to come here let them, our forefathers got the chance, why can't they? It doesn't hurt me one iota, illegal immigrants generally take the jobs no one else want anyway. This book however, really made me take another look at the issue, it is sooo much more complicated than that!
This story follows Agata, a young Polish girl who comes to the US as an au pair, dreaming of a better life and Mario, a Mexican who just wants to earn enough money for his mother to get a new kidney. Over the course of about ten years these poor illegal immigrants try to do everything in their power to do the right thing, get legalized, and improve their lives, but time and time again they are shut down. Eventually their paths cross and Agata and Mario have a child. Both of their families disapprove, but they tough it out and try to make it work.
This story is heart wrenching and beautifully crafted. Mario and Agata try soo very hard and you want them to succeed. This story is just a fictional account of what happens to thousands of illegal immigrants every day, it's saddening and something must be done.
A definite eye opener and a must read!
July 14, 2013
I won a free copy from a goodreads first-reads giveaway.
The book was interesting. I liked Agata's story, particularly before she even arrived in the US... After that the book sorta falters and drags. I thought the story was a bit long. Agata's story is much longer so I never felt connected to Mario the same. I was also pretty disappointed the summary of the plot on the back of the book discusses the plot for the first 430 pages or so. Then the last 40 pages it rushes by and ends so arbuptly it was a jolt of a "what the...." I think the story could have been easily 100-150 pages shorter and had the same effect in the ending.
The story had compelling parts and you start to feel sympathy for the characters but parts dragged and then it jumps quickly so the flow is awkward. The characters are irrational not fitting the personalities at the sake for a story line.
Despite these hiccups the story is engaging enough that I read the whole book. There were some unnecessary exclamation points throughout the story. I think the book is made for a particular reader that really enjoys character development.
The ending really bothered me because I felt it was only for shock that it didn't fit with the story at all. I think you could read book one of Agata's life and that's a good story that shows the hardships of immigrant life in the world.
The book was interesting. I liked Agata's story, particularly before she even arrived in the US... After that the book sorta falters and drags. I thought the story was a bit long. Agata's story is much longer so I never felt connected to Mario the same. I was also pretty disappointed the summary of the plot on the back of the book discusses the plot for the first 430 pages or so. Then the last 40 pages it rushes by and ends so arbuptly it was a jolt of a "what the...." I think the story could have been easily 100-150 pages shorter and had the same effect in the ending.
The story had compelling parts and you start to feel sympathy for the characters but parts dragged and then it jumps quickly so the flow is awkward. The characters are irrational not fitting the personalities at the sake for a story line.
Despite these hiccups the story is engaging enough that I read the whole book. There were some unnecessary exclamation points throughout the story. I think the book is made for a particular reader that really enjoys character development.
The ending really bothered me because I felt it was only for shock that it didn't fit with the story at all. I think you could read book one of Agata's life and that's a good story that shows the hardships of immigrant life in the world.
July 17, 2013
Alexandra Ulysses has a great way of telling a story from different sides of the perspective. The book was interesting and the characters were easy to follow and I was always rooting for the good guy and girl. However, what I found confusing was that there were no chapter titles, so I didn't know when the chapter ended or began. I happen to like chapter titles. I like to know when I shift from one subject to the next to keep things straight in my head. I did learn a lot about the illegals in this country and what they are trying so hard to overcome. But, America is not always what people say it should be. It has a seedy side just like everywhere else on the planet.
I did not like the ending either. I was confused on whether the people were dead or alive It didn't seem concrete to me. The book was a good read but ultimately fell short of my hopes.
The Transplant
I did not like the ending either. I was confused on whether the people were dead or alive It didn't seem concrete to me. The book was a good read but ultimately fell short of my hopes.
The Transplant
May 27, 2013
I won this book in a Good Reads first reads giveaway.
I wouldn’t have normally read a book about immigration, so I am glad that I won this book. The Transplant was a really good book, it pulled me in from the very first page. I became wholly invested in the main characters, Agata and Mario, from the beginning. This book is broken up into 3 parts; the first two parts are devoted to showing the two main character’s journeys towards becoming legal citizen in the United States. The first two parts of the book are really well written. The third part is where the book fell apart for me. It didn’t flow the same way that the previous 2/3rds of the book did. Some of the situations that came up in this part of the book felt forced. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any one who is interested in immigration studies or social sciences. It is an insightful book that lends a voice to a group of people who are usually denied a voice.
I wouldn’t have normally read a book about immigration, so I am glad that I won this book. The Transplant was a really good book, it pulled me in from the very first page. I became wholly invested in the main characters, Agata and Mario, from the beginning. This book is broken up into 3 parts; the first two parts are devoted to showing the two main character’s journeys towards becoming legal citizen in the United States. The first two parts of the book are really well written. The third part is where the book fell apart for me. It didn’t flow the same way that the previous 2/3rds of the book did. Some of the situations that came up in this part of the book felt forced. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any one who is interested in immigration studies or social sciences. It is an insightful book that lends a voice to a group of people who are usually denied a voice.
August 18, 2013
I received a copy of this from GoodReads giveaways. This book is about two people who come to US illegally, and try to make a life for themselves. Agata from Poland's story is the first half of the book, good and bad things happen to her, there are many ups and downs, but overall things seem to be working out for her. Mario from Mexico's story is next, there is not as much detail, or insight into his inner thoughts. Then end of the book is the two meeting, and working to make a life together. Parts of this were good, but there were parts that were infuriating. Agata's inner homicidal monologue that goes unexplained, with no conclusion. The idea that if you marry an American, you will be all set, without living together, or apparently having an interview to determine if you are truly married. I think the book would be better with heavy editing, and minimizing the roller coaster of good and bad things that happen to them.
June 20, 2013
I received this book as an early reviewer.
The Transplant is about illegal immigration. This is a very timely and controversial topic, so in that respect, this book comes out at a good time.
The plot looks at the status of immigration in the United States and the mine field of challenges and disasters that befall people trying to gain citizenship.
Beginning in Poland , moving to Germany the story follows Agata , an au-pair, who eventually makes it to the US. There she falls in love with Mario from Mexico. T he twists and turns of the story proceed from there. Other characters come into play including Agata's dead beat dad who left his family in Poland when she was a baby.
I did not like the book. The characters and their story are just not compelling and they should be with a topic as strong as this one. I found that I was forcing myself to finish , out of the respect I have for a published author. A truly good book should grab and hold you all the way. This book did not.
The Transplant is about illegal immigration. This is a very timely and controversial topic, so in that respect, this book comes out at a good time.
The plot looks at the status of immigration in the United States and the mine field of challenges and disasters that befall people trying to gain citizenship.
Beginning in Poland , moving to Germany the story follows Agata , an au-pair, who eventually makes it to the US. There she falls in love with Mario from Mexico. T he twists and turns of the story proceed from there. Other characters come into play including Agata's dead beat dad who left his family in Poland when she was a baby.
I did not like the book. The characters and their story are just not compelling and they should be with a topic as strong as this one. I found that I was forcing myself to finish , out of the respect I have for a published author. A truly good book should grab and hold you all the way. This book did not.
July 28, 2013
I received this book as an advance release copy. Well for the first time ever I decided to stop reading a book before I finished it. I just could not take The Transplant any longer. I have a large stack of great books just waiting for me to read them and life is too short to waste time on a book I'm not at all enjoying. After 150 pages I was still trying to figure out the point! It was all about Agata's hardships and the hardships and abuses of those around her. I thought it was supposed to be about the underground world of illegal immigration. I had thought it would have gotten to that point prior to 150 pages. Also, the writing style and quality were not my taste. I found both amateurish and disconnected. I am sure I will pick the book up again some day. I am also sure that starting at page 150 will be just fine since the whole first 150 pages had little to do with immigration.
June 9, 2013
From the get-go, this book captivated me. I was introduced to characters quickly and immediately rooted for the main characters. The descriptions of the people were very accurate as the author introduced people from all walks of life and personalities.
The book is divided into 3 parts. The first parts focuses on Agata, a young Polish women, who left her home in search for a better job and ended up in the US. The second part focuses on Mario, a Mexican immigrant who initially struggles to get into the country. The third part bring them surprisingly together.
The way the book is organized makes is very easy to read and catches the reader off guard more than once. In my opinion, I think it is a fair representation of illegal immigrants in this country.
I really enjoyed reading this novel and can honestly recommend it to anyone!
The book is divided into 3 parts. The first parts focuses on Agata, a young Polish women, who left her home in search for a better job and ended up in the US. The second part focuses on Mario, a Mexican immigrant who initially struggles to get into the country. The third part bring them surprisingly together.
The way the book is organized makes is very easy to read and catches the reader off guard more than once. In my opinion, I think it is a fair representation of illegal immigrants in this country.
I really enjoyed reading this novel and can honestly recommend it to anyone!
August 20, 2013
This was a slow read for me - the book is more like a diary chronicling the daily lives of two illegal immigrants than a story with an interesting plot. In the first part of the book Agata has several wild homicidal rants that don't make sense as as part of the story and are never explained. These rants don't appear in the later parts of the story. The characters are not too likable. Even though these people are exploited as immigrants they too lie, steal and cheat one another as they try every shortcut and subterfuge to obtain legal status in the U.S. In the last few pages of the book the author suddenly changes track and Mario is killed off by an evil organ-harvesting doctor who preys on illegals trying to cross the border. But before he dies he finds Agata an American willing to marry her and make all her dreams come true.
December 30, 2013
I really enjoyed this novel following the lives of two illegal immigrants to the US, one from Poland and one from Mexico. While we hear much about the prevalence of illegal immigrants in the US, rarely do we get much insight into their lives and subculture in the mainstream media. The book was at times quite disturbing, but unfortunately not particularly unrealistic, I don't think. I was drawn into the story quickly and found it to be a fairly quick read. The only thing I didn't particularly like was the cover art, which I didn't feel portrayed the right tone exactly, though it made a bit more sense at the book's conclusion. If I were in a store and saw the cover, I would have expected a spy novel or thriller...I received a free copy through Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
June 25, 2013
This book is divided into three parts:
1. Story of a Polish Girl and her working as an aupair and coming to America.
2. Mexico friends and relatives working and crossing the border.
3. Girl meets boy from Mexico and have a daughter.
I really liked reading this story, the authors details regarding the story are well worded so you can picture it well in your mind.
I felt for the workers and their trials, there are people who want to work and don't want handouts. Funny(cute) words for the familiar stores we all shop at -- when the workers at working at Ouch Mart not Walmart.
I believe their could be a part two to this story.
This is a good Summer read. Luved reading it. thanks for writing...
1. Story of a Polish Girl and her working as an aupair and coming to America.
2. Mexico friends and relatives working and crossing the border.
3. Girl meets boy from Mexico and have a daughter.
I really liked reading this story, the authors details regarding the story are well worded so you can picture it well in your mind.
I felt for the workers and their trials, there are people who want to work and don't want handouts. Funny(cute) words for the familiar stores we all shop at -- when the workers at working at Ouch Mart not Walmart.
I believe their could be a part two to this story.
This is a good Summer read. Luved reading it. thanks for writing...
June 19, 2013
An intimate and fictional look into the lives of illegal immigrants in the US. The story is well written and convincing. One reviewer on another site was ranting about how this book was a manual for illegal immigrants to "cheat the system." As someone who is only 4th generation to this country and with my family only being in this country in the last 75 years I find the "anti-immigration" issue a bit touchy. Since everyone in this country (with the exception of Native Americans) had relatives that were immigrants at one time, it is hard to understand the "stay out of our country" mentality.
This novel was a touching story of how those who are invisible strive to be visible in this country.
This novel was a touching story of how those who are invisible strive to be visible in this country.
July 2, 2013
I received this book for free from a giveaway at Librarything.com. I had mixed feelings about this book so I'm gonna do this review a little different.
Things I didn't like about this book:
1: It is a REALLY slow starter.
2: The characters in the book puke way too much.
3: The entire book is sad and depressing.
Things I liked about this book:
1: The crossed out parts in Agata's story; sorta what she wanted to do but didn't.
2: The silly replacement names for American stores; Ouch-Mart and Please Buy, etc.
3: Gets a lot more interesting near the end.
I thought the ending left too many unanswered questions like there might be another book. If there is I will probably read it to find out what happens.
Things I didn't like about this book:
1: It is a REALLY slow starter.
2: The characters in the book puke way too much.
3: The entire book is sad and depressing.
Things I liked about this book:
1: The crossed out parts in Agata's story; sorta what she wanted to do but didn't.
2: The silly replacement names for American stores; Ouch-Mart and Please Buy, etc.
3: Gets a lot more interesting near the end.
I thought the ending left too many unanswered questions like there might be another book. If there is I will probably read it to find out what happens.
August 8, 2013
I received an ARC of this novel for First Reads on Library Thing. Like many of the other reviewers, I had trouble getting through this novel. While some had trouble with stilted language from Agata, I found that she read too much like an American for me to believe she was from Poland. Mario was a bit better as he often used his native language in his dialogue. This book was in desperate need of editing as it went on for far too long with very, very long chapters. I usually can read 200-300 pages a day, but this novel was so difficult to get trough that it took me over a week to finish.
That being said, I liked Agata and Mario as characters and found their stories, especially Agata's, interesting. I just wish it had been through one more rewrite, or had a little more editing.
That being said, I liked Agata and Mario as characters and found their stories, especially Agata's, interesting. I just wish it had been through one more rewrite, or had a little more editing.
July 6, 2013
Man, this was a REALLY addicting book- I loved the main character, Agata, straight from the beginning and seriously couldn't put the book down because I kept finding myself wondering what would happen to her next- so I pretty much dropped everything I could until I finished all 472 pages of it, but hey, it was a good book! My only complaint was the completely unfair and abrupt ending (to which I accidentally shouted "no!" out loud and had everyone in the room looking at me like a crazy person...) which to me was heartbreaking. I really, really was wishing for a different ending, but, nevertheless, this is a seriously good read, and I highly recommend it!
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