What do you think?
Rate this book
Velorio
Set in the wake of Hurricane Maria, Xavier Navarro Aquino's unforgettable debut novel follows a remarkable group of survivors searching for hope on an island torn apart by both natural disaster and human violence.
Camila is haunted by the death of her sister, Marisol, who was caught by a mudslide during the huracán. Unable to part with Marisol, Camila carries her through town, past the churchyard, and, eventually, to the supposed utopia of Memoria.
Urayoán, the idealistic, yet troubled cult leader of Memoria, has a vision for this new society, one that in his eyes is peaceful and democratic. The paradise he preaches lures in the young, including Bayfish, a boy on the cusp of manhood, and Morivivi, a woman whose outward toughness belies an inner tenderness for her friends. But as the different members of Memoria navigate Urayoán's fiery rise, they will need to confront his violent authoritarian impulses in order to find a way to reclaim their home.
Velorio--meaning "wake"--is a story of strength, resilience, and hope; a tale of peril and possibility buoyed by the deeply held belief in a people's ability to unite against those corrupted by power.
Camila is haunted by the death of her sister, Marisol, who was caught by a mudslide during the huracán. Unable to part with Marisol, Camila carries her through town, past the churchyard, and, eventually, to the supposed utopia of Memoria.
Urayoán, the idealistic, yet troubled cult leader of Memoria, has a vision for this new society, one that in his eyes is peaceful and democratic. The paradise he preaches lures in the young, including Bayfish, a boy on the cusp of manhood, and Morivivi, a woman whose outward toughness belies an inner tenderness for her friends. But as the different members of Memoria navigate Urayoán's fiery rise, they will need to confront his violent authoritarian impulses in order to find a way to reclaim their home.
Velorio--meaning "wake"--is a story of strength, resilience, and hope; a tale of peril and possibility buoyed by the deeply held belief in a people's ability to unite against those corrupted by power.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2022
93 people are currently reading
7364 people want to read
About the author
Xavier Navarro Aquino
4 books32 followersXavier Navarro Aquino was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Named a "Writer to Watch" by Publishers Weekly, he is the author of the novel, Velorio out from HarperCollins and in Spanish from HarperCollins Español. His stories have appeared in The Sewanee Review, Prairie Schooner, The Massachusetts Review, Tin House, McSweeney’s, and Guernica, among others. He has been awarded scholarships from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, a MacDowell Fellowship, and an American Council of Learned Societies Emerging Voices Fellowship at Dartmouth College. He holds an M.A. in English Caribbean Studies from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Currently, Navarro Aquino is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame where he teaches in the MFA program and in Notre Dame’s Initiative on Race and Resilience.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
September 21, 2022
This novel is a magnificent blend of the horrific and the sublime. It begins with a mother and her two daughters anxiously waiting the arrival of Hurricane Maria. The way their fear blends with their fatalism somehow captures perfectly what it must feel like when something awful, and yet inevitable, is coming for you. One daughter survives the hurricane, and the other does not, and the reason why the girl dies--her mother is being so insufferable that the girl flees to the next room, which promptly collapses and fills with mud--is all the more disturbing because of the matter-of-fact way these events are played out in the prose. Here is where the narrative voice really begins to drive home what kind of story we're in for--when the surviving sister cuts off her dead sister's little finger--the only piece of her sister not buried in mud--for a keepsake. It's the surviving sister's voice, filled with hopeless despair and child-like wonder in equal measure, that keeps propelling this story forward into ever more unexpected and creative directions.
It's one of those books you need to be in the mood for, because it's relentless. I was in the mood for it.
Wonderful.
It's one of those books you need to be in the mood for, because it's relentless. I was in the mood for it.
Wonderful.
June 23, 2022
A gritty tale of survival after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico.
When the government fails to act to help the citizens, the way is paved for a charismatic and power-hungry young man to take charge.
The book is told in the first person, from several people's POVs. There is young Cami who is unable to accept her sister's death, dragging her rotting corpse wherever she goes.
There are Banto and Bayfish, young men, boys really, who are floundering around as best they can, trying to survive along with everyone else.
Morivivi is a strong and determined woman who strives to take care of some others, at first leading them to Memoria where the brutal and egotistical Urayoán rules.
And there is Urayoán himself who surprisingly has a soft side and is disturbed by his own savage actions.
The book grows increasingly dark and gritty. It shows what can happen when people are desperate and need someone to take charge. This was when then-president trump threw a roll of paper towels into the crowd at a relief center in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria rather than taking charge and providing sufficient aid.
I was in turn bored and engaged with this story. The writing is beautiful though it has plenty of mistakes. My guess is that the author's first language is not English and so he can be forgiven - as always, I am in awe of those who are fluent in more than one language.
However, an editor should have caught all the misspellings ("sooth" instead of "soothe", "lead" instead of "led", "passed" instead of "past", etc.) and grammatical errors.
If it was self-published this would be understandable, but HarperVia published it and should have had the book properly edited before sending it to press. I recall someone having told me when I've complained about this before that the publishing houses are now leaving it up to the authors to hire an editor and many cannot afford (a good) one. Shame on you, money-hungry publishing houses.
OK, rant over. I'm glad I read the book even if it's not five stars.
(PS I love the cover and it's what attracted me to the book and made me want to read it. Unfortunately, I neglected to write down the name of the artist but at the end of the book they explain what it represents and I think it's perfect.)
When the government fails to act to help the citizens, the way is paved for a charismatic and power-hungry young man to take charge.
The book is told in the first person, from several people's POVs. There is young Cami who is unable to accept her sister's death, dragging her rotting corpse wherever she goes.
There are Banto and Bayfish, young men, boys really, who are floundering around as best they can, trying to survive along with everyone else.
Morivivi is a strong and determined woman who strives to take care of some others, at first leading them to Memoria where the brutal and egotistical Urayoán rules.
And there is Urayoán himself who surprisingly has a soft side and is disturbed by his own savage actions.
The book grows increasingly dark and gritty. It shows what can happen when people are desperate and need someone to take charge. This was when then-president trump threw a roll of paper towels into the crowd at a relief center in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria rather than taking charge and providing sufficient aid.
I was in turn bored and engaged with this story. The writing is beautiful though it has plenty of mistakes. My guess is that the author's first language is not English and so he can be forgiven - as always, I am in awe of those who are fluent in more than one language.
However, an editor should have caught all the misspellings ("sooth" instead of "soothe", "lead" instead of "led", "passed" instead of "past", etc.) and grammatical errors.
If it was self-published this would be understandable, but HarperVia published it and should have had the book properly edited before sending it to press. I recall someone having told me when I've complained about this before that the publishing houses are now leaving it up to the authors to hire an editor and many cannot afford (a good) one. Shame on you, money-hungry publishing houses.
OK, rant over. I'm glad I read the book even if it's not five stars.
(PS I love the cover and it's what attracted me to the book and made me want to read it. Unfortunately, I neglected to write down the name of the artist but at the end of the book they explain what it represents and I think it's perfect.)
January 8, 2022
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: General Fiction + Literary Fiction
Velorio or Wake is set in Puerto Rico when Hurricane Maria hits the island. The hurricane causes lots of destruction and life losses, but with the outer destruction, there is also inner destruction within the people of the island. Chaos starts and with chaos comes the fall of society and the emerging of new power. That new power will fill the gap but that doesn’t necessarily mean the change happened for the best. The story has a resemblance to Lord of the Flies but with the natural disaster as the catalyst.
This literary fiction is the debut novel for the author and it is quite beautifully written. We follow a few characters and the challenges they face to survive this catastrophe. It is haunting at times and at other times it gets too dark but it maintains its poetic writing throughout the book. The story is strong but I wish if I was able to connect better with the characters. My main problem is the multiple perspectives that the author used giving them ownvoice style. With such a style I feel two or three characters should be the maximum number. In this book, there are around 6 or 7 characters with a first-person narration style. At times I got confused in the middle of a chapter whose voice I was reading. Camila and Urayoan were the more distinct characters but the confusion was happening with the others.
Overall, Velorio was an interesting reading experience for me. Keep in mind it has cruelty, grief, loss of a relative, suicide, and some other content warnings. I think readers who enjoyed Lord of the Flies might like this one as well.
“I’ll tell you about Genesis. Memoria runs like a city with a heart, the river pulsing in the exterior serves as a vein carrying memory to its origin”
Many thanks to the publisher HarperVia, NetGalley, and the author Xavier Navarro Aquino for providing me an advance reader copy of this book.
Genre: General Fiction + Literary Fiction
Velorio or Wake is set in Puerto Rico when Hurricane Maria hits the island. The hurricane causes lots of destruction and life losses, but with the outer destruction, there is also inner destruction within the people of the island. Chaos starts and with chaos comes the fall of society and the emerging of new power. That new power will fill the gap but that doesn’t necessarily mean the change happened for the best. The story has a resemblance to Lord of the Flies but with the natural disaster as the catalyst.
This literary fiction is the debut novel for the author and it is quite beautifully written. We follow a few characters and the challenges they face to survive this catastrophe. It is haunting at times and at other times it gets too dark but it maintains its poetic writing throughout the book. The story is strong but I wish if I was able to connect better with the characters. My main problem is the multiple perspectives that the author used giving them ownvoice style. With such a style I feel two or three characters should be the maximum number. In this book, there are around 6 or 7 characters with a first-person narration style. At times I got confused in the middle of a chapter whose voice I was reading. Camila and Urayoan were the more distinct characters but the confusion was happening with the others.
Overall, Velorio was an interesting reading experience for me. Keep in mind it has cruelty, grief, loss of a relative, suicide, and some other content warnings. I think readers who enjoyed Lord of the Flies might like this one as well.
“I’ll tell you about Genesis. Memoria runs like a city with a heart, the river pulsing in the exterior serves as a vein carrying memory to its origin”
Many thanks to the publisher HarperVia, NetGalley, and the author Xavier Navarro Aquino for providing me an advance reader copy of this book.
November 9, 2022
A taut, somber novel of survival, grief, and navigating uninhabitable conditions, in nature and in society. Through the eyes of various characters, we see the devastation that nature reaps, the ways that disaster is used for profit, the struggles to adapt and endure. We also see how bonds remain intact, are created anew, how people come together to triumph over tragedy and violence. Although no utopia is sustainable, a community built on love and perseverance has the power to weather any storm. A strong debut rooted in blazing emotion and honesty.
December 10, 2021
The people of Puerto Rico were crushed when Hurricane Maria exploded onto their home. Those who were not among the 3000 killed were left abandoned without food, water or power. "Velorio" by Xavier Navarro Aquino brings us fictionalized characters struggling to survive after their world has ended. We are pulled to these people who just look for the misery to end, for a sunlight to awaken them.
Camila is a young girl who has dug her dead sister out of a mudslide, dragging the corpse around to never lose her. This sets the tone for the book early on-- it is going to be a journey of desperation. We meet others drawn to the newly created Memoria, a supposed utopia created by a charismatic and dangerous leader Urayoán. His message is hope for the lost, promising to correct the government evils that have failed the people. Urayoán has his volatile army of young boys psyched up to do his bidding and the shadow of evil grows more ominous and threatening as supplies and patience wear out.
Initially I questioned the need for fictionalized characters when there are real stories to be told from this wreckage. It is not a stretch, however, to see these savage fables as real when humans are sealed in a living hell. "Velorio" is a dark book to read at times, given the catastrophic subject matter but Xavier Navarro Aquino has created a stunning dream world from the real life nightmare.
I thank HarperVia, NetGalley, and Xavier Navarro Aquino for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #Velorio #NetGalley #HarperVia
I am posting this on NetGalley and GoodReads July 27, 2021.
"Velorio" publishes on January 4, 2022 and I will be posting reviews with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, Twitter, and Facebook on that date.
Camila is a young girl who has dug her dead sister out of a mudslide, dragging the corpse around to never lose her. This sets the tone for the book early on-- it is going to be a journey of desperation. We meet others drawn to the newly created Memoria, a supposed utopia created by a charismatic and dangerous leader Urayoán. His message is hope for the lost, promising to correct the government evils that have failed the people. Urayoán has his volatile army of young boys psyched up to do his bidding and the shadow of evil grows more ominous and threatening as supplies and patience wear out.
Initially I questioned the need for fictionalized characters when there are real stories to be told from this wreckage. It is not a stretch, however, to see these savage fables as real when humans are sealed in a living hell. "Velorio" is a dark book to read at times, given the catastrophic subject matter but Xavier Navarro Aquino has created a stunning dream world from the real life nightmare.
I thank HarperVia, NetGalley, and Xavier Navarro Aquino for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #Velorio #NetGalley #HarperVia
I am posting this on NetGalley and GoodReads July 27, 2021.
"Velorio" publishes on January 4, 2022 and I will be posting reviews with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, Twitter, and Facebook on that date.
September 8, 2022
Damaris and I stood in front of the statue looking at it.
"It's funny isn't it," Damaris said.
"What is?"
"The things we build statues of."
"Idols or god?"
"Does it matter?" She flipped her hair and bent down toward the makeshift plaque. "Belief is a powerful thing. And it can drive you crazy. If you're desperate enough, anything can look beautiful." (PG. 197)
I'm always in a mood to seek out a great Latin/Hispanic writer and I went into this hoping to love Aquino's writing. The writing was emotional and I knew he was writing from somewhere deep in his heart about the whirlwind tragedy of Hurricane Maria and how it broke his people in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, the editing was so bad it kept me distracted from the story. There were so many mistakes in the dialogue and the sentence structure I couldn't fully ignore it at some point.
I followed this tragedy when it was on the news. Being the 51st state in the United States (yes, it basically is. Dirt cheap too. Follow the history) and the people not getting help was so tragic to me. We got you Puerto Rico but we can't help you unless Russia is being bad, pick and choose baby! We have to pick our tragedies and that has to coincide with our interests. Sorry, innocent people. Right Katrina victims? Follow the money ~~~ Yes, certain situations make me mad. but you can't unknow what you learn. Ignorance, I'm learning, is bliss.
I could only imagine what the characters went through in the book was too true. Dead bodies, diseases floating through the island. No fresh water or food to be found. No electricity or gasoline. Thieving, hunger, more murder. It's so believable yet unbelievable. Eventually, they got help.....
I didn't connect to the story much BUT I did learn from it. I skimmed and was confused in several parts. Good debut by this author and I hope he makes more stories but this was not my favorite of the year.
"It's funny isn't it," Damaris said.
"What is?"
"The things we build statues of."
"Idols or god?"
"Does it matter?" She flipped her hair and bent down toward the makeshift plaque. "Belief is a powerful thing. And it can drive you crazy. If you're desperate enough, anything can look beautiful." (PG. 197)
I'm always in a mood to seek out a great Latin/Hispanic writer and I went into this hoping to love Aquino's writing. The writing was emotional and I knew he was writing from somewhere deep in his heart about the whirlwind tragedy of Hurricane Maria and how it broke his people in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, the editing was so bad it kept me distracted from the story. There were so many mistakes in the dialogue and the sentence structure I couldn't fully ignore it at some point.
I followed this tragedy when it was on the news. Being the 51st state in the United States (yes, it basically is. Dirt cheap too. Follow the history) and the people not getting help was so tragic to me. We got you Puerto Rico but we can't help you unless Russia is being bad, pick and choose baby! We have to pick our tragedies and that has to coincide with our interests. Sorry, innocent people. Right Katrina victims? Follow the money ~~~ Yes, certain situations make me mad. but you can't unknow what you learn. Ignorance, I'm learning, is bliss.
I could only imagine what the characters went through in the book was too true. Dead bodies, diseases floating through the island. No fresh water or food to be found. No electricity or gasoline. Thieving, hunger, more murder. It's so believable yet unbelievable. Eventually, they got help.....
I didn't connect to the story much BUT I did learn from it. I skimmed and was confused in several parts. Good debut by this author and I hope he makes more stories but this was not my favorite of the year.
May 19, 2022
Is it appropriate to shelf this as a horror novel? No one else seems to be shelving it as a horror novel. Maybe if more people had, I wouldn't have been so surprised that my, "I'm taking a break from my scary book lineup to read something different," book was actually, in fact, horrifying.
Go figure.
Um, I'll be honest. I don't really know how to review this one. It's horrific and post-apocalyptic in a way that isn't farfetched like most of the scary stuff I've been immersed in has been, but then that's because the setting of Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria is all too real. It razed Puerto Rico to the ground, taking some nearly 3,000 lives with it. Xavier Navarro Aquino has offered us one (admittedly fictionalized) narrative in which a young girl carries the corpse of her sister to a farcical utopia created by the young cult leader Urayoán and his collective of angry and volatile young boys (enter: all the Lord of the Flies comparisons).
Ultimately, this is a narrative of nightmares, of desperation and strife and the uncomfortable reality that Puerto Rico was utterly abandoned in the aftermath of that storm, something that is never lost even in this fictionalized account. The prose is very lyrical and stands well on its own, but it was sometimes a bit too wordy and winding for me. It dampened the impact without actually giving me the break I was kind of aching for, considering how emotionally heavy this book got at times. The prose is absolutely beautiful, but it does have a tendency to take you out of the story when it starts to drag, and I think characterization was a bit lacking overall. Still, it was good. All in all, three out of five.
I'd like to see what Xavier Navarro Aquino could do with a narrative nonfiction take on the topic. There are plenty of real stories full of real horrors and it felt a little strange to be reading fiction for it, but that's not a big thing for me.
Thank you muchly to NetGalley, HarperVia, and Xavier Navarro Aquino for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Go figure.
Um, I'll be honest. I don't really know how to review this one. It's horrific and post-apocalyptic in a way that isn't farfetched like most of the scary stuff I've been immersed in has been, but then that's because the setting of Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria is all too real. It razed Puerto Rico to the ground, taking some nearly 3,000 lives with it. Xavier Navarro Aquino has offered us one (admittedly fictionalized) narrative in which a young girl carries the corpse of her sister to a farcical utopia created by the young cult leader Urayoán and his collective of angry and volatile young boys (enter: all the Lord of the Flies comparisons).
Ultimately, this is a narrative of nightmares, of desperation and strife and the uncomfortable reality that Puerto Rico was utterly abandoned in the aftermath of that storm, something that is never lost even in this fictionalized account. The prose is very lyrical and stands well on its own, but it was sometimes a bit too wordy and winding for me. It dampened the impact without actually giving me the break I was kind of aching for, considering how emotionally heavy this book got at times. The prose is absolutely beautiful, but it does have a tendency to take you out of the story when it starts to drag, and I think characterization was a bit lacking overall. Still, it was good. All in all, three out of five.
I'd like to see what Xavier Navarro Aquino could do with a narrative nonfiction take on the topic. There are plenty of real stories full of real horrors and it felt a little strange to be reading fiction for it, but that's not a big thing for me.
Thank you muchly to NetGalley, HarperVia, and Xavier Navarro Aquino for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2021
Sort of Lord of the Flies meets post-apocalyptic nightmare regime, except the apocalypse in question is Hurricane Maria and the horrors are (in some ways) things that really happened and our government let it happen.
August 13, 2024
Originally, I thought this was cult horror. But thinking about it, is any cult book not horrifying? Velario is a dark book set in the wake of huracán María in Puerto Rico. The hurricane left the island completely devastated with no water, no way to make phone calls, and no electricity. In this story, we follow different Puerto Ricans who find themselves in Memoria, a “commune” of survivors led by Urayoán.
The story is divided into different POVs. Camila, who is traumatized and glued to her sister’s dead body; Bayfish, Banto, and Cheo who are close to Urayoán; Urayoán, the cult leader; and Moriviví, a woman who’s taking care of some other women and thinks joining the commune will save them. At the time she made this decision, Urayoán had somehow managed to secure fuel and most Puerto Ricans had started using the word ‘vida’ (life) to refer to it, as everyone depends on it. This means Urayoán’s little cult can use the fuel for themselves, he’s got little soldiers thieving and collecting stuff around, and they can trade fuel for other stuff like cattle (sometimes forcibly).
It is a harrowing depiction of an extreme situation. I adored Camila and Moriviví. The guys were annoying as fuck (though Banto was OK at times) (Cheo was a good guy but he’s a poet and I don’t like poetry lol). I was just enthralled with Camila’s story. She had to dig up Marisol’s body. And after that, she went into shock and stayed with the body, talking to it, not leaving it. I thought that was hauntingly beautiful until of course, Urayoán showed up. This being said, I loved the themes of sisterhood (and losing a sister) and women helping women.
The book was sort of boring and dragging. It wasn’t fun to read or something I wanted to pick up, but I’m glad I read it. The writing was beautiful but the dialogue was very rude and ugly, full of insults and just vile things. Additionally, I was shocked at the crazy amount of Spanish this book has. Of course, no problem for me, but I wonder if it’d be an issue for non-Spanish speakers. The ending was just okay - I did like the two last chapters, but if I’m talking about everyone's ending in general, it was just ugly and messy. I’m not sure what I learnt after this. That people turn to the community and accept craziness in extreme situations?
Some quotes:
I worry in order to set the rules for a new place a sacrifice is needed because everything new is borne from tears. (This is someone's diary hence the grammar)
---
Believe in spirits and I'll make you believe in death. It's the spirits that selected me to lead and that's why I do it. Some come from the bodies I refrigerate nice and safe, but more so it's from God.
---
"Belief is a powerful thing. And it can drive you crazy. If you're desperate enough, anything can look beautiful."
The story is divided into different POVs. Camila, who is traumatized and glued to her sister’s dead body; Bayfish, Banto, and Cheo who are close to Urayoán; Urayoán, the cult leader; and Moriviví, a woman who’s taking care of some other women and thinks joining the commune will save them. At the time she made this decision, Urayoán had somehow managed to secure fuel and most Puerto Ricans had started using the word ‘vida’ (life) to refer to it, as everyone depends on it. This means Urayoán’s little cult can use the fuel for themselves, he’s got little soldiers thieving and collecting stuff around, and they can trade fuel for other stuff like cattle (sometimes forcibly).
It is a harrowing depiction of an extreme situation. I adored Camila and Moriviví. The guys were annoying as fuck (though Banto was OK at times) (Cheo was a good guy but he’s a poet and I don’t like poetry lol). I was just enthralled with Camila’s story. She had to dig up Marisol’s body. And after that, she went into shock and stayed with the body, talking to it, not leaving it. I thought that was hauntingly beautiful until of course, Urayoán showed up. This being said, I loved the themes of sisterhood (and losing a sister) and women helping women.
The book was sort of boring and dragging. It wasn’t fun to read or something I wanted to pick up, but I’m glad I read it. The writing was beautiful but the dialogue was very rude and ugly, full of insults and just vile things. Additionally, I was shocked at the crazy amount of Spanish this book has. Of course, no problem for me, but I wonder if it’d be an issue for non-Spanish speakers. The ending was just okay - I did like the two last chapters, but if I’m talking about everyone's ending in general, it was just ugly and messy. I’m not sure what I learnt after this. That people turn to the community and accept craziness in extreme situations?
Some quotes:
I worry in order to set the rules for a new place a sacrifice is needed because everything new is borne from tears. (This is someone's diary hence the grammar)
---
Believe in spirits and I'll make you believe in death. It's the spirits that selected me to lead and that's why I do it. Some come from the bodies I refrigerate nice and safe, but more so it's from God.
---
"Belief is a powerful thing. And it can drive you crazy. If you're desperate enough, anything can look beautiful."
January 28, 2022
My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
The book follows a collection of characters—Moriviví, Banto, Bayfish, Cheo, Camila, and Urayoán—in the aftermath of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico. Camila, having lost her sister Mari to the hurricane, grieves her and carries her rotting corpse around. Urayoán, a power-thirsty self-proclaimed prophet, establishes a quasi-utopian settlement called Memoria ("memory") in the countryside. Cheo, Banto, Moriviví, and Bayfish follow Ura in his journey, only to find a bloodthirsty leader who seeks to be adulated and who revels in exploiting people's desperation to survive.
The prose on this book was quite beautiful. I wanted to love this book. As a fellow Puerto Rican, I yearned to see my family's story in this pages. However, I was disappointed. The characters blur into one—Camila, Cheo, Bayfish barely feel like different voices. I think, however, the most unpleasant aspect was Urayoán's POV. It was both horrendous and one-dimensional. It felt unnecessary. I did not understand why he acted the way he acted; the only explanation is "pure evil," which is a cheap trope, in my opinion. Lastly, some descriptions were unbearably long, and events that might have required more explanation were skimmed through.
Also, this might be minor but, as someone from the town that the story takes place—Utuado—the author got many details wrong. I think the reason why it takes place in Utuado, specifically, is because of how many of the news in the aftermath of María came from here.
I find interesting the similarities between this book and the second half of Olga Dies Dreaming. Both books came out in January, and both include an interesting perspective on anarchism, independence, and autogestión, slightly antagonizing and, in my opinion, not fully grounded on reality. I am still grappling with this one.
2.5 stars
The book follows a collection of characters—Moriviví, Banto, Bayfish, Cheo, Camila, and Urayoán—in the aftermath of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico. Camila, having lost her sister Mari to the hurricane, grieves her and carries her rotting corpse around. Urayoán, a power-thirsty self-proclaimed prophet, establishes a quasi-utopian settlement called Memoria ("memory") in the countryside. Cheo, Banto, Moriviví, and Bayfish follow Ura in his journey, only to find a bloodthirsty leader who seeks to be adulated and who revels in exploiting people's desperation to survive.
The prose on this book was quite beautiful. I wanted to love this book. As a fellow Puerto Rican, I yearned to see my family's story in this pages. However, I was disappointed. The characters blur into one—Camila, Cheo, Bayfish barely feel like different voices. I think, however, the most unpleasant aspect was Urayoán's POV. It was both horrendous and one-dimensional. It felt unnecessary. I did not understand why he acted the way he acted; the only explanation is "pure evil," which is a cheap trope, in my opinion. Lastly, some descriptions were unbearably long, and events that might have required more explanation were skimmed through.
Also, this might be minor but, as someone from the town that the story takes place—Utuado—the author got many details wrong. I think the reason why it takes place in Utuado, specifically, is because of how many of the news in the aftermath of María came from here.
I find interesting the similarities between this book and the second half of Olga Dies Dreaming. Both books came out in January, and both include an interesting perspective on anarchism, independence, and autogestión, slightly antagonizing and, in my opinion, not fully grounded on reality. I am still grappling with this one.
2.5 stars
June 15, 2021
“To erase old memory and plant new memory is every attempt of conquest” from Velorio
This novel does an excellent job of exploring the “violent” trauma that came as a result of Hurricane Maria in combination with the feeling of abandonment.
It shows the internal struggle from characters to wait for the “savior” that will never come or to become one. This all takes place in an island that, even in the wake of tragedy, was “forgotten” by its colonizer.
Velorio unapologetically reaches out to you with a heartbreaking confession of trauma and pain with the hope of not being once again forgotten.
This novel does an excellent job of exploring the “violent” trauma that came as a result of Hurricane Maria in combination with the feeling of abandonment.
It shows the internal struggle from characters to wait for the “savior” that will never come or to become one. This all takes place in an island that, even in the wake of tragedy, was “forgotten” by its colonizer.
Velorio unapologetically reaches out to you with a heartbreaking confession of trauma and pain with the hope of not being once again forgotten.
July 12, 2021
So I have to start off by saying that Velorio felt absolutely true (the story is fiction but based on actual events), relatable and though the story had supernatural and almost mystical world building it also felt like this place and people could very well had inhabited Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria.
This multi-POV story follows several characters tied together by tragedy and through their experience end up in Memoria; a newly created city by a leader taking advantage of their situation to crown himself a leader in the vein of jesus himself. What at first begins as a place that sought to fight the faults of the old government soon mimics and makes the situation for the people allowed within it's make-shift walls far worse and threatening. Through their shared journeys; Banto, Morivivi, Camila, Urayon, Chao and Bayfish tell the story of healing and recovery of an island ravaged by the forces of nature.
Each character had a unique voice and perspective and I found the banter and language (even though I am Mexican not Puerto Rican) totally relatable and funny, and moving and heartbreaking. With vivid story telling Xavier Navarro Aquino managed to tell a story that was moving and well paced and it's characters jumped to life off the pages. Bravo.
This multi-POV story follows several characters tied together by tragedy and through their experience end up in Memoria; a newly created city by a leader taking advantage of their situation to crown himself a leader in the vein of jesus himself. What at first begins as a place that sought to fight the faults of the old government soon mimics and makes the situation for the people allowed within it's make-shift walls far worse and threatening. Through their shared journeys; Banto, Morivivi, Camila, Urayon, Chao and Bayfish tell the story of healing and recovery of an island ravaged by the forces of nature.
Each character had a unique voice and perspective and I found the banter and language (even though I am Mexican not Puerto Rican) totally relatable and funny, and moving and heartbreaking. With vivid story telling Xavier Navarro Aquino managed to tell a story that was moving and well paced and it's characters jumped to life off the pages. Bravo.
June 15, 2021
This is a powerful debut by a very talented author examining the impact of disaster both natural and manmade. Told through multiple perspectives, this book asks how do we carry the weight of the dead and imagine a new world with out reenacting the same same violences of capitalism and colonialism. Beautiful language.
May 6, 2023
Xavier Navarro Aquino writes about the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria on his native Caribbean island, Puerto Rico. His fictionalized (characters, not places nor events) account, Velorio (Spanish for wake) reveals not only the catastrophic collapse of the infrastructure of a place so many called home but also the dire circumstances millions of people faced. And probably still face today.
While I really like his writing, I felt his story might have been a better long short story or novella, rather than a novel. But, maybe it’s just me?!?
My opinions notwithstanding, his writing kept me reading. The following sentence captures the essence of his story. “Language knows the pain of history.”
While I really like his writing, I felt his story might have been a better long short story or novella, rather than a novel. But, maybe it’s just me?!?
My opinions notwithstanding, his writing kept me reading. The following sentence captures the essence of his story. “Language knows the pain of history.”
January 17, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperVia for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2022
An average 3.5 rating for this one.
March 10, 2023
This was simply not for me :/
January 5, 2022
Dnf 57% y le doy calificación solo porque en verdad no podía soportar leerlo por más tiempo.
Para mi una estrella es que el libro no me gustó para nada, más no que sea "malo".
Tengo demasiados problemas con el libro, pero básicamente se reduce a los personajes, todos se leen igual, es que si no pone los nombres en los capítulos ni idea de cómo diferenciarlos a excepción de uno que disque escribe "poesia", pero mi maestra de literatura se tiraría de un puente al ver una lista de cosas sin sentido nombrado como poesía.
Además es que me parece tonto que en 2017, que es en el momento en el que esta ubicado el libro, exista gente tan tonta, para empezar gente que no sabe que es la electricidad o el dicel, además su "utopia" es cero sustentable en la vida real, no hay manera de que algo así funcione, pero dejando eso de lado, me vas a decir que las personas que están ahí se someterán a un loco, ¿solo por un poco de dicel?
Y es que el "villano" es más plano que el cartón, es malo porque uyyy que malo es desde nacimiento. Uffff no gracias.
La novela es saltar del punto de vista de una loca, a otro loco y después a otra loca pero violenta y de ahí a otro loco violento y de ahí al soñador y al tonto. Mira que no es el peor libro que he leído, pero si estaba esperanzada en leer algo que me hiciera sentir el ambiente latino/caribeño pero con un aire melancólico por lo que representa perder todo tu patrimonio e inclusive personas que amas, pero me encontré con un intento de distopía caribeña ( la cual según otras reseñas ni siquiera está tan bien documentado del lugar en el que se desarrolla parte de su historia) con un montón de gente con algún trastorno, que no es fácil decir cual porque todos son personajes bastante planos, con montón de gordofobia y con "metaforas" que no vienen ni al caso, hay una en particular que veo que se atreven a citar en otras reseñas que tiene que ver a gente "actuando como pájaros" y cuando la lees en el libro no tiene nada que ver, y ni se justifica esa comparación, la prosa no es lírica, es súper descriptiva, directa y seca, con un que otro intento de metáfora.
Se que suena horrible pero así lo sentí, objetivamente talvez no sea tan malo pero A MI no me gusto nada de nada.
Para mi una estrella es que el libro no me gustó para nada, más no que sea "malo".
Tengo demasiados problemas con el libro, pero básicamente se reduce a los personajes, todos se leen igual, es que si no pone los nombres en los capítulos ni idea de cómo diferenciarlos a excepción de uno que disque escribe "poesia", pero mi maestra de literatura se tiraría de un puente al ver una lista de cosas sin sentido nombrado como poesía.
Además es que me parece tonto que en 2017, que es en el momento en el que esta ubicado el libro, exista gente tan tonta, para empezar gente que no sabe que es la electricidad o el dicel, además su "utopia" es cero sustentable en la vida real, no hay manera de que algo así funcione, pero dejando eso de lado, me vas a decir que las personas que están ahí se someterán a un loco, ¿solo por un poco de dicel?
Y es que el "villano" es más plano que el cartón, es malo porque uyyy que malo es desde nacimiento. Uffff no gracias.
La novela es saltar del punto de vista de una loca, a otro loco y después a otra loca pero violenta y de ahí a otro loco violento y de ahí al soñador y al tonto. Mira que no es el peor libro que he leído, pero si estaba esperanzada en leer algo que me hiciera sentir el ambiente latino/caribeño pero con un aire melancólico por lo que representa perder todo tu patrimonio e inclusive personas que amas, pero me encontré con un intento de distopía caribeña ( la cual según otras reseñas ni siquiera está tan bien documentado del lugar en el que se desarrolla parte de su historia) con un montón de gente con algún trastorno, que no es fácil decir cual porque todos son personajes bastante planos, con montón de gordofobia y con "metaforas" que no vienen ni al caso, hay una en particular que veo que se atreven a citar en otras reseñas que tiene que ver a gente "actuando como pájaros" y cuando la lees en el libro no tiene nada que ver, y ni se justifica esa comparación, la prosa no es lírica, es súper descriptiva, directa y seca, con un que otro intento de metáfora.
Se que suena horrible pero así lo sentí, objetivamente talvez no sea tan malo pero A MI no me gusto nada de nada.
January 12, 2022
For me, Velorio was What Storm, What Thunder (aftermath of natural disaster) meets To the Warm Horizon (dystopia). Velorio was a disturbing yet compelling read because it confronts humanity at its worst. In that sense, Velorio does not only confront the shortcomings of the response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, but also the fickleness of human nature. While I was intrigued by the cult element of Velorio, especially the depth given to the character Urayoán, i.e., the self-proclaimed prophet, Velorio fell short for me. I understand what Aquino was trying to do with Velorio, but the multiple POVs ultimately detracted from the emotional impact of the book.
I'd still recommend this book to readers fascinated by cults.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher, HarperVia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'd still recommend this book to readers fascinated by cults.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher, HarperVia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2022
I picked up VELORIO on its release day, just after the first of the year. I was drawn to the cover, and the name, and the description intrigued me. Set in Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria, a group of people follow a charismatic leader to a new community named Memoria. Told from the different voices of many characters, this book is heartbreaking as these survivors deal with the aftermath of the destruction of their home.
It too me a bit to get into this book. Since the chapters jump between different points of view, I had a hard time connecting to a plot or character. Once I got into the book, I found the writing poetic and entrancing. I thought the plot was interesting and tragic. I felt so bad for these characters.
VELORIO means “wake” in Spanish, and the name evoked many thoughts. The island was left in the wake of a devastating storm. Many are holding a wake for their loved ones as they stand vigilant on the island. Throughout the book I hoped the character would wake and see their leader for who he was. I liked this book a lot. I’m glad I picked it up. It may be difficult to get the last half of the book flies.▪️
It too me a bit to get into this book. Since the chapters jump between different points of view, I had a hard time connecting to a plot or character. Once I got into the book, I found the writing poetic and entrancing. I thought the plot was interesting and tragic. I felt so bad for these characters.
VELORIO means “wake” in Spanish, and the name evoked many thoughts. The island was left in the wake of a devastating storm. Many are holding a wake for their loved ones as they stand vigilant on the island. Throughout the book I hoped the character would wake and see their leader for who he was. I liked this book a lot. I’m glad I picked it up. It may be difficult to get the last half of the book flies.▪️
March 27, 2022
Aquino captures the beauty of hardship and the resilience of the human will to survive. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, a cast of characters seek survival and continuation. The polyvocal structure of the novel was well played and had us revolving back and forth between characters. The novel is well written, and ultimately gives us a character snaps shot of Puerto Rico as though it in itself is a representation of humanity.
Very much worth the read, and will leave you reflecting on an island long after you close the pages.
Very much worth the read, and will leave you reflecting on an island long after you close the pages.
August 8, 2021
Raw and haunting, Velorio depicts the trauma following the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on an unnamed island that was colonized and then abandoned.
Velorio, means “wake”and is meant to be a story of resilience and hope. Following the hurricane we follow several characters as they battle the elements as well as their own beliefs and ideology on the small island. A haunting story, I would recommend it to those who enjoy realistic fiction set in the tropics.
Velorio, means “wake”and is meant to be a story of resilience and hope. Following the hurricane we follow several characters as they battle the elements as well as their own beliefs and ideology on the small island. A haunting story, I would recommend it to those who enjoy realistic fiction set in the tropics.
Want to read
March 14, 2023Velorio by Xavier Navarro Aquino. The book is set in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. This natural disaster devastated the island of Puerto Rico in 2017 and follows the story of a group of survivors who are searching for hope in a world that has been torn apart by both the forces of nature and human violence.
The book's main character is Camila, who is haunted by the death of her sister, Marisol, during the hurricane. Unable to let go of her sister, Camila carries her body through the town and towards the supposed utopia of Memoria. In Memoria, she meets Urayoán, an idealistic but troubled cult leader who promises a peaceful and democratic society. The story follows the members of Memoria as they navigate Urayoán's rise to power and confront his authoritarian impulses to reclaim their home.
As someone born, raised, and currently living in Puerto Rico, I was deeply moved by Velorio. The novel portrays the strength, resilience, and hope of the Puerto Rican people in the face of unimaginable tragedy. It is a tale of both peril and possibility, grounded in a deeply held belief in the power of community to unite against those corrupted by power.
Navarro Aquino's writing is poetic and visceral, capturing the heartbreak and devastation of Hurricane Maria while also highlighting the beauty and complexity of Puerto Rican culture. His portrayal of the island and its people is authentic and respectful, and I'm glad to see more representation of my culture in literature.
Overall, Velorio is a powerful and timely novel that explores themes of grief, survival, and the search for hope in the face of adversity. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Puerto Rican culture, as well as for those who want to understand the human impact of natural disasters and the resilience of the human spirit.
The book's main character is Camila, who is haunted by the death of her sister, Marisol, during the hurricane. Unable to let go of her sister, Camila carries her body through the town and towards the supposed utopia of Memoria. In Memoria, she meets Urayoán, an idealistic but troubled cult leader who promises a peaceful and democratic society. The story follows the members of Memoria as they navigate Urayoán's rise to power and confront his authoritarian impulses to reclaim their home.
As someone born, raised, and currently living in Puerto Rico, I was deeply moved by Velorio. The novel portrays the strength, resilience, and hope of the Puerto Rican people in the face of unimaginable tragedy. It is a tale of both peril and possibility, grounded in a deeply held belief in the power of community to unite against those corrupted by power.
Navarro Aquino's writing is poetic and visceral, capturing the heartbreak and devastation of Hurricane Maria while also highlighting the beauty and complexity of Puerto Rican culture. His portrayal of the island and its people is authentic and respectful, and I'm glad to see more representation of my culture in literature.
Overall, Velorio is a powerful and timely novel that explores themes of grief, survival, and the search for hope in the face of adversity. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Puerto Rican culture, as well as for those who want to understand the human impact of natural disasters and the resilience of the human spirit.
January 10, 2023
Velorio (Wake) (Paperback) by Xavier Navarro Aquino - Spanish Edition Translated from the English by Aurora Lauzaedo Ugarte
There is no doubt that Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico to a degree that makes it almost impossible for the Island to recover. As a Puerto Rican who grew up there in the '60s and '70s, it's still too painful to come back and visit - remembering the Island I grew up in is too much of a heartbreak to see what's left after I came to Chicago in 1981. The corruption and mismanagement by most governments in the 21st century have left Puerto Rico as a ghost of its own past.
In Velorio, Xavier Navarro Aquino tells the story of Camila, a young child who loses her sister, Marisol to the hurricane. Unable to part with Marisol, Camila carries her through town, past the churchyard, and, eventually, to the supposed utopia of Memoria.
Urayoán, the idealistic, yet the troubled cult leader of "Memoria" (Memory), has a vision for this new society, one that in his eyes is peaceful and democratic. The paradise he preaches lures in the young, including Pescao, a boy on the cusp of manhood, and Morivivi, a woman whose outward toughness belies an inner tenderness for her friends. But as the different members of Memoria navigate Urayoán's fiery rise, they will need to confront his violent authoritarian impulses in order to find a way to reclaim their home.
Narrated from the first-person point of view, this is a metaphor for the strength, resilience, and hope that Puerto Ricans must endure. A tale of peril and possibility buoyed by the deeply held belief in a people's ability to unite against those corrupted by power.
There is no doubt that Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico to a degree that makes it almost impossible for the Island to recover. As a Puerto Rican who grew up there in the '60s and '70s, it's still too painful to come back and visit - remembering the Island I grew up in is too much of a heartbreak to see what's left after I came to Chicago in 1981. The corruption and mismanagement by most governments in the 21st century have left Puerto Rico as a ghost of its own past.
In Velorio, Xavier Navarro Aquino tells the story of Camila, a young child who loses her sister, Marisol to the hurricane. Unable to part with Marisol, Camila carries her through town, past the churchyard, and, eventually, to the supposed utopia of Memoria.
Urayoán, the idealistic, yet the troubled cult leader of "Memoria" (Memory), has a vision for this new society, one that in his eyes is peaceful and democratic. The paradise he preaches lures in the young, including Pescao, a boy on the cusp of manhood, and Morivivi, a woman whose outward toughness belies an inner tenderness for her friends. But as the different members of Memoria navigate Urayoán's fiery rise, they will need to confront his violent authoritarian impulses in order to find a way to reclaim their home.
Narrated from the first-person point of view, this is a metaphor for the strength, resilience, and hope that Puerto Ricans must endure. A tale of peril and possibility buoyed by the deeply held belief in a people's ability to unite against those corrupted by power.
June 3, 2023
Most of the time when you read a post-apocalyptic novel, it is set in a distant place after a fictional event. Velorio is set in Puerto Rico, after the hurricane Maria devastated much of the island, causing over 3000 deaths. The novel follows several characters, each struggling to survive, as they are drawn towards a promised utopia of Memoria. Urayoan is a a charismatic leader, who promises those that come that he will provide for their needs, and in a time of such destruction and despair, it brings people together in hopes of survival. Ura is driven by a desire for power and control and Memoria is a violent, Lord of the Flies, type community where those that don’t do as they are told disappear. There are significant elements of horror in here that I wasn’t expecting - not probably surprising given the situation, but if that is an issue for you as a reader, be aware. Velorio means wake//funeral (depending on the translation source I found) and it’s interesting to think about that in context of the story - there is an element of wake tied to waking up - being aware of what is happening around you and starting on a new path. There is also wake as in a ceremony that marks the end of a life. You see both elements of this is Aquino’s impressive debut - it is dark and gritty - but he is an excellent writer and he crafts some beautiful writing about horrible events.
July 17, 2023
Why did this take me so long to finish? Honestly because I wasn’t ready. Because it hurt to read.
As a Puerto Rican of the diaspora, I remember the days of waiting to hear from my family. The facebook threads of family names and townships. The footage on the tv. The radio silence.
And so in reading this, I felt the weight of a nation abandoned.
The descriptions of people, of animals, of infrastructure, drowned me very deeply to the point of dread. The faith in false idols, the Puerto Rican tendency to survive beyond all reason and reality, LA BREGA, was so much to bear. These stories were just so much to witness. Fantastical and horrific, like Maria.
The author has a way of capturing life in his words. So many things unsaid but somehow still spoken. The sorrow, again, was just too much for me at times. But that’s because in every character, I saw my loved ones, and I felt their hurt.
In Spanish, I bet this is even more captivating. Cheo’s words, ugh, the more devastating. I’ll think about him and Banto for a very long time.
A difficult read but a necessary, humbling one.
I’m gonna go call my Titi now.
As a Puerto Rican of the diaspora, I remember the days of waiting to hear from my family. The facebook threads of family names and townships. The footage on the tv. The radio silence.
And so in reading this, I felt the weight of a nation abandoned.
The descriptions of people, of animals, of infrastructure, drowned me very deeply to the point of dread. The faith in false idols, the Puerto Rican tendency to survive beyond all reason and reality, LA BREGA, was so much to bear. These stories were just so much to witness. Fantastical and horrific, like Maria.
The author has a way of capturing life in his words. So many things unsaid but somehow still spoken. The sorrow, again, was just too much for me at times. But that’s because in every character, I saw my loved ones, and I felt their hurt.
In Spanish, I bet this is even more captivating. Cheo’s words, ugh, the more devastating. I’ll think about him and Banto for a very long time.
A difficult read but a necessary, humbling one.
I’m gonna go call my Titi now.
March 16, 2022
3.5 🌟
Honestly, this is a hard book for me to review. I listened to the audiobook, and it was sometimes a struggle for me to continue. It quickly becomes very dark and morbid, and while I knew that this book dealt with the hardships of life in Puerto Rico after a hurricane, I wasn't expecting it to verge on a horror story.
Death and destruction are left in the wake of the hurricane. Urayoán, a dangerous and charismatic leader, creates a society new society, throwing out promises to correct the government that has failed the people. But Urayoán has his band of boys who do his dirty work, and it proves to be quite nasty.
I'm was intrigued by the cult aspect in this premise, but there were too many perspectives. I was confused at times and a little lost. I don't want to distract anyone from reading this; some of the language and imagery are raw and beautiful. But please be warned it does discuss death, child abuse, suicide, child abuse, verbal abuse, and desecration of corpses.
Thank you to @HarperViabooks for this gifted copy.
Honestly, this is a hard book for me to review. I listened to the audiobook, and it was sometimes a struggle for me to continue. It quickly becomes very dark and morbid, and while I knew that this book dealt with the hardships of life in Puerto Rico after a hurricane, I wasn't expecting it to verge on a horror story.
Death and destruction are left in the wake of the hurricane. Urayoán, a dangerous and charismatic leader, creates a society new society, throwing out promises to correct the government that has failed the people. But Urayoán has his band of boys who do his dirty work, and it proves to be quite nasty.
I'm was intrigued by the cult aspect in this premise, but there were too many perspectives. I was confused at times and a little lost. I don't want to distract anyone from reading this; some of the language and imagery are raw and beautiful. But please be warned it does discuss death, child abuse, suicide, child abuse, verbal abuse, and desecration of corpses.
Thank you to @HarperViabooks for this gifted copy.
December 28, 2021
Even though this is a work of fiction, I imagine that so many people can relate to the tragically beautiful descriptions Navarro Aquino provides of trying to find hope and life amidst the destruction on the island. One of my favorite lines: “I felt the warmth from ghosts come over
me, a quiet peace reminding me vulnerability breaks even the hardest fool, even if you did not believe or carry faith, in that space, faith carried you.”
me, a quiet peace reminding me vulnerability breaks even the hardest fool, even if you did not believe or carry faith, in that space, faith carried you.”
July 20, 2022
I really wanted to like this book. The last chapter was really beautiful but the constant switching in perspectives without believable motives made me feel disoriented. Also I just can’t really handle violence I think.
August 28, 2022
Okay. I LOVED the narration of this audiobook. It was wonderful but, wow, what a weird story. It was so much more than a recounting of the effects of Hurricane Maria on the island of Puerto Rico. Aquino added a whole new twist on how the Hurricane effected individual lives in almost a dystopian way; a bit bizarre and very, very unique. I'm still mulling over all of the out of the ordinary events and characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews