Amanda > Recent Status Updates

Okay well after watching the movie, I can say that this is *supposed to be* confusing and I'm actually impressed that I understood as much of the book as I have so far.

I have no idea what is happening! But the Spanish / the writing is so vulgar, so interesting, so Mexican..... that I feel compelled to continue listening. Enriching for the ears even though I am definitely struggling to keep up with the plot

¡Viva México! 🇲🇽🤠

Fun! Totally relevant for me right now being in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Potentially my favorite book of the year. This book belongs in the same conversations as Atomic Habits, Peak Performance, and 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Being a waitress was my least favorite job, I have nothing to do with the restaurant industry, and YET, this book is soooo good and so relevant!

The first half was harder to get in to, but probably the audiobook format + passive listening in Spanish is adding to my own personal struggle.. Second half of the book is MUCH more engaging and between this and Moctezuma Girls, I'm glad I chose the book [about Tecuixpo] that's in Spanish as it is just. so. deliciously. enriching to hear the words in the native language, w the right accent, etc. Will prob read both

A HUEVO, Leonor. 🥚 Me cae muy bien esta muchacha.

Guaaaauuuu, apenas me estoy dando cuenta de que Zunzunegui está argumentando a favor de Cortés 😅 Qué choque con todo lo que he creído/pensado hasta ahora. Sigo solo por el plot 😅

Mildly spicy. Luckily, Dolly is hilarious, relatable, and shares a name with my beloved grandmother and it just makes me happy every time I hear it... so we shall continue

Is this going to get spicy....?! 👀

In need of a palate cleanser.

I should be shocked! I should be awed! But honestly, I’m just ready for it to be over.... *yawn*.

This is in no way a criticism of the authors’ research or delivery. It’s just…....... *big yawn*… it's tiring. It’s exhausting.

However, for those interested in a literal play-by-play of you-know-who’s first year in office, here ya go. Halfway done, and we’re only discussing June 24t...... *Yaaa...

I should be shocked! I would be awed! ... what I am is ready for it to be over *yawn*

This is in no way a criticism of the authors' research or delivery, it's just......... *big yawn* it's tiring. It's exhausting.

However, for those interested in a literal play by play of you-know-who's first year in office, here ya go. Halfway done and we're just discussing June 24t......... *yaaaaa...

"Harp, despite her best efforts, was not finding the numbers that didn't exist."

The tone is surprisingly neutral and unbiased. I especially appreciate the way the authors provide direct quotes from the president which allows us to draw our own conclusions on his intelligence

The audiobook narrator, Roberto Villavicencio, is so talented and hilarious with all his little voices. Not all of them are enjoyable to listen to, but he brings the key characters to life so well.... ugh I need someone to talk about this book with! So many parallels... so much irony. The author is witty, clever, and funny! Very enjoyable listen to break up some of the more intense historical reads.

...aunque no recomiendo bañarse en el mar, por los desechos industriales, ¡pero hay mucho trabajo en los pozos de extracción!
"Eso es importante... el trabajo nos hace mejores nuevomexicanos," repitió en automático. Es algo que nos decían en la escuela.

👀

Reading (listening to) this for a second time nearly 2 years later with a much more robust understanding of not only the Spanish language in general but the themes and issues surrounding the book, beginning with the Porfiriato. This author is so damn clever and his books are filled with so many mexicanisms... it is a true pleasure to read his work. Ojalá pudiera expresarme así en español para hablar del libro, nimodo

"The Honeyed words pronounced by our lips don't even reach our hearts... How can we hope to love God if we can't even love our neighbors?"

While at first I found the book to be overly lyrical and unnecessarily verbose, I am now coming to enjoy the rich, vivid, poetic writing.

Knowing that the stories about her are verified and well researched makes the read even more enjoyable.

What really strikes me is the creativity of the author's imagination to fill in all the gaps of their day-to-day lives, thoughts, etc. It feels like it truly all happened así

I understand this is a reflection of the magical realism style very popular in Latin America, but I find the language to be too flowery. Trying too hard to be poetic. Also, it is a direct translation, in many cases, of how one would speak in Spanish. This is fine, but if the story is going to be told in English, there are some parts that would flow better and make more sense if it was just translated fully.

Ooooohhhh.... okay, the story is starting to get gOoOoOd.

Let's hope this pacing continues now that I'm starting to see the direction it's heading in... or am I??!

It is so sad it is laughable (I speak from the child's perspective here and may never understand the parent's perspective) that parents can't see that the tighter the grip, the more frequent the punishments, the stricter the expectations, the more the child will rebel and HATE YOU. Ugh it is painful to listen to the intensity of the religious and cultural beliefs. I, personally, am engrossed in the narrative!

I can understand why some people might not enjoy this. Some of the comments say that "nothing is happening in the first half of the book" and "the perspectives in the beginning are too confusing and don't make sense." Luckily, I like the format! I am intrigued to see where the story goes. And personally, I like a slow build more than rushed action, anyway.

"He was floating 10 feet off the ground. After all these years of suffering, things finally seemed to be going his way." Same, bro. Same. 🥹

This book is.... slow. I'm still not sure what the genre even is...? Romance? Mystery? The writing is good enough to keep listening, I'm just really hoping it starts to get better.