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_lia_reads_'s Reviews (757)
I think I’m in the minority when I say this book started as a 4 star read and then fell apart. I was intrigued by Ivy’s journey, as the daughter of immigrants, striving for wealth. Watching her go from an insecure teen to a more self-confident but still fumbling adult was realistic and relatable. Ivy is one of those protagonists you will enjoy hating (or just hate lol) as you read.
The book lost it for me a little in the middle, but especially in the last 20 pages. The story itself is coherent, with one twist that made sense with Ivy’s character and was completely expected. But the other twist was too much, less in how it was executed and more in the content. I appreciate the ending to Ivy’s journey (she got what was coming to her, basically) but not the ending for the other characters.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book in exchange for an honest review.
Tw: death; stealing; infidelity; smoking; discussion of eating disorders.
The book lost it for me a little in the middle, but especially in the last 20 pages. The story itself is coherent, with one twist that made sense with Ivy’s character and was completely expected. But the other twist was too much, less in how it was executed and more in the content. I appreciate the ending to Ivy’s journey (she got what was coming to her, basically) but not the ending for the other characters.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book in exchange for an honest review.
Tw: death; stealing; infidelity; smoking; discussion of eating disorders.
This is the second book I’ve read by Laila Lalami in two months and it is official: I am a Lalami fan girl. I will read any and everything she writes. The Other Americans is completely different from The Moor’s Account. Set in contemporary California, The Other Americans takes place in the wake of a hit-and-run, resulting in the death of a Moroccan immigrant. The book alternates between many different POVs, focusing on all the people that this death affects in some way, including Driss, the victim, and his daughter Nora.
The chapters here are short and the book moves quickly as a result. The overarching plot is the mystery of who killed Driss, but more important are the characters themselves. Lalami addresses a variety of themes: racism; anti-immigrant discrimination; homophobia; war and violence. Through the character studies in each POV, you see how each person’s preconceived notions and experiences influence their reactions to the hit-and-run. I was impressed by how seamlessly Lalami inhabits the voices of each character, making them distinct from one another. At times the chapters do feel a bit like “info dumps,” but this felt like an effective way to introduce each character. While the whodunnit aspect is certainly present through the book, I don’t think that’s Lalami’s main focus.
If you like books with glimpses into how people think and act, with a little element of mystery, definitely pick this one up.
TW: alcoholism; death; racism; homophobia; racial slurs; infidelity
The chapters here are short and the book moves quickly as a result. The overarching plot is the mystery of who killed Driss, but more important are the characters themselves. Lalami addresses a variety of themes: racism; anti-immigrant discrimination; homophobia; war and violence. Through the character studies in each POV, you see how each person’s preconceived notions and experiences influence their reactions to the hit-and-run. I was impressed by how seamlessly Lalami inhabits the voices of each character, making them distinct from one another. At times the chapters do feel a bit like “info dumps,” but this felt like an effective way to introduce each character. While the whodunnit aspect is certainly present through the book, I don’t think that’s Lalami’s main focus.
If you like books with glimpses into how people think and act, with a little element of mystery, definitely pick this one up.
TW: alcoholism; death; racism; homophobia; racial slurs; infidelity
