Written from the point of view of the person who is the villain and doesn't have the self-awareness to admit, or even realize, they're the villain. ThWritten from the point of view of the person who is the villain and doesn't have the self-awareness to admit, or even realize, they're the villain. The book is written as if she is still the hurt teenager and, dare I say, the mean girl; there is no real retrospection. She gets mad at others and victimizes herself for doing things she has done over and over to other people. To be clear, I'm not basing my opinion of the book on her character, however, I want to point out we get stories about her being betrayed, but nothing about how she feels about how she herself has betrayed others.
We get a lot of details about things that don't necessarily need a lot of detail and then nothing about what actually made her the "It Girl" and the minor NYC celebrity. She posed for street art, and it was in a TV show... what show? What artist? What did it look like? She had a fashion line. What was it called? She got into The New School, literally the only time we hear about it is "I graduated community college and I got into The New School." What did you study? How did you get in? What was your time like there, even it was brief? And beyond being a minor celeb, she writes a few pages about her "relationship" with Kanye but it was basically not a story at all and felt thrown in.
People pop into the story who are the absolute most important person in her life, then they just disappear, or aren't even properly introduced. She starts talking about Harmony, the person she can't live without, her best friend, a friend beyond compare - but she doesn't even have an introduction?? Multiple times, I found myself asking "who IS this person??" blink and you'll miss who some of these people even are or how they came into her life.
Her story is tragic at times, certainly chaotic, but not exactly self-aware. I don't know if that's the point and it's all part of the "art" and delivery, but I don't see this memoir as some kind of subversive art. I heard about her interview where she said this book is a masterpiece, and while I know that's 100% subjective... I can't go there with her.
A couple final questions: why did she dedicate this book to her dad and then proceeds to not tell one single story about him with a redeemable quality? If what she put in here was the best she could come up with about her dad... was that a joke? Why did she name her son Valentino after her dominatrix name, Valentina??...more
Another one of those books that would have never happened if one person said 1 single sentence as, let's be honest, anyone would have said in the sameAnother one of those books that would have never happened if one person said 1 single sentence as, let's be honest, anyone would have said in the same position... Even this person because this person wanted to say this, so I have no idea why they wouldn't (I mean, I know they wouldn't say it for the sake of the story, but still, it makes no sense). I just can't with the gigantic, gaping plot holes. ...more
Well, I guess today is my grumpy review day. This is the first Alice Hoffman book I didn't enjoy. I wasn't expecting the second half of the book; I haWell, I guess today is my grumpy review day. This is the first Alice Hoffman book I didn't enjoy. I wasn't expecting the second half of the book; I have started adding books to my To-Read and then not re-reading the description before I start in order to have a nice surprise. This book just seemed too disjointed to me. I feel like I was hit with the second-half reveal out of nowhere and it completely pulled me out. Hoffman is a master of magical realism, but this one didn't even seem like her. ...more
The Montoya sisters are devastated to learn that Tia Dolores is moving out and back in with her parents. She said the girls have learned well and no lThe Montoya sisters are devastated to learn that Tia Dolores is moving out and back in with her parents. She said the girls have learned well and no longer need her to run a household. She wants to go live with Abuelita while Abuelo travels the Santa Fe Trail to trade in America. The girls know that Papa and Tia are in love, but Papa doesn't want to ask her to marry him because she has decided to leave. The girls come up with a plan to force Tia to stay, but she refuses. Finally, after talking with Josefina about the milagro she received from Tia Magdalena to pray for love and peace in their household, Papa decides to write a letter to Abuelo, asking for Tia's hand in marriage.
I thought it was strange to introduce Ana's sons as characters in the last book, we also never met her husband, Tomas. It was a weird decision to leave them out when the family is all living under one roof. I wasn't even sure what was the point to even have the boys in this book at all when they never were in the stories before. The plan included Ana and the boys moving into Abuelita's instead of Tia Dolores so that Tia would stay with the Montoyas and the boys would go to learn with the priests.
Anyway, I am happy with the ending and happy for the Motoya family to finally have long-lasting love and peace in their household....more
Not my favorite book of the series. I feel like Saves the Day should have been swapped with Happy Birthday. Josefina actually saves someone's life in Not my favorite book of the series. I feel like Saves the Day should have been swapped with Happy Birthday. Josefina actually saves someone's life in that book and in this book, she convinces her sisters to trade their 3 blankets for a violin for Papa. However, they think they have been swindled when an Americano, Patrick, leaves without the trade for Papa's mules or the girls' blankets for his violin. This book revolved more around gift-giving than Happy Birthday did. Also, the book ends without any definitive resolution. When Josefina finds a "note" from Patrick telling them where the violin was and that he hadn't left with their blankets and a fair trade. Josefina and Francisca go to the city in the middle of the night to find the violin, which is very dangerous considering the bawdy nature of the town after dark with all the traders partying. There is no explanation about him leaving or if the mule trade was successful. I assume he had to leave before telling them, but the story just ends with Josefina seeing Papa and Tia Dolores making music quietly together, which I take it they have fallen in love and will tell the girls in the last book of the series. I think the story could have been better with a definitive ending....more
A touching story about Josefina's 10th birthday. The Montoya family is finally seeing progress from the women's labor in the household (who would haveA touching story about Josefina's 10th birthday. The Montoya family is finally seeing progress from the women's labor in the household (who would have to make so many blankets in addition to the labor of running the household). Josefina's enemy, the goat Florecita, gives birth to a kid and dies shortly after. Josefina convinces her father that she can nurse the goat, which she does successfully, and the kid becomes her shadow, so they call her Sombrita "little shadow". Josefina gets to put all of her grief and desire to be mothered herself into the love she has for this kid. With her father being emotionally distant, she is desperate for a connection based on nurture.
Josefina spends time with her Tia Magdalena, who is curandera. Josefina says she wants to be a curandera, but Tia Magdalena says she must first prove that she can heal. She tells Josefina about how Papa had once survived a rattlesnake bite and she gives Josefina a root to carry with her in case of a bite. (Of course someone will need this by the end of the book.)
Josefina travels with Papa to the Pueblo village to finalize the trade of blankets for goats with an old friend. Josefina and her Pueblo friend, Marianna, go outside to play with dolls and when Sombrita wanders away, they find her in a standoff with a rattlesnake. The snake ends up biting Marianna and Josepfina saves her with the root.
At home, Josefina gets to dress in her Mama's precious accessories and they have a big party. Papaa gives her a rattlesnake tail for her memory box. Tia Magdalena agrees that Josefina is a healer. I like this for Josefina, and since women had to "become a woman" earlier than we do now, it makes sense that she would discover relatively early what her affinity is.
I'm surprised this wasn't a "Saves the Day" which makes me think they next book will be a little more bonkers....more
The Montoyas are trying to enjoy the second Christmas without Mama. There are family traditions that are painful for the girls because their mama isn'The Montoyas are trying to enjoy the second Christmas without Mama. There are family traditions that are painful for the girls because their mama isn't there to do them together. Tia Dolores encourages them to do the traditions anyway, they need to in order to move forward with their grief. When they discover their beloved altar cloth Mama sewed is destroyed in storage, the girls and Tia work together tirelessly to repair it. The tradition of passing off the doll, Nina, each girl gets at 8 years old on Christmas was forgotten the previous year when Josefina was 8. Now Josefina wants her time with the doll and Clara pretends the doll is lost so she doesn't have to pass it down. Josefina is angry when she finds out Clara still has her after she looked for Nina for days, but Tia explains that it was the last thing Clara was given from Mama before she died. When Josefina gets Nina from Clara with a new dress sewn by her, Josefina says they can share the doll. It is a touching story of moving through grief, keeping the memory alive of loved ones who are gone, and the importance of family traditions....more
Josefina is eager to help her family replace the sheep they lost in a flash flood during a horrible storm. At Tia Dolores's suggestion, they can use tJosefina is eager to help her family replace the sheep they lost in a flash flood during a horrible storm. At Tia Dolores's suggestion, they can use the wool they have already shorn to weave blankets to trade to the Americanos, who are very interested in their patterns and colors of woven blankets. Josefina looks up to Tia Dolores who makes the business proposal to her papa since she is a woman and business isn't for women. Papa is impressed with her suggestion and all the girls are excited to help except Francisca, who is growing resentful of Tia Dolores -- she feels Tia is trying to mold them into people they aren't, giving them too much work, and pulling them further and further from their mama by encouraging them to read and write, which their mama never learned. However, Josefina is excited to learn to read, write, and weave. She gets lessons in weaving from Tia's servant, Teresita, a Navajo woman. When Tia shows Josefina a small book she used to record their mama's thoughts, poems, songs, and sayings, Josefina shares this with Francisca and they both become excited to read their mother's words....more
By the time Josefina's books were released, I was aging out of American Girl and wasn't trying to acquire new dolls. Coincidentally, I did receive FelBy the time Josefina's books were released, I was aging out of American Girl and wasn't trying to acquire new dolls. Coincidentally, I did receive Felicity from my Grandma that year, but for some reason, I wasn't keen to read a new character's series. However, Josefina is a delightful, shy, and dream-filled girl. After their mama passed away a year before, the girls have been grieving and desperate for motherly attention. It was touching that her Tia Dolores decided to come to live at their ranchero to help the girls learn how to run a household. Tia Dolores is kind and patient, I feel there will be many tender moments and learning opportunities for the sisters. ...more
The darkest installment yet to Samantha's series. Samantha goes to live with Uncle Gard and Cornelia while Grandmary and the Admiral honeymoon after tThe darkest installment yet to Samantha's series. Samantha goes to live with Uncle Gard and Cornelia while Grandmary and the Admiral honeymoon after their marriage. Samantha gets a letter that Nellie's parents died from the flu and they had to go live with their uncle in NYC. Nellie says she will come visit Samantha but never shows up. Samantha goes looking for her and finds out that their uncle stole everything they came with and abandoned them. They are now living in a horrible orphanage. One day, Nellie tells Samantha that she will be going on the orphan train and has to leave her sisters behind. Samantha convinces them to run away and moves them into Uncle Gard's house. When the girls are discovered, Uncle Gard and Cornelia decide to adopt all the girls.
Although the story has a happy ending, many orphans like Nellie would be left to their own devices and struggle enormously in a city like NYC. The orphan train is one of the most horrible ideas I've ever heard. If you didn't know what they were, it's worth it to learn. The orphan train was basically a train peddling children in towns along the train stations on the way west. They were sold/given to anyone and could even become slaves and abused. The idea seems okay in theory, but there was no way this idea was going to end nicely for many of these children. ...more
Samantha and the twins head to the family's summer home, Piney Point. The twins want to go to Teardrop Island, but Samantha never wants to go because Samantha and the twins head to the family's summer home, Piney Point. The twins want to go to Teardrop Island, but Samantha never wants to go because her parents drowned in the rocky waters around it. On a rainy day, the girls go play in the attic and find Samantha's mother's sketchbook with beautiful paintings of the island. Samantha barely remembers and decides she wants to go. After a long day of exploring the island (where they didn't tell the adults they were going), their boat had drifted away. The Admiral comes to get them and falls on a rock, the girls save him and get back to the house, saving his life.
I enjoyed learning about Samantha's grief. Her parents died 5 years previous but we never heard about them until now. We learn why Samantha wanted to name her doll from the first book Lydia - after her mother. Grandmary says she would like to go back to the island with Samantha to see all the places in her daughter's sketchbook. I remember Grandmary being a stuffy old lady, but now that I'm n adult, I see how kind she is. ...more
Samantha turns 10 and has a (mostly) disastrous birthday party. But when the twins, Agnes and Agatha, who are Cornelia's sisters, invite Samantha and Samantha turns 10 and has a (mostly) disastrous birthday party. But when the twins, Agnes and Agatha, who are Cornelia's sisters, invite Samantha and Grandmary to New York City, the girls get themselves into trouble.
When they are riding through the city to Uncle Gard's house, Grandmary sees suffragists protesting in the park and is annoyed that they are trying to change things. Grandmary doesn't see the point in changing things that have "worked" for so long.
I believe that adults should read children's books to get a child's perspective. Children aren't little adults, they are unformed, they need to make mistakes in order to learn. You can't just yell and tell a child how to be, they need to learn. The girls beg Cornelia to bring her puppy, Jip, on a walk with the doll pram, she makes them promise not to let go of the leash. When the girls think that just wrapping Jip's leash over the handle of the pram is enough to contain him, we, as adults, immediately know that is a mistake, but they do not.
They chase Jip into the park and run into Cornelia speaking at the suffragist protest. And Grandmary saw it, too. However, after seeing Cornelia speak, she agrees it is time for change. It is refreshing to see a "stuffy" grandma change her ways. Grandmary seems stern and expects Samantha to be a little lady all the time, but also indulges Samantha's spirited personality. ...more