I read/ listen to about 5 books a month and belong to 2 book clubs. Rarely do I not finish a book. This one I had to put down about a third of the way into it. The run-on descriptions are distracting and the jokes are just not funny. I selected this book as I am the demographic the author describes and wishes to have as her reader. I can certainly laugh at myself and the aging process. But this was demeaning and just "silly". Maybe she should try writing for a sit-com. With a pile of TBR on my nightstand, I just don't want to waste time on this.

It's hard not to compare this novel's protagonist, Antonia, to Job and his biblical trials. She is a recently retired professor dealing with also recent widowhood, her mentally ill sister's disappearance, all while becoming unintentionally involved in the plight of a neighboring undocumented worker's crisis. The novel explores these tribulations through her childhood, her close relationship with her three siblings, and her own struggle as a Latino woman trying to fit into her New England community. Alvarez weaves an almost mystical approach to these challenges via Antonia's multigenerational memories, her recall of lines from her favorite authors during her teaching years, and her strong ties with her sisters. We come to understand that these issues will always be present, are life-changing for those involved and we can't help wondering how we ourselves would fare