Review: Extremely relevant to today's issues
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 28, 2014
Unforgettable in its emotional depth and cultural scope, Maria Pinto’s ‘Living La Vida Spanglish’ is an engrossing collection of stories revolving around the lives of different Latino immigrants in the USA. Each story bristles with a surprising depth of emotion and honesty that you can’t help but drop your jaws on the floor.There are so many things that ‘Living La Vida Spanglish’ has that will keep tug at your heartstrings. The stories are deftly written, with careful attention given to verisimilitude and authenticity. In “Monster Love,” for example, I am both inspired by Esteban’s incredible success in New York yet appalled at the way he achieves such success, all as a sacrifice on the altar of doomed love. In “Rental Car Company Corruption,” Sandra is very happy to land a job at a rental car company, only to later realize she must play her cards right—and very carefully—in order not only to survive the corruption that seems to be an integral part of its corporate culture, but also to rise above the others. And that’s only a fraction of the kind of reading experience this book offers.Overall, ‘Living La Vida Spanglish’ is a book that will most resonate with immigrants to the United States—their friends and loved ones. Its themes—both universal and particular—will make you laugh and cry and will deeply move you. Very entertaining, this is a book that can enthral you for hours. Five stars.