Title: Into the Beautiful North: A Novel
Author: Luis Alberto Urrea
My Review:
The small Mexican town of Tres Camerones has become a town of women, children and old men. All of the town’s able-bodied men have “Gone North” for work. Now some shady characters are hanging around. Watching the movie “The Magnificent Seven” at the local theatre, Nayeli decides to go North herself and bring home the men (and her father) that her town needs to drive these bandidos away. An insightful look at the life of a poor Mexican population and the desperation that drives them into illegal border crossing. This book is a wonderful tale of hope and determination. It also shows that the life they expect to find in “los Yunaites” isn’t all that they were looking for.
I enjoyed the book and found the story flowed easily. The relationships between the girlfriends was well-written and the situations they found themselves in were believable. Yoloxochitl, or Yolo, dreams of finding love and not having to return to their home. Veronica, the only goth in the village, calls herself Vampi and is the only reluctant traveller. Their male companion, the gay owner of the only restaurant in town, follows them out a desire to find a man for himself.
The ways this group cross the border are inventive and makes you wonder what other ways people would try. Also, I wasn’t aware that not only is it illegal for a Mexican to cross over into the States, but it’s illegal for them to try to get back. Either way and they are arrested, charged and deported back to Mexico. I enjoyed this book, found it well-written and easy to read. Â I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
*I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this novel.*
Giveaway
Thanks to Valerie at Hachette Books, I have 3 copies of Into the Beautiful North to giveaway to 3 of my readers.
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Giveaway ends on July 19, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST. The winners will be selected by random.org and notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply back before a new winner is selected. Please leave your email so I can contact you if you win. Good luck!
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This book sounds extremely interesting. Thanks for the chance to win it.
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I have read yours and others review of this book and know that I would definitely want to read this.
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Sounds like a book that I would really enjoy. Thanks for the chance!
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Will all the flap about the new Arizona law–this is a very timey book and I would like very much to read it.
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This sounds like a good read. I am always looking for new books and authors to try.
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This would be a great book to read while at the beach and I am catching some rays while the kids are building a sandcastle.
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I always enjoy getting new books to read and this sounds interesting. Thanks for the chance to win.
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Summertime is for reading. Would love to read this. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway
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