The Tortilla Curtain

Rating:
Summary: easy to read, big message
Review: This was easily my favorite book of the year. I enjoyed looking at Southern California from the perspective of an immigrant from Mexico. The writing was flawless, your interest is maintained.

Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking as well as entertaining
Review: I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although I found that the book brought up more questions than answers for me. I was first sympathetic with Delaney and then with Candido. As I got to know the characters, I came to dislike them both and to side with America. I couldn't put the book down. Racism is alive and well in America and this book really made me think. This is such a powerful book and I can't believe that someone wouldn't see it's deeper meaning.

Rating:
Summary: leaves no cliche' unused
Review: Boyle creates a land of stereotypes with no connection to reality. See the poor, hard working illegal get ripped off of his life savings not once, not twice, but three times. See the tofu and sushi eating, independenly wealthy, non-working yuppie get his Acura ripped off, and its replacement wrecked. See the Mexican's wife raped. See the yuppie's wife let go by the rapists with apologies. See the Mexican's wife so desperate for money that she takes a job that causes blindness in her unborn daughter. See the yuppie's wife blow off a huge payday because she didn't feel like selling one of her million-dollar real estate listings. This pseudo-paralell universe continues to spin so far into the bizarro world that the only reason to continue reading is to find out how ridiculous things will get. Will the Mexican eat a Siamese cat? Sure will! Will the yuppie turn into a crazed gunman? You bet! Will the Mexican start a wildfire that wipes out the valley? No problem! Will you meet a single American citizen who is not either a drunk or a racist, or both? Well, no you won't. You will pray for this mess to end quickly, but your prayers will not answered, as it drags on, and on, to its "surprise" ending. Save yourself a little money and a lot of time, by choosing not to open the Tortilla Curtain.

Rating:
Summary: Raises some interesting issues, but is totally unrealistic
Review: Immigration, both of people and of animals, is an important topic. So is the unequal distribution of wealth. On the other hand, I felt that the book was somewhat irresponsible and shallow. The story is completely unrealistic. I hope no one is gullible enough to think that this book is a realistic portrait of life in Los Angeles. Similarly, the characters are just plain silly. The book is still readable, but understand that you will be reading a political cartoon, not serious social commentary or literature.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Worst Books I've Ever Read
Review: Not only was the writing style reminiscent of high school creative writing class (fill it up with adjectives and adverbs, who needs character motivation or development?) but the story was exaggerated, overblown and entirely unrealistic; for this kind of story, I had more fun wathcing "Volcano." I thought it was not a responsible narrative of the immigration situation here in Los Angeles. There was no tranformation or evolution of character except from bad to worse,and if I was supposed to like or identify with anybody, or gain insight, it totally failed.

Rating:
Summary: Best book I have ever read!
Review: This book is great and I wish it were required reading for every human being, especially those living in a community with immigrants. It's a real smack in the face for some people to be able to see both points of view so clearly. Boyle did an excellent job of letting "both sides" tell their story. When I was finished I "missed" the charaters! That's when I know an author has done a great job at going into depth with characters. I don't know how anyone would be disappointed with this book.

Rating:
Summary: Better than Bonfire!
Review: This may sound like an extravagant claim given the acclaim which is constantly laid upon Wolfe's "masterpiece" but i firmly believe Boyle's book has more to offer us. The two novels have a great deal in common in terms of their themes and the stereotypes they explore but Boyle's book has something in spades which Bonfire seemed to lack, namely compassion. Reading Wolfe i often thought he was to busy drawing his charicatures outward manifestations to give them a real emotional depth. Tortilla Curtain has far fewer characters and is a far shorter book and yet i felt far closer to Boyle's characters, even though as with Wolfe they clearly represent obvious social types. The pace of this book is fantastic yet it feels like a meaty book and has far more in common with socially conscious writers like Steinbeck than it does with Tom Wolfe. I don't wish to seem to hard on Bonfire of the Vanities but reading this book has really put all the critical acclaim its more famous counterpart recieved into perspective. Read it if you don't believe me and see what i mean!

Rating:
Summary: Marx meets El Norte
Review: This is one of the best books I read in high school. There is, as the first sentence predicts, a struggle of antagonistic forces throughout the novel. There are material and idealistic dialectics, blah blah. If you're looking for a thought-provoking book, this one certainly operates on several levels. As pleasure reading, the characters are engaging, and the plot is rich and dynamic. A good read, for whatever reason.

Rating:
Summary: An eye opening experience
Review: T.C. Boyle is not only one of the best contemporary writers but a great writer for all time. The Tortilla Curtain is a truly informative yet entertaining reading experience. Even if the plot was thin (which it isn't) the novel would keep the reader entertained with the characters alone. It is clear that Boyle is a not only an excellent writer but a good psychologist as well. Judging from his characters I sensed that Boyle can read people well. I know several Kyra's and Delaney's, apparaently Boyle does too. It is refreshing to read a contemporary novelist who doesn't need to rely on fancy or abstract writing styles and metaphors to make some weak point or send across a subtle message. Boyle's message is clear, enjoyable, easy to read yet strong and greatly important. Only a great few can say they have mastered that. If anything, the reader will learn to respect and understand the struggles of illegal immigrants.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this book.
Review: Candido is Job. The ending was perfect. It reinforces your faith in the human spirit. Boyle has the ability to capture the flavor of a region and its inhabitants. His description of Delaney driving up the canyon in the beginning of the book sets the tone and tells you all about this man. Read this book and The Road to Wellville, East is East and World Without End.