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Reid
The struggle of immigrant families
In October of last year, a group of students at Georgia Southern University burned copies of this book after Jennine Capo Crucet gave a talk there about, among other topics, white privilege. Though I had never heard of the book or its author, I determined that I was going to buy, read, and write about this book, no matter what. I also encouraged others I knew to do the same. It was not the first time I had purchased a book specifically to support an author, but it was the first where I had no idea of the subject matter, the quality of the writing, or even whether it was novel or non-fiction. I did not know what
…more to expect.
Imagine my pleasure and surprise when Make Your Home Among Strangers turned out to be absolutely delightful, such a self-assured debut that it was hard for me to believe it was one. It turns out that Crucet had been an accomplished short story writer prior to taking on this novel. She has been awarded many prizes for her short story collection, How To Leave Hialeah. Still, I was amazed that a first novel could feel so well-crafted and satisfying. Among other things, Crucet has managed to walk that tightrope of moving the plot forward while remaining entirely true to her characters, and in particular to her protagonist. I understand the misguided temptation to attribute some of this surety to a degree of autobiography; still, it does seem from her author bio that this may not be far off the mark. But it hardly matters. She still had to pull off the feat of putting this all down on paper in a compelling, truthful manner that kept me turning page after page, eager to see what came next.
Lizet is the daughter of Cuban immigrants to the United States. She is the first in her family to aspire to college, and she chooses to accept admittance to a school in upstate New York, a place she had never been and a university atmosphere for which she is ill-prepared. Meanwhile, her family in Miami is having their own crises, her parents have, after many years of conflict, separated, her sister is raising a child on her own, and her mother is struggling to find purpose in her life amidst all this. How they each respond to these challenges is the core of the novel. My reading is that not a single word or deed is out of place or strikes a false note; a truly admirable feat with the welter of conflicting emotions all of this induces.
I strongly encourage everyone to read this novel, mostly on its own merits. But spiting those bigots at Georgia Southern is a nice side effect of reading such a superb novel. (less)It took me a while to read this book, but it was worth my time. Crucet's writing style is pleasant, but I found myself wanting more dialogue and less narrative. I think the book would be a great read for high school seniors and college freshmen, part of the curriculum of a Literature or Sociology class.
I am considering recommending it to my book club after it's published.
Betsy R. (Gig Harbor, WA)
Make Your Home Among Strangers
This debut novel works on many levels. It centers around a young Cuban girl named Lizet who leaves Miami to attend an exclusive and expensive college in New York. Not only is her culture shock severe, she also has to deal with repercussions from her Miami family. The book does an excellent job of describing the first year of college for anyone who feels like they don't fit in right away also-the fears, the mistakes, the relationships. I enjoyed the book very much and look forward to seeing what this author writes next.
Amy D. (Atlanta, GA)
A great reminder of life at 19
As I watch my own children and many friends head off to college, this was a great read that touched on many of the things I have been thinking about. It reminded my of the challenges and insecurities we all had at that age, as well as the extra challenges for those who find college a very different community than that they grew up in. I appreciated the chance to get into Lizet's head and experience life as she does. So different than my regular day. The parallel plot of the young child rescued trying to get to the U.S. from Cuba, (largely based on the real life experience of Elian Gonzalez) proved a great
…more counterpoint to Lizet's experience traveling from Miami to a fictional eastern college. A treat to see the world through her eyes. (less)I enjoyed reading Make Your Home Among Strangers, I enjoyed it very much actually. It is not something I would have chosen for myself, however, I am glad I had the opportunity. Thank you for choosing me. I was impressed with Lizet's confidence and drive. The story is told with detail and insight into the Cuban culture and the struggles of divorce, class, and being a minority.
I would recommend this book for a book club selection and for high school students.
Nicole
Torn Between Two Worlds
This book makes me uncomfortable. Lizet (Liz) is a college student at an elite school. But unlike many of the other students, she finds her self ill-prepared for the academics, the class differences, and how it changes her. When she returns home, she finds that her family is obsessed with a Cuban child who boated to America (also caught between two worlds). The reader gets a first hand look at how terrible, uncomfortable, and unmoored it feels to be someone who wants to belong and yet feels alien wherever she is.
The book was fast paced and the narrator was someone for whom you cheer! I enjoyed the book, but at
…more times felt so sad that I had to put it down. I guess that's the mark of a good read? Right?! (less)I was quite affected by this book, and glad I read it. The similarities to my own experience were often painful to read, but also affirming. Even more painful was witnessing the main character's cultural "clash of worlds" in Miami during the thinly-fictionalized Elian Gonzales affair. I am not Cuban American, nor from the same level of poverty as the main character, but I was the first person in my family to go to college, and to a "fancy" school that no one in my family had ever even heard of. The parts I didn't relate to as closely were sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes infuriating, rather like watching
…more someone driving very slowly off a cliff. The fact that I more than once found myself screaming at the character in my head, "Why would you do that?!" made clear to me how deeply this book hit me. (less)In Capó Crucet's second major work anchored in Floridian working class Cuban culture, gutsy Lizet escapes unprepared from her shattered family to a top tier college. Her choice to leave entrenched cultural structures breaks essential bonds of family and identity. The text erupts with emotional behaviors and fierce language blamed on this "betrayal," but allowing the main characters space to become strangers to each other while acting out individual needs.
The author chooses an intensive focus on scenes, resulting in detailed characterization but a slow narrative pace. Each scene is lit by contrast of
…more personalities, providing highly pleasing realism, wackiness, chaos, humor, sympathy and warmth. Use of an outer frame structure by which an older Lizet updates and occasionally intrudes into the main text raises the literary value, as do the symbolic Florida culverts and laboratory notebooks that permit discarding errors and moving forward, plus juxtaposition of the family's crisis with the historic but camouflaged 1999 Elián González custody battle. The novel is recommended for reading groups who can tolerate fuming language and underage sex, senior high and freshman college classes – with guidance, Chick Lit fans, and anyone curious how a current presidential candidate so easily bisects older and younger Cuban voters. (less)
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