The Dirty Girls Social Club: A Novel
by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez (Goodreads author!)
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
women
I like this book. I didn't love it. I was told that if I enjoyed "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" "Waiting to Exhale" or "The Joy Luck Club" then I would like this book. And I did. I liked it. I just didn't love it.
The book follows the story of the sucias, the dirty girls on the title, six women in their late twenties who went to college together in Boston. The thing that bonds these women in college, and later in life when we meet them,...more
The book follows the story of the sucias, the dirty girls on the title, six women in their late twenties who went to college together in Boston. The thing that bonds these women in college, and later in life when we meet them,...more
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Read in May, 2005
I love this author's writing style. She certainly has a sense of humor.
The Dirty Girls Social Club tells the story of six Latina women in their late 20s who met at Boston University as freshmen. Their Buena Sucia "Dirty Girls" Social Club still meets twice a year. The book takes us on a journey into their lives, each chapter is written in one character's perspective. This was an interesting way to move along the story, you were not left wondering what another character was thinking...more
The Dirty Girls Social Club tells the story of six Latina women in their late 20s who met at Boston University as freshmen. Their Buena Sucia "Dirty Girls" Social Club still meets twice a year. The book takes us on a journey into their lives, each chapter is written in one character's perspective. This was an interesting way to move along the story, you were not left wondering what another character was thinking...more
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Read in September, 2007
Women’s Fiction / Dirty Girls? Pigeons and Doves.
This was a fun, quick read and I enjoyed entering the Latina world of the six Suisas and felt welcomed there—as though it were the author’s intention to give the reader a group of girlfriends for the duration of the read. I use the term “read” rather than “story,” because there wasn’t much of one. A lot happens. There are dramatic events such as the outing of a gay news anchor, a severe wife beating and murder, a st...more
This was a fun, quick read and I enjoyed entering the Latina world of the six Suisas and felt welcomed there—as though it were the author’s intention to give the reader a group of girlfriends for the duration of the read. I use the term “read” rather than “story,” because there wasn’t much of one. A lot happens. There are dramatic events such as the outing of a gay news anchor, a severe wife beating and murder, a st...more
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Read in January, 2003
recommends it for:
Anybody with a BFF
The Dirty Girls Social Club is a great story about 6 Latina friends that are about as diverse as Latinas can be…they come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds. What they do have in common is a shared heritage of being Latina in America, highly educated, not living in poverty, and sharing a common bond of friendship that cannot be shaken, no matter what trials and tribulations life brings them.
Alisa uses a very unique style for telling us the story that is sure to charm some reade...more
Alisa uses a very unique style for telling us the story that is sure to charm some reade...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in September, 2004
In an effort to support Latina authors and their work, I read this book. I was not disappointed. I loved it, loved its flaws, loved its strengths, loved it. I loved the style Alisa picked for the novel. Each chapter is told in first person by one of the six main characters. As a result, we come to know each one of her protagonists both through their own storytelling and through the views of the other five. I don't know if this was a result of Alisa's own weakness in writing in third person...more
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Read in February, 2008
Meh...started reading it, made it in about 50 pages and decided to stop. Ok, it wasn't even 40. I thought I'd like it, because I love Valdes-Rodriguez's blog and her resignation letter at the LA Times, which was 3,000 words or something ridiculous but pretty entertaining. I figured if a writer could really exploit the possibilities in the resignation letter genre, chick lit would be no problem.
But this was like a weak, novelized version of her rant against the Times. The narrator is a weak, ...more
But this was like a weak, novelized version of her rant against the Times. The narrator is a weak, ...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
chick-lit fans who want something a little smarter
I bought this book for $2 at Boomerangs in JP on a 100 degree day when all I wanted to do was go sit somewhere air conditioned and give my brain a break. I was looking for mindless, meaningless chick-lit. The cover was covered with pink, it had cartoon-y drawings of curvy women wearing fancy shoes and drinking champagne. Score, a book to read in an afternoon then promptly give back to the used book store.
I didn't know it when I picked it up, but TDGSC takes place in Boston. In the 1st chapt...more
I didn't know it when I picked it up, but TDGSC takes place in Boston. In the 1st chapt...more
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Read in January, 2006
i like reading chicklit that's aimed at "other" audiences - just to see what it's like.
this is basically sex & the city meets hispanic new york, and it's just genius. i don't know how to describe it. there's Usnavies - (yes, her mother named her US Navies, but she pronounces it different) - and there are four other fantastic characters. you feel for them all, you love them all, you get the idea of the differences between hispanics - puero rican, dominican, latin american, mexi...more
this is basically sex & the city meets hispanic new york, and it's just genius. i don't know how to describe it. there's Usnavies - (yes, her mother named her US Navies, but she pronounces it different) - and there are four other fantastic characters. you feel for them all, you love them all, you get the idea of the differences between hispanics - puero rican, dominican, latin american, mexi...more
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Read in July, 2007
I think I never read a book about Latinas (or Latinos for that matter), so it was really interesting to see how they see themselves and what differences they make between themselves (from which country someone or their ancestors are).
In the beginning I really didn't know what to expect from this book, in which direction it will go. But it turned out (surprisingly) nicely. Each chapter is dedicated to one member of the Club, so that they take turns in telling their story.
The episodes abo...more
In the beginning I really didn't know what to expect from this book, in which direction it will go. But it turned out (surprisingly) nicely. Each chapter is dedicated to one member of the Club, so that they take turns in telling their story.
The episodes abo...more
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Read in July, 2005
My daughter and me (she was 15 back then) we loved it. This was what I wrote about this book on Monday, July 04, 2005
In case you did not,Rowena (15) stole it from me and she loved the book.
She pleaded to me not to release it + she wants me to check if this writer has written more books. (I think this was her first one )
so it was a great success
I had read the first pages but had some problems because so many names and characters are introduced by Lauren in that first chapter
Any...more
In case you did not,Rowena (15) stole it from me and she loved the book.
She pleaded to me not to release it + she wants me to check if this writer has written more books. (I think this was her first one )
so it was a great success
I had read the first pages but had some problems because so many names and characters are introduced by Lauren in that first chapter
Any...more
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I'm one chapter in and, so far, I feel kind of meh about this. On the one hand, I love the language; I haven't heard "chisme" ("gossip") used since I moved from Cali four years ago, and this word, and others, bring back memories of my friends. On the other hand, it's too...calculated, I guess. The author has made each Latina character completely different: the blonde Jewish Latina; the Cubana from the wrong side of the tracks; the large and boisterous Latina that everyone ...more
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of Hispanic literature and/or chick lit
This book was not as good as Valdez-Rodriguez' first novel, but it was still pretty enjoyable. the characters are interesting and diverse, even if obviously intended/ specifically written to be diverse to illustrated the diversity of the Hispanic world and cultures (a major theme in this book). the main problem with the characters is that there are just so many of them! it can be hard to keep track of them all--to remember what they're doing and which one is narrating at the moment.
it's reall...more
it's reall...more
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Read in August, 2008
I found it hard to believe that the six women in this book are friends for life...some of them only see each other at their semi-annual get togethers. They also don't seem to like each other all that much. I was halfway through the book before I really began to care much what happened to these ladies. The "friendships" seem forced and I don't think the ending meshed with the way the story was laid out. Most women will share with their girlfriends all the things that can't share wit...more
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Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
women
Great beach/poolside read. I'm glad i knew ahead of reading this that each of the women fit into a specific stereotype, because otherwise i think it would have been harder to look past that, but once you do it brings up some great topics to think on, especially if you haven't been exposed to them before. I think this book had some great takes on race, and on the american/latina/female identity and how it all fits together. I liked how the 5 different characters all expressed such different vie...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
women/all interested in broadening their cultural perspective
Sent to me by a California aunt, first read by my summer intern -- an incredibly intelligent and talented young U.S.-born "Mexica" -- I hardly put this book down once I started reading it. It's a fun story about female friends, it's a dramatic story of friends supporting each other though life's threats and challenges, and it's a rich, enlightening story of "Hispanic" women. It helps us understand that "Hispanic" is no more one flavor of people than "Anglo&qu...more
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Read in November, 2007
It is about six college friends who all come from different Latina backgrounds who still meet twice a year. They have differences and still love each other. There is a lot of interesting information about the incredibly different backgrounds people can have and still be considered Latina, some sharply observed commenatary on culture and race and their intersections.
The women all have different problems and personality types, and no one is cookie-cutter. She tells the story from the six di...more
The women all have different problems and personality types, and no one is cookie-cutter. She tells the story from the six di...more
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Read in January, 2004
recommends it for:
All Women! Latinas especially can relate to this book.
This book was so great to read. It's a book told from about 4 or 5 different points of view, so you really get to know each character indepthly. It's about 4 (I think that's the right no.), that met in college and remained friends. They reunite atleast once a year and have a night all to themeselves. It's girl talk to the max. The great thing is, it's not about petty crap. It's about stuff that everyone goes through at one time or another (for the most part). Anyone, can relate to atleast...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Professional Latinas
I liked this book. It was the tale of six Latin friends, who all have a personal growth at the same time. I thought that the author;s ability to change the tone to match the character was pretty intriguing. I also liked that this was the only book I have ever read that details the issues plaguing professional Latinas. The only thing I hated about this book is what another reviewer mentioned...the name brand mentions. I think this is due to Sex and the City and other chick lit where they thi...more
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
women
An excellent "chick lit" book. This author is skilled in developing well-rounded and deep characters in this multi-layered book. The book follows the careers and loves of a group of college buddies long after they've graduated. Each character faces a different problem/s and learns more about herself as she overcomes them.
It is difficult to describe the book because it is so flavorful with its different women. Each with a different attitude on life and an agenda for her future. Let...more
It is difficult to describe the book because it is so flavorful with its different women. Each with a different attitude on life and an agenda for her future. Let...more
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recommends it for:
Chronic chicklit-ers
When I first saw the book in a local bookstore, I was a bit intrigued. Maybe by the colorful cover (yes, I'm a judge-by-its-cover reader), or the title, or by my own presumption. Point is, I thought this book would be like a good party. Fun, and maybe inspiring in some way (wait, do parties inspire?).
However, after I read it, it was... nyeh, okay. I can't even rememeber the whole story. All I remember is, it had the Desperate Housewives vibe to it when I read it. Not what I was lookin...more
However, after I read it, it was... nyeh, okay. I can't even rememeber the whole story. All I remember is, it had the Desperate Housewives vibe to it when I read it. Not what I was lookin...more
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