Carmen Navarro rings up customers at the Quikmart, bored to tears. It’s a job, and she needs it. But Carmen’s true love is music: she d...
read full description
reviews
May 22, 2011
Kaylan
rated it: 
I just finished this book... it thought it was really good!
Some things I liked about it:
~I loved how it switched from person to person, it gave you an idea of what the different people were thinking throughtout the whole book.
~The ending was...different. Im not going to give anything away because I know some of the people reading this are wondering if they should read this book or not. so, the ending; it was deffenitly unexpected!
~I was kind of onboard with the whole span More...
Some things I liked about it:
~I loved how it switched from person to person, it gave you an idea of what the different people were thinking throughtout the whole book.
~The ending was...different. Im not going to give anything away because I know some of the people reading this are wondering if they should read this book or not. so, the ending; it was deffenitly unexpected!
~I was kind of onboard with the whole span More...
Jan 07, 2011
Stephany
rated it: 
Although I'm not familiar with the opera Carmen, it intrigued me greatly the fact that this book was based on an opera. The cover is also absolutely gorgeous (my rant on the cover here). The storyline also sounded like it'd be cute--boy meets girl type of deal.
Well, it's definitely boy meets girl. And it is cute for a while. But as the story continued, the cute became more and more twisted. When Ryan first sees Carmen, his face turns red--first sign of adorableness. Then she impulsivel More...
Well, it's definitely boy meets girl. And it is cute for a while. But as the story continued, the cute became more and more twisted. When Ryan first sees Carmen, his face turns red--first sign of adorableness. Then she impulsivel More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 08, 2011
Kirsten
rated it: 
Carmen is my favorite opera, and I have long thought it would be great set in a modern retelling. Bryant does a pretty good job with the transplant, and really gets to the heart of her characters. However, the shifting narratives were a little clumsy - do I really need to see the same minute-long scene through multiple perspectives? That didn't add anything in most parts of the book. Also - the ending was a huge huge let-down. To me, it's really important that at the end of the story they a
More...
Nov 27, 2010
Ashley (Books Obsession)
rated it: 
Carmen works as a cashier at the Quikmart with her best friend Maggie, who's earning cash to pay her way to college. Nothing is more important to Carmen than her music and band, The Gypsy Lovers, who may be getting a recording label soon. At the Valley Forge Military Academy across town are best friends Ryan, the serious and studious one, and Will, the jokester. One day when the two guys are buying sub sandwiches at the Quikmart, Ryan spots Carmen - and is instantly in love. The next few days, s
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 29, 2010
Kare
rated it:
Epic wins:
- The whole book is based off of a play called Carmen. It was really cool to see the passion the author had for the play, and to see that passion transferred to the book.
- All the many point of views.
- Maggie: Her feet are planted on the ground and she has a sane head. She was like a clean, cotton shirt that has just come out of the dryer. It still smells like laundry detergent and has a few wrinkles. I loved reaching into her thoughts! Her ending was the happiest in More...
- The whole book is based off of a play called Carmen. It was really cool to see the passion the author had for the play, and to see that passion transferred to the book.
- All the many point of views.
- Maggie: Her feet are planted on the ground and she has a sane head. She was like a clean, cotton shirt that has just come out of the dryer. It still smells like laundry detergent and has a few wrinkles. I loved reaching into her thoughts! Her ending was the happiest in More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 29, 2011
Suzanne
rated it:
I did finish this one but mostly because it's short and I kept telling myself just to give it another few chapters. Also maybe because I am not all that familiar with the opera CARMEN, besides knowing it ends tragically. I wanted to see whether Bryant would conform or diverge from that in her plot. Very pedestrian. Kind of wooden. Without really, I mean REALLY, good characterization, it's hard to pull off narrative from multiple perspectives, and this novel attempts four: the two lovers and each
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Feb 06, 2012
Tia
rated it: 
Carmen is a decent opera. I love the twist that it was made into a modern novel, retelling the story. From the opera to the book, it was pretty decent in switching the times in which the opera/book actually occur. At times I found it a bit much. Especially the scenes seen through so many views. It left me a bit bored and ready to pull my hair out by the end of the book. I feel as if the author was stumbling with this book and the editor did as best as she could to "correct" this issue
More...
Feb 04, 2012
Erica
rated it:
Book talk: It all starts with a trip to the Quikmart for sandwiches. Will sees the beautiful girl with the snake tattoo behind the counter and starts to flirt with her in his easy way. But it's Ryan who she gives a rose to as they leave. From that moment on Ryan can hardly think of anything else. Will is usually the one to bend the rules, but soon straight-laced Cadet Captain Ryan is the one sneaking into clubs to see Carmen play and showing up for inspection with bags under his eyes. Carme
More...
Jan 20, 2011
Tawni (The Book Worms)
rated it:
The Fortune of Carmen Navarro was a good read, but I definitely felt like there was something missing. I read this book in two days, because I was just waiting to find out that Carmen was a gypsy with a supernatural power of seduction or something like that! But, in the end that was not the case and it just fell flat for me. Don’t get me wrong though the storyline is actually very good and different, being that it is based on an opera. So, if you are looking for a supernatural twist, this is not
More...
Jan 09, 2011
Maria
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 19, 2010
Yan
rated it:
The Fortune of Carmen Navarro is influenced by the musical, Carmen. Jen Byrant had a few things in mind even before writing the book of how she wanted it to turn out, slightly spoilish: “(1) Carmen would remain a fiercely independent young woman; (2) that a soldier (or a cadet at a military school) would fall in love with her; (3) that his desire for her would consume him and bring about his downfall; and (4) that their relationship would end in violence” (Byrant 228).
However despit More...
However despit More...
Sep 28, 2011
Theo
rated it:
Stupid storyline copied right from the opera that I saw. I go to Valley Forge Military and the way it is described in the book is nothing like it is in real life. I was laughing half the time because of the inaccuracies. Story line was unrealistic. I could not figure out who was who until halfway through the book. I recommend it by all means if you want to waste your time. BADREAD.
Nov 21, 2010
Another story with multiple narrators, and this one bogs down the pace of the narrative. Not much happens, really, and it happens 4 times or so.
Bryant has written novels in verse, and this has the lyrical writing of a novel in verse, but also the shallow exploration.
I also really didn't know why the ending was changed. That seemed wrong somehow.
Bryant has written novels in verse, and this has the lyrical writing of a novel in verse, but also the shallow exploration.
I also really didn't know why the ending was changed. That seemed wrong somehow.
Sep 27, 2010
Claire
rated it:
Kind of a letdown -- it needed more fleshing out to have the impact it wanted to have. What does it say about me that I keep wanting more bloodshed at the end of novelizations of famous tragedies?
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 17, 2011
Celeste
rated it:
I couldn't finish it. The characters were so poorly developed and got on my nerves the entire book. I don't recommend it unless you feel like pulling out your own hair one day.
Aug 05, 2011
Cosette
rated it:
Awesome young adult novel - Like reading Carmen Jones - except set in west Chester! Fun references to stuff around here in a playful manner.
Jun 07, 2011
Tatiana
rated it:
WOW this amazing and full of suspense. It was hard to tell where the story would go after half way through the book. It was sad at times and scary.
Dec 22, 2010
Mollie
rated it:
Why aren't there 1/2 stars?? This book was definitely more than a 3 but not quite 4. 3.5 would be perfect. Good read.
Jan 01, 2011
Janae
rated it:
I didn't like this very much. In my opinion it was rude how some of the characters were and they overeacted.
Dec 28, 2010
Ms. Mulhern Gross
rated it:
A retelling of the opera, Carmen, Jen Bryant has crafted a fascinating story. Highly recommended.
Feb 02, 2012
Tweller83
rated it:
"In this modern-day resetting of the story on which the opera, Carmen, was based, four teens tell of half-gypsy Carmen, who believes she will become a famous singer, military cadet Ryan's passion for her, and their best friends' efforts to protect them both."
While there isn't anything that would keep it out of the middle school library, I'm not sure it would appeal to middle school students. I thought it was a decent story about obsessive love.
While there isn't anything that would keep it out of the middle school library, I'm not sure it would appeal to middle school students. I thought it was a decent story about obsessive love.
Dec 10, 2010
Jess
rated it:
I'd give this book 4.5 stars. Although a teen book, the story was interesting and well-written.
Feb 11, 2012
Feb 11, 2012
Feb 11, 2012
Feb 03, 2012
