The Tortilla Curtain in What's the Name of That Book???

Dec 27, 2007 Rachel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I thought it was chilling the way the author wrote about these "do-gooder" types (the real estate agent and wildlife journalist) and how they are so careful to exercise regularly (swimming, running, hiking, etc), live a healthy lifestyle (there is a line, something like "while not true vegetarians, they watch their intake of animal fats"), and be "aware" of society's ills (like the way Kyra speaks out against animal abuse, how Delaney speaks out against feeding coyotes, and how they both express I thought it was chilling the way the author wrote about these "do-gooder" types (the real estate agent and wildlife journalist) and how they are so careful to exercise regularly (swimming, running, hiking, etc), live a healthy lifestyle (there is a line, something like "while not true vegetarians, they watch their intake of animal fats"), and be "aware" of society's ills (like the way Kyra speaks out against animal abuse, how Delaney speaks out against feeding coyotes, and how they both express shock that people could be so "unaware;" they specifically purchase a "free-range" turkey for Thanksgiving) ... but at the same time, the author underscores how wasteful they are, with their brand new cars, car-centric lifestyle, expensive house built in wildfire country, desires for an even larger house, complete disregard for the suffering of the "illegals" ... it's like the couple in the book give themselves a lot of "brownie points" for all these details, while missing the big picture.

That is something of particular concern, I think, for "socially conscious" and environmentally minded folks. For example: a person can get way up on their soapbox about bringing reusable bags to the store, while trashing the environment by driving to the store in a gas-hog and after getting there, filling the bags with all kinds of inessential crap (most likely: made in China! literally, as we put the stuff in our shopping bag, we can be overheard, criticizing the Chinese for being big polluters, but the factories doing the polluting are the ones making all the stuff we buy! so who is really to blame?). It's an awful thing for privileged people to look down our* noses at people who have less than us. Especially when a lot of the social inequity in the world is caused by the wasteful practices of the modernized countries. The book illustrates the COUNTER-ARGUMENT to the belief held by many privileged people, that wealth and privilege stem from being STRONGER PEOPLE somehow (smarter, harder working, more motivated, etc), than the people who are poor. (And therefore: many privileged people feel justified in trampling on the rights and needs of poor people.) Because it illustrates this point so well, I think this book is excellent.

(*Note: I count myself as a privileged person, for sure. As such, I know how easy it is to forget that I personally haven't earned that. If I had been born in a different situation, I'd have a totally different life. This book is very good at reminding us of this.)

Also, I *really* liked the ending. No matter how F'ed up the world is, no matter how much suffering and betrayal we have endured as individuals, it is still possible to find within us, a heart of goodness, to help others in need. That was pretty much what I got out of the final line of the book. I found it very uplifting!

Another thing I found interesting in reading the reviews: many people saw the white couple, Kyra & Delaney, as the villains, while seeing America & Candido as the underdog heroes. This was surprising to me. I actually thought that both couples were equally sympathetic or unsympathetic. I felt that both couples were stereotypes, made more believable by the human touches that the author added (America mustering the courage to go into town when Candido was hurt, Kyra's thoughtfulness in getting Delaney the step-ladder, Delaney putting aside the fight over "the wall" and kissing Kyra passionately in the grocery store, Candido killing household pets in his desperation to keep his family alive, Delaney destroying the photos showing who the real graffiti artist was) ... so, one of the redeeming qualities, I think, was the feeling that the author was not "taking sides" or villainizing one group or the other. ...more

219 likes · Like · see review

Jun 24, 2007 Lisa Vegan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: zz-4star, fiction, readbooks-male-author-or-illust, bookclub, z2007, reviewed, 1-also-at-librarything, goodreads-author, novel, los-angeles

Well, even though I am not ignorant about immigration issues, this book made me more aware, and it encouraged me to be thoughtful, so I liked it for that. I liked the writing style and enjoyed most of the story.

I wasn’t wild about some of the events that happened toward the end of the book: I thought they were heavy handed and unnecessary; it was the slice of life events that I found most interesting and I didn’t need any big “blockbuster” events.

Rife with symbolism and commentary on various top ...more

14 likes · Like · see review

Sep 15, 2007 Esther rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: __borrowed, author-male

My first impression of The Tortilla Curtain was that Boyle was simply wallowing in the smug glow of his PC sensibilities- 'You see I UNDERSTAND these minorities and SYMPATHIZE with their plight. And although I'm probably a rich Californian I live in an ungated community so that the Mexican immigrants are free to enter my street when they come to clean my house and do the yard work.'

However he did create some reasonably believable characters both for the Mexicans and the Californians, though thei ...more

Like · see review

Apr 15, 2007 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bookclub

Wow - I can't wait for book club so I can really discuss this book. Such a great portrayal of the complexities of illegal immigration. Delaney's and Candido's narrations had me sympathizing with both sides-didn't find myself labeling the sides as bad/good, mean/nice. But found each realistic and genuine, from their own point of view.

For Candido and Delaney - I read a review on another site that said, "They can't communicate, because they don't share a common language, and they're doomed forever ...more

Like · see review

Jan 03, 2011 Elizabeth M. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'm not sure who is better than Boyle with playing with the reader's emotions, leaving them laughing to sobbing in a matter of pages.
A challenging, sad read. ...more

Like · see review