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Title: The Dirty Girls Social Club: A Novel
Author: Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
type of book: Fiction
call number: Fic
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This book is strong in character and story.
Summary:
Twice a year six Latinas meet for dinner and an evening of catching up on each other's lives in Boston, the city where they all met ten years ago while college students at Boston University. They call themselves sucias, literal Spanish for "dirty".
Lauren - Half Cuban, half backwoods, Louisiana bayou "Swamp Monster", and columnist for the Gazette, with self-esteem issues; she had a tendency to pick the wrong men and indulge in self-destructive behavior.
Elizabeth - From Columbia, a former model, popular co-anchor of the local morning news, born-again Christian, and all around perfect roll model; Liz has a secret that can shatter her world.
Rebecca - Very intense and in charge, this founder of the popular Ella magazine (for Latina women), seems to have it all under control . . . except for her "marriage" (in name only).
Usnavys - A girl from the 'hood, now the Vice President for Public Affairs for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, she won't admit to her friends - or herself - that she is in love with Juan, because, although he is a good man, with education, he is poor, having chosen an occupation that will never pay.
Sara - Stay at home Jewish Latina mother of twin 5-year-old boys, wife of a successful Latino attorney (and her high school sweetheart), Sara appears to have it all.
Amber - A former California Valley Girl, who grew up without learning Spanish, now an aspiring "rock en Espanol" artist, and activist for a movement that revels in their Mexican-Indian roots. After ten years of being in the business, a record company notices her music.
I would recommend this book!
Why?
A great debut novel by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez! The characters are full and vivid, each personality standing out clearly in his/her differences. Even though each chapter is from a different character's perspective, the story still flowed fairly smoothly.
Other suggested reading:
Five Women by Rona Jaffe
Employee Initials: ALSM
Review Date: April 2003
Read other reviews by this staff member.
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