Name: Claudia Sinclair.'s review of Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera
Item: Neruda on the Park
Rating: 3.75
Author: Claudia Sinclair.

Cleyvis Natera

An exhilarating debut novel following members of a Dominican family in New York City who take radically different paths when faced with encroaching gentrification. "Powerful and arresting . . . the book we need and the reason I read." -Angie Cruz, author of Dominicana The Guerreros have lived in Nothar Park, a predominantly Dominican part of New York City, for twenty years. When demolition begins on a neighboring tenement, Eusebia, an elder of the community, takes matters into her own hands by devising an increasingly dangerous series of schemes to stop construction of the luxury condos. Meanwhile Eusebia's daughter, Luz, a rising associate at a top Manhattan law firm who strives to live the bougie lifestyle her parents worked hard to give her, becomes distracted by a sweltering romance with the handsome white developer of the company her mother so vehemently opposes. As Luz's father, Vladimir, secretly designs their retirement home in the Dominican Republic, mother and daughter collide, ramping up tensions in Nothar Park, racing towards a near fatal climax. A beautifully layered portrait of family, friendship, and ambition, Neruda on the Park weaves a rich and vivid tapestry of community as well as the sacrifices we make to protect what we love most, announcing Cleyvis Natera as an electrifying new voice.

A Novel

Neruda on the Park

Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

Claudia Sinclair.

Choosing to listen to the audiobook rather than read the book was clearly a mistake on my part. At first, I can understand the plot, but as I learn more about it, I find that I need a little time to make clear everything. Spanish is a language that I only understand a few words of, yet this book gave me the entire sentence and I comprehended nothing. I was astonished, especially when they read without providing a translation in English.

Frankly, this is such an incredible story. It raises the issue of race and spotlights black Dominicans; the relationships of mother and daughter. Although feeling occasionally excluded from the story, I really enjoyed listening to this book. If I choose to read this book rather than listen to it, I believe I would rate it higher.

An exhilarating debut novel following members of a Dominican family in New York City who take radically different paths when faced with encroaching gentrification. "Powerful and arresting . . . the book we need and the reason I read." –Angie Cruz, author of Dominicana The Guerreros have lived in Nothar Park, a predominantly Dominican part of New York City, for twenty years. When demolition begins on a neighboring tenement, Eusebia, an elder of the community, takes matters into her own hands by devising an increasingly dangerous series of schemes to stop construction of the luxury condos. Meanwhile Eusebia’s daughter, Luz, a rising associate at a top Manhattan law firm who strives to live the bougie lifestyle her parents worked hard to give her, becomes distracted by a sweltering romance with the handsome white developer of the company her mother so vehemently opposes. As Luz’s father, Vladimir, secretly designs their retirement home in the Dominican Republic, mother and daughter collide, ramping up tensions in Nothar Park, racing towards a near fatal climax. A beautifully layered portrait of family, friendship, and ambition, Neruda on the Park weaves a rich and vivid tapestry of community as well as the sacrifices we make to protect what we love most, announcing Cleyvis Natera as an electrifying new voice.

Julia

4.5 rounded up. WOW. Not what I expected, left me speechless.

Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &
Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera

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Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera

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Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &
Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera