Umami

I started reading this book about a month ago and read it off and on in my spare time. It was not a book that you wanted to finish in one sitting, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters and learning about Spanish culture. I like the idea that people are complex and whether alive or dead, we think about them and reflect on why they did what they did. Sometimes it makes sense and sometimes we will never understand, but that's okay, these memories keep them alive, and make life more bearable after they're gone.

Heard the NPR review on it and bought immediately and was not let down. Found it to be a great read. Extremely well crafted with lots of subtleties, ironies, joy and sorrow.

One scene I really likedOne scene I hatedOne book that just wasn't for me.Sorry. It's not you book it's me

The only reason I finished it was because it was the selection for my book club this month. It went overboard on symbolism. Time traveled from character to character with maddeningly frequency.

Admirable effort. Story loses steam towards the end, yet the quality of the writing is fresh through the end.

Arrived quickly. Great book. Website description is accurate.

I bought this because of a discussion with the author that was run on NPR. It sounded interesting but it turns out it was just boring, with no real point. I felt this was a waste.

Akward translation and NO ending whatsoever.

A beautifully written book but lacks any purpose or direction in the plot and has a cast of largely (with one exception) insubstantial characters (with one exception).An immersive novel has to make you want to be immersed. This doesn’t – the world it describes is just not interesting enough.

Brought back all kinds of nostalgia for Mexico City, but the beauty was that it also could have taken place anywhere. The book is as rich as the title.