American Dirt

Gripped at the beginning but gave up on it around half way, just found it hard work and a bit tedious. After all those amazing reviews.....disappointing

When I started this book I saw the author's name, and I saw no mention of her nationality or heritage in her bio and I knew the "online book community" were going to be after her. There are some valid arguments (it was foolish of her to call her Irish migrant husband "undocumented"), some I can't have an opinion on (Spanish language) and some that were dramatically overblown, or even offensive in their attempts to make the author offensive (apparently Mexican people only like marzipan and no other candy, and no Mexican would ever put sour cream on a taco while having lunch in a shopping mall (this is known as the infamous ice rink passage)).

I looked on reddit for reader opinions and it was funny to see so many comments begin with "I haven't read it, I'm not going to read it. Now let me tell you all about it. It's a very badly written book..." Someone else said it would have been much better if written in the third person. Was it not?

It's a well written fast paced thriller. As someone who has never read anything on the Mexican migrant experience I found it fascinating and also empathetic. The main characters are likable. Some parts were predictable - when one character's health condition was mentioned I knew what was going to happen. When two girls were described as dangerously beautiful I knew what was going to happen. And I wasn't surprised by the "twist" at the end. I found it strange that we're supposed to think she was never in danger from him when his gang machine-gunned her whole family indiscriminately. She survived by luck, not because he planned it that way. But still, in terms of read-it-in-two-days thrillers, this is a good one.

Yes, it went against my previous thoughts of Acapulco as a nice touristy place.

I’ve just read this and really liked it. I don’t know anything about the Mexican cartels and migration and felt this book gave a small snapshot of some experiences, although I’d assume many have it much worse. I felt the ending was a little abrupt though, and I wonder how long they could realistically evade the authorities in the US before being potentially sent back.

I loved this book. I have a Mexican friend and every time I read something and I thought nah, that's not true, I would email her and she would confirm it and worse. While I was reading it, her sister in law who lives in Mexico was kidnapped by a gang and ransomed. She was very lucky to be returned alive because apparently hostages are killed because they've usually seen the faces of their kidnappers. The ransom was the equivalent of just 4000 euros, which was an enormous amount to the family in Mexico.

Yes brill as an audio book.

Best audiobook I've ever listened too. Gripping!

Yeah I found it a struggle and it took a while to get through but I think it's worth persisting

I'm reading it just now and tbh I'm really struggling with. Not loving it like I thought I would

Oh I agree Bacon, the controversy was ridiculous and annoyed me. If others feel they are more qualified to write such a book then they are free to go ahead and write it.

I havent finished it yet but i didn't get into it for a little while. I found it strange to just wallop into the drama before I'd got to know any characters. Much kore invested now

I enjoyed it as a gripping page turner, holiday read for me. The audiobook is read really well.

Loved this book.
The controversy surrounding it was ridiculous!

I thought it was brilliant.

It was certainly a page turner but for me it felt like the reading equivalent of watching a thriller where you keep having to hide your eyes.
Always felt like something from was about to happen. It felt too one note to be a really good book imo.

I'm just reading this now but having to stop and google all the Mexican words is getting tedious

I loved it too. Couldn’t put it down.

Loved it, still think about it sometimes. Amazing characters and nonstop drama.

I found that when I was reading it, I really felt like I was on the journey with them. Which is a sign of great writing to me!

@Hilda41. You are not alone! I felt as though the author decided to write a bestseller then looked around for a topic with scope for a series of traumatic incidents. It felt like exploitation of migrants to produce a sensational story told with no empathy or compassion. Hated it!

I hated it, but look to be the only one! Was really looking forward to reading it, but found it sensationalist, and felt quite manipulated by the author somehow. Hated the plot line with Javier too. Agree with @Rainbowqueeen it's an important story that needs to be told, but could have been done much more sensitively IMHO!

I really enjoyed this book too.

I loved it, I couldn't stop thinking about it after I had read it.

I thought it was great but the ending felt out of kilter with the rest of the book and rushed, as though the author had been told to wind it up by her editor.