American Dirt

[Riverlee]

Just read this book. What’s everyone’s views on it?

Loved it.

I love it too. Couldn’t stop reading it.

I enjoyed it, but I did find the eventual confrontation between Lydia and Javier a big anti-climactic

@Riverlee

Just read this book. What’s everyone’s views on it?

Absolutely loved it!!! Think it would make a great film

I couldn’t get past the half way point with it. I really wanted to like it as the reviews are amazing but it just didn’t grab me.

Just realised I didn’t put my summary.

I think it’s a good book, and informs you of the terrifying journeys that migrants make, but it’s also over-hyped. In particular, I found the omni-presence of the gangs chilling. The train journey had moments of interest, and adventure, but I didn’t think the book really portrayed what it was like to be on top of the train for hours on end. If you look at photos of The Beast, you see how many travel on the top of trains, and how high the trains are.

With all the news of the migrants in the English Channel recently, you realise how desperate these people are, and how a change in fortune can change overnight.

Read it recently. Loved it. Cried a few times

I really enjoyed parts of it but was left feeling underwhelmed, probably due to it being overhyped. A lot of it felt quite repetitive and rather tedious

I really enjoyed it but I also felt it was a bit sanitised. In real life I am sure it is much much harder

Whoops pressed post too soon

Much much harder for migrants

But I also think it’s great to have books about this kind of issue

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.

I didn’t realise until I looked at photos how crowded the trains were. The book implies it was a few dotted along the tops of the trains, not packed.

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

I really enjoyed this book too.

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!

@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 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!

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

I loved it too. Couldn’t put it down.

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

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 thought it was brilliant.

Loved this book.
The controversy surrounding it was ridiculous!

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

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