American Dirt (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
Jeanine Cummins's American Dirt, the #1 New York Times bestseller and Oprah Book Club pick that has sold over three million copies
Lydia lives in Acapulco. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while cracks are beginning to show in Acapulco because of the cartels, Lydia's life is, by and large, fairly comfortable. But after her husband's tell-all profile of the newest drug lord is published, none of their lives will ever be the same. Forced to flee, Lydia and Luca find themselves joining the countless people trying to reach the United States. Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to?BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
** spoiler alert ** It is heart pulsing and heartbreaking to read about Lydia and her son, Luca's plight as their entire 16 member family gets killed and they are fleeing for their lives. To read about the friendship between Lydia and Javier Fuentes started off so wonderful. As a reader and to connect to another lover of words, it's a bond. To hear about how he had lost his father and Lydia lost hers bonded them even further. Everything was going well and Javier would visit Lydia's bookstore often bearing great conversations and sometimes gifts. He called her "lover of my soul." Later as they continue their friendship, Lydia's husband mentions his latest article about the drug cartel, particularly the expose on the newest leader, Javier Fuentes. Wait, what was that name, again?! You read right.
Lydia doesn't feel right about the violence and as Javier visits, she asks him finally if he is indeed that person. He was genuinely surprised she didn't know who he was. She replies, "why would I?" She can never look at him the same and she sees blood on his face and hands.
Then the article finally comes out but Lydia's journalist husband, Sebastian, who knows about their friendship, decides not to put his name on the written piece. He asks her after it comes out if they should hide in a hotel for a while. She says "no" believing Javier Fuentes will see the piece, maybe as an honest piece that might appeal to his ego. He actually does in the beginning. He was actually flattered that they even included a poem he had written, unbeknownst to him that his daughter, Marva, had submitted it to the papers as a gift to her dad.
Everyone reads it and his daughter, who did not know her father was the leader of the violent drug cartel, kills herself by hanging herself in her dorm. She is the "love of my life" for Javier Fuentes and he totally loses it. He now is full of rage and heartbreak and goes after Lydia's family. On that fateful day, Luca happened to be taking a bath at the family bbq. He was in the tub and his mother ran in and pushed him down as much as they could go without drowning. They escaped that way and then made the arduous trek from Acapulco to the USA (American Dirt).
Along the way, they met many characters: some unsavory and some just fleeing as well. They learn how to jump onto trains and meet people who are on the lookout for Lydia and her son, waiting to kill them for Javier Fuentes and reap the reward. They are always lucky and everything they go through is heart pounding. Luca has a heart and a mouth because he will say what he sees as unjust and speak his mind. By the grace of God, he and his mother aren't killed. They meet some truly good souls and even though they are all bound together by unfortunate incidents, they are mostly there for each other. However, there are always snakes and scorpions along for the story.
The ending chapters were good but a little far fetched in so many ways. I'm aware of the controversy that goes with the book but I am trying to rate it as nothing but a fictional book, like "Million Pieces" where the author has no actual experience and the facts may be wrong but it is gripping and had me at the very beginning. That's what fiction is all about for me.
Lydia doesn't feel right about the violence and as Javier visits, she asks him finally if he is indeed that person. He was genuinely surprised she didn't know who he was. She replies, "why would I?" She can never look at him the same and she sees blood on his face and hands.
Then the article finally comes out but Lydia's journalist husband, Sebastian, who knows about their friendship, decides not to put his name on the written piece. He asks her after it comes out if they should hide in a hotel for a while. She says "no" believing Javier Fuentes will see the piece, maybe as an honest piece that might appeal to his ego. He actually does in the beginning. He was actually flattered that they even included a poem he had written, unbeknownst to him that his daughter, Marva, had submitted it to the papers as a gift to her dad.
Everyone reads it and his daughter, who did not know her father was the leader of the violent drug cartel, kills herself by hanging herself in her dorm. She is the "love of my life" for Javier Fuentes and he totally loses it. He now is full of rage and heartbreak and goes after Lydia's family. On that fateful day, Luca happened to be taking a bath at the family bbq. He was in the tub and his mother ran in and pushed him down as much as they could go without drowning. They escaped that way and then made the arduous trek from Acapulco to the USA (American Dirt).
Along the way, they met many characters: some unsavory and some just fleeing as well. They learn how to jump onto trains and meet people who are on the lookout for Lydia and her son, waiting to kill them for Javier Fuentes and reap the reward. They are always lucky and everything they go through is heart pounding. Luca has a heart and a mouth because he will say what he sees as unjust and speak his mind. By the grace of God, he and his mother aren't killed. They meet some truly good souls and even though they are all bound together by unfortunate incidents, they are mostly there for each other. However, there are always snakes and scorpions along for the story.
The ending chapters were good but a little far fetched in so many ways. I'm aware of the controversy that goes with the book but I am trying to rate it as nothing but a fictional book, like "Million Pieces" where the author has no actual experience and the facts may be wrong but it is gripping and had me at the very beginning. That's what fiction is all about for me.
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