Tatiana's Reviews > American Dirt

Funny how the same editor who acquired this book also acquired THE HELP, huh?

Kelly wrote: "Funny how the same editor who acquired this book also acquired THE HELP, huh?"

Indeed... I didn't know this, but not surprised one bit.

Wow. I'm still stuck at the fact they rebranded an author from "white" to "Latinx" so they could sell her novel as "own voices". That is so fucked up.

Emily May wrote: "Wow. I'm still stuck at the fact they rebranded an author from "white" to "Latinx" so they could sell her novel as "own voices". That is so fucked up."

I also listened to her interview with The Guardian where she tries to lean into every possible claim to the subject matter, especially the fact the her husband was an undocumented immigrant (she doesn’t talk about him being Irish?) She does sound like a white lady who just really, really wanted to write about and humanize brown people.

I am guessing the reason this got this much hype is the same reason every women’s book club will be reading and loving it. White women can indulge in comfortable shock and safe compassion. Oh well.

I feel so incredibly duped by this book and this author. I SPECIFICALLY picked up this book because it was sold as a Latinx author. (I wanted specifically ownvoices) When I found out she was Spanish I felt so angry. I am looking at it on my shelf now with annoyance that my money supported this book. (I had pre-ordered it, therefore received it as I was hearing all the reviews come in.) I agree that people are going to read this because Oprah told them to and that annoys me even more. White women will feel proud of themselves for their empathy and compassion for picking up this book.....

Yes!!! This takedown is so satisfying, FINALLY someone is being held accountable for this BS.

I’ve been looking forward to this book since I first heard about it last year. It makes me sad to learn this author is not really who the publisher let me to believe she was.

So glad I read reviews before I bought this! I had only heard good things prior to looking into it, but the fact that they rebranded her race to sell books and it’s racist and not Own Voices like it’s being pushed as is so gross. If it’s anything like The Help, HARD pass! Why is Oprah promoting this shill?

And none of the comments here are racist against white women? Smh. What have we become?

And btw, I just had my DNA analyzed. Look at me...I’m 10% Spanish.

Susan wrote: "And btw, I just had my DNA analyzed. Look at me..."

Geez, Susan, why don't you show us more of your arse. We're only *slightly* blinded by those two super-bright flashes.

Soooooo... I guess the racism and stereotyping of "white ladies"are quite okay?

Someone wrote a parody article. I couldn't help but cackle while reading it. https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/a...

You know I found this book as cringe worthy as for example A Gentleman in Moscow, a funny thing. I could not stomach it while everybody around me loved it. I could not find a single negative review. To me both books have certain similarities. I am glad for all the pushback.

I'm still going to read it at some point to see for myself

Thank you! This "well-meaning" white ladies have to stop.

Tatiana, thanks for speaking up. Me personally, nothing surprises me when it comes to hearing what people will and have done for some money. ❤️

Yeah, those death threats--to the author and booksellers included-- were extremely effective; I applaud their decision of going about it the normal, sane way. They got the job done, because when people don't like something it automatically gives them the right to threaten someone's life and get things "taken down" (censorship).
Love this culture of canceling and destroying everything that offend us...it's so satisfying.

Is there going to be a new Little Red Book coming out? I hope so, because I'd like to know what I'm allowed to read that doesn't offend anyone and, of course, be in good terms with the internet vigilantes who work from sunup to sundown to keep us safe from this disgusting cultural appropriation--also known as someone just telling a story, you know, literature? Storytelling? One of those extremely offensive things.

WOW! As a Canadian very far from Mexico I found this novel gave me a small insite into someone trying to escape the Cartel. for more info I would now turn to a Mexican writer.

I hated A Gentleman in Moscow as well and everyone in my book club LOVED it. I wanted to shout the emperor has no clothes, people. Who cares what he ate for breakfast?
I am reading this for the same book club. I am expecting the same thing again. The writing is terrible. If you are going to write about a culture not your own, do research and at least make it credible. The two main characters names, for crying out loud. Luca is an Italian boys name; Lucas is Spanish. Lidia is the Spanish version. Lydia is Greek.
Lydia arguing with her husband that just because Javier is a murderous drug kingpin does not mean he is not a good person. After all, his dad also died of cancer. WTF.