Rabatho Laka Laka من عند Acandí, Choco, كولومبيا
I think it's probably the better part of valor to refrain from giving star ratings to books written by my professors, on the off-chance that someday I don't like one of 'em. This is a fine collection of short stories. The conflicts and plots tend to arise organically out of character, out of the natural ebb and flow of relationships, aging, aspiration and frustration. Claire's relationships tend to have the texture and idiosyncracies of real things. However, that is not to say that these stories are just about relationships. Things do happen in these stories, and in reading the book, I must confess, I did on occasion laugh and at least once cry.
I just found this book interesting. Apparently not many people liked it but it made me think a lot, which is a good sign. A bit troubling to watch a family quietly build their walls and freeze relationships that were once loving, but the other family in the story shows so much love that it keeps it from being too bleak.
Really interesting so far...