3.5*** rounded up

Cara Romero is in her mid-fifties and expected to work the rest of her life in the factory that made “little lamps.” But the Great Recession closed the factory and now she is struggling to find work. Cara tells her life story in a series of sessions with a job counselor.

What an interesting way to tell this story! The reader comes to know Cara through her
monologues, interspersed with copies of job notices, psychological and interest assessments, and forms she has completed.

Here is a woman who has always worked, and whom life has not treated kindly. She has been married to a violent man, has struggled to provide for her child, and was abused by her own mother. Yet she has continued to move forward with perseverance. She has shown kindness, even generosity, to her “found family” in her apartment complex. And yet, she has also managed to turn her only child out, though she desperately wants to reconcile.

There are times when I wanted to laugh at her antics and her odd logic. Yet, I could not help but empathize with her and her situation. And though I often winced at some of her actions, I was cheering her on throughout. I’ve known women like Cara. Women who have been knocked down but who get up and try again. Women who make the best with the cards life has dealt them. Women who express their gratitude, friendship and love through the foods they cook for others. How can I help but love such a woman.

Several of my book club buddies listened to the audio version and they raved about it. I read it in the text version but am considering getting the audio to experience “Cara’s voice.” ( )

Not bad, but not great. I think the form choices were interesting and the character voice is very well done. But I did not connect with this story very much. It may just be that I recently read two books dealing with two of the major themes that I thought were really excellent, and this suffered in comparison. I'm sure for another reader it's the other way around. ( )

Listening to what ostensibly 12 monologues made this feel like a one-woman play that covers the gamut of emotions while portraying the life of a middle-age immigrant mother. ( )

I loved this book. Love, lust, parent/child relationships, relationships of women to women, and so much more. I was transported to NYC and sat with baited breath waiting for the next page. ( )

Listen to the audio so well done. 100% real life and she's hilarious ( )