4 out of 4 stars
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The Ordinary Doll begins with Mateo and his partner, Parker, returning from Mateo’s hometown in Texas. They have traveled there to retrieve memorabilia that was left behind when Mateo’s mother died. Among these keepsakes is an ordinary doll. This childhood toy is missing one eye, wears a tattered dress and has a right leg that was apparently ripped off and reattached. (The significance of this doll will frequently be woven into the story.) Parker asks about Mateo’s aunt, Luciana. Mateo responds “Oh; well, that’s a long story”.
From here, the author transports the reader to an earlier time and begins to narrate the eventful life of his aunt, Luciana. This epic tale includes the day Hector, a friend of Luciana’s father, Jesus, has learned that Jesus and his wife are having an affair. In a fit of rage, Hector sneaks to the home of his “friend” and fires a gun several times. One bullet strikes the innocent daughter, Luciana, in her neck and renders her paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors advise that she will never walk again.
I appreciate how the author allows Mateo to slowly weave the stories and events that follow Luciana as she attempts to regain movement in her legs. Will she ever walk again? What about the young boy that she had a crush on, before her life was changed forever? And what is the significance of just an ordinary doll? I thoroughly enjoyed reading this sentimental story and the part that the doll played in it.
The characters were well developed over time, with each chapter adding more depth and layers to their personalities. Luciana was my favorite. The author makes her a relatable young girl by seasoning the story with thoughts that a girl her age would have. I love that Kiefer thoroughly immerses the reader in the culture of Luciana and her family, including their impoverished diet, beliefs and customs. Of particular interest was the terrifying legend of the “cucuy”. I will allow readers to discover this legend on their own.
As the author introduces words that may be foreign to readers, he either explains them or directs them to a glossary (where each term is satisfactorily defined). The themes of this novel are family, responsibility, poverty and finding strength to overcome life’s obstacles.
The story’s ending was a complete surprise. In fact, I reread parts of the book to be certain that I understood the conclusion. If I had to find something to dislike, it was that the plot appeared to move slowly at times. However, this is one of those stories meant to be read slowly and not devoured in only a few sittings. Therefore, I will not detract for the rate at which this story unfolded.
I am awarding The Ordinary Doll by Mario Kiefer 4 out of 4 stars. In addition to the reasons listed above, the book also appears to have been well edited. This novel will appeal to readers interested in learning more about the culture of the Hispanic migrant workers in Texas. There is some strong language at times, but it is certainly not a continuous insult. Also, there are several references to sexual liaisons; however, none of these contain explicit detail. I highly recommend this captivating read!
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The Ordinary Doll
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This sounds like a very intense story. Your review is fantastic though - makes me want to pick it up straight away!
