Review of My life uncensored
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Jah Thomas
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Review of My life uncensored
[Following is a volunteer review of "My life uncensored" by Cristina Caymares.]
My Life: Uncensored is a memoir of Cristina Caymares’s childhood, divided into four short chapters. When Cristina’s dad died of a heart attack at the young age of twenty-six due to alcohol abuse, her mother began having relationships with several lovers and eventually remarried a few times. Though her mom seemed to have loved her job, she appeared to be unhinged and easily triggered, especially by her mom, Cristina’s grandmother. Every summer, Cristina and her older sister were shipped off to LA to stay with their aunt and uncle in hopes of influencing them for the better. How did she manage to muddle through? Did she benefit from her summer trips to LA?
I absolutely enjoyed this book because it read like a journal. It followed no specific timeline but rather showed how different individuals and events affected her life; the death of her father, the visits with her aunt and uncle, her mom, her mom’s different boyfriends, and her relationship with her beloved grandmother. I also admired her confidence and the fact that she was her own person who wasn’t easily influenced by others, not even her older sister. Despite her circumstances, she saw the good in everything and appreciated and loved her mother's side of the family, no matter how things were between them. As a reader, you can easily imagine yourself in Cristina's family dynamic, as certain stories are somewhat relatable. For instance, in the recollections of the conversation with her grandfather, her mom would force her to converse with him each time he called from prison. I'm sure some of us have been forced to talk on the phone with a family member we didn’t know.
The only faults I had with this book were that it was too short and that it had an abrupt ending. I didn’t think the author disclosed all that she could, causing the story to lack as much depth as it could have had. I believe more insight could be shared; perhaps some insight into how her upbringing affected her adult life. The book certainly left me wanting more details.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I appreciated the raw and uncut feel I got from the story. Though abrupt, the book is interesting and gives the reader some insight into the life of a teenager growing up in a Cuban household that isn’t forthcoming with individual rights and personal freedom. Also, I think the book could be relatable to someone from a different culture.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves reading autobiographies and memoirs focusing on emotional trauma. I also recommend it to anyone who likes short reads.
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My life uncensored
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
My Life: Uncensored is a memoir of Cristina Caymares’s childhood, divided into four short chapters. When Cristina’s dad died of a heart attack at the young age of twenty-six due to alcohol abuse, her mother began having relationships with several lovers and eventually remarried a few times. Though her mom seemed to have loved her job, she appeared to be unhinged and easily triggered, especially by her mom, Cristina’s grandmother. Every summer, Cristina and her older sister were shipped off to LA to stay with their aunt and uncle in hopes of influencing them for the better. How did she manage to muddle through? Did she benefit from her summer trips to LA?
I absolutely enjoyed this book because it read like a journal. It followed no specific timeline but rather showed how different individuals and events affected her life; the death of her father, the visits with her aunt and uncle, her mom, her mom’s different boyfriends, and her relationship with her beloved grandmother. I also admired her confidence and the fact that she was her own person who wasn’t easily influenced by others, not even her older sister. Despite her circumstances, she saw the good in everything and appreciated and loved her mother's side of the family, no matter how things were between them. As a reader, you can easily imagine yourself in Cristina's family dynamic, as certain stories are somewhat relatable. For instance, in the recollections of the conversation with her grandfather, her mom would force her to converse with him each time he called from prison. I'm sure some of us have been forced to talk on the phone with a family member we didn’t know.
The only faults I had with this book were that it was too short and that it had an abrupt ending. I didn’t think the author disclosed all that she could, causing the story to lack as much depth as it could have had. I believe more insight could be shared; perhaps some insight into how her upbringing affected her adult life. The book certainly left me wanting more details.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I appreciated the raw and uncut feel I got from the story. Though abrupt, the book is interesting and gives the reader some insight into the life of a teenager growing up in a Cuban household that isn’t forthcoming with individual rights and personal freedom. Also, I think the book could be relatable to someone from a different culture.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves reading autobiographies and memoirs focusing on emotional trauma. I also recommend it to anyone who likes short reads.
******
My life uncensored
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Phobia Relief by Kalliope Barlis
