2024 the best of us a memoir review


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In this inspirational and unflinchingly honest memoir, acclaimed author Reyna Grande describes her childhood torn between the United States and Mexico, and shines a light on the experiences, fears, and hopes of those who choose to make the harrowing journey across the border.

Reyna Grande vividly brings to life her tumultuous early years in this “compelling...unvarnished, resonant” (BookPage) story of a childhood spent torn between two parents and two countries. As her parents make the dangerous trek across the Mexican border to “El Otro Lado” (The Other Side) in pursuit of the American dream, Reyna and her siblings are forced into the already overburdened household of their stern grandmother. When their mother at last returns, Reyna prepares for her own journey to “El Otro Lado” to live with the man who has haunted her imagination for years, her long-absent father.

Funny, heartbreaking, and lyrical, The Distance Between Us poignantly captures the confusion and contradictions of childhood, reminding us that the joys and sorrows we experience are imprinted on the heart forever, calling out to us of those places we first called home.

Also available in Spanish as La distancia entre nosotros.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Washington Square Press; Illustrated edition (March 12, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1451661789
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1451661781
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 890L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.96 x 8.38 inches
Reviewer: Elaine Campbell
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Excellent, deeply moving memoir
Review: What is it like to live south of the border and be poor? What is it like for families broken up by poverty when major family members must leave to cross the border and live illegally "in the shadows", sometimes being gone for years and sometimes never returning. And how are the children affected by being separated from one or both of their parents, often being left with relatives that do not want them and even mistreat them? In reading this remarkable book, the reader will find out.When Reyna and her two siblings finally themselves come to the United States, settling in Highland Park, a suburb of Los Angeles, a new section of the narrative begins. There are pluses in their new lives: some health care, better hygiene, good education by teachers that do not hit them, etc. The minuses: the father that brought them to live with him and his new partner (with the mother, strangely uncommitted to her children, returning to Mexico when he told her he did not love her anymore) has many emotional scars from being raised in a violent household and an ever growing problem with alcohol. It is evident that internally he is a severely depressed person that wonders himself at times about his own behavior. He means well, but he cannot overcome himself.Reyna is the only one of the children that completes higher education and achieves professional accomplishments. This book is one of them. Her writing style is solid, intense and natural. The mastery of her craft and of the English language (remarkable in that she started learning English in late childhood) is admirable. Yet she makes it seem easy. That is because it comes naturally to her. This is a talent she was born with. One wonders if she has ancestors that had the same talent, but because of greatly unfavorable circumstances, did not develop it or even recognize it.This book opens up a world of thought. Highly recommended.

Reviewer: Lakers Fan
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A MUST READ!
Review: I just finished reading The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande. A few friends have actually recommended it more than once. I am not exaggerating when I say this is one of those books that will stay with you and change the way you see things. Reyna really depicts the heartbreak, hope and loss that she went through when her parents left her in Mexico to come to the US to try and build a better life for them. It chronicles the pain of losing your parents to the US and then finally making it here just to lose your identity and the feeling of belonging anywhere but still, against all odds, surviving and making your dreams come true. As a Latina whose parents sought refuge in the US after the war in El Salvador became so dangerous that their very lives were in danger and they sadly lost family and friends, I thought I knew the struggle. Honestly, I had no idea. I feel like my eyes were finally opened. I am thankful that my parents came here and escaped the terrors that were going on in their country because they achieved their American dream with hard work and dedication and thanks to that I have had a wonderful life. Growing up I never had to worry about deportation because as far as I can remember when I was little my parents were residents and there was never any worry of that. They owned their own home and I never had to worry about living situations. I was born here and, while my parents always made sure I knew where our roots are planted, I always felt like I belonged here or there. After reading Reyna’s book I have to count my blessings. Our "poor" does not compare to theirs. Children in other countries are worried about how many years will pass until they see their mom and dad again, whether they will finally eat something after days without food, if their homes made out of cardboard and scraps will survive the rain. You have to read this book to understand why so many decide to come to “el otro lado” and their resilience. I really think this book is a MUST read. I could read it again and again. I loved it so much that I am planning to read the Spanish version next!

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: emotional read
Review: This is an emotional story. With our country currently at odds with the question of illegal aliens crossing the border, this is a timely well written story that gave me a new perspective on the issue.

Reviewer: J. Pirtle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: so good. I couldn’t put it down!
Review: Really enjoyed this book. This author is super talented and brings you right into the center of her life. Highly recommend.

Reviewer: Emma
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Emotional and raw. This book will give you a perspective you may not have had into the lives of those who seek a better life for themselves and those left behind.

Reviewer: Fortunata
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: La primera parte del libro describe la vida de la autora en el pequeño y muy pobre poblado de su Mexico natal, la segunda su llegada a EEUU a los nueve años y su vida hasta los 20. Una historia triste y conmovedora contada de manera esperanzadora. Es la historia de millones de mexicanos que se ven en la necesidad de emigrar para sobrevivir. Muy recomendable, estoy deseando leer la segunda parte de sus memorias, que cubren sus estudios en la universidad y vida posterior.

Reviewer: Mirabelle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Parfait

Reviewer: MB
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The book is a very well written personal account of the author- however I felt the following:1. The protagonist does not do a good job at being content with whatever is good happy and available in life. It seems for her whatever was lost was always more important that whatever was present at any given moment.2. Complaining about what all was wrong about everything is easy and so does the author utilize the same; and hence the "darkness" of a dysfunctional family has been portrayed well3. The author dreams of a perfect life (like all other mere mortals) & it therefore makes her a person easy to relate to in spite of the fact that in the entire account we have only seen her trying to portray herself without flaws & that all flaws were with everyone else around her.A question to the author: no one on this planet is perfect; and that includes You and Your parents and every human being. What if this entire book was read solely through the eyes of 'Papi' ? Would the book sound and read the same way??

Reviewer: Nancy
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: It was a true story and well written.

Customers say

Customers find the book amazing and vivd. They describe the story as compelling, beautiful, and inspiring. Readers praise the writing style as mind-blowing, effortless, and complex. They find the emotional content emotive, poignant, and touching. Additionally, they say the book provides perspective on how life is like for border crossing families.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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