Review of Kalayla
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Paz Bonilla
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- Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
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Review of Kalayla
[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]
Jeannine Nicholas brings us Kalayla, a story full of emotions like hurt and love. The whole story revolves around three characters: Kalayla, Maureen, and Lena who is Maureen and Kalayla's neighbor. These two had moved in from their old apartment since they're dealing with some economical problems. Because of this, Maureen works all day, and Kalayla stays alone, hanging around the neighborhood. Lena tries to get close to Kalayla and Maureen, trying to support them like she couldn't support her own family. The three of them become close and deal with loss, ghosts from the past, and give a new look into the future together as a family.
The book it's a roller coaster of feelings and different points of view. Since the story, it's narrated from the perspective of the three main characters. We, as readers, get to know every single feeling of the characters and we also can give it a glance at each one of the improvements of these throughout the novel. In the first chapters of the book, there is no sign of Maureen's point of view, which gives a poor version of the story, this was a weak point, but when Maureen's point of view was incorporated into the story, it really made it strong and a lot more interesting to read to. Another weak point could be hidden under the name of the story. The name is Kalayla, but the main protagonist seems to be Lena, as Kalayla herself toke less action than Lena in the main story.
The mix of perspectives lets us dig into the past of Lena and Maureen respectively, way before Kalayla was born. Which gives us a way more complete point of view of the story that brings them together, and also gives us empathy with them. We can see underneath the strong face Lena has to show, and realize that it's the mom that Maureen was waiting for, and the grandmother and friend that Kalayla needed. We can also give it a glance at the past of Maureen and her marriage that give birth to Kalayla. Although the whole story some serious and thought topics appear in the every day of these characters. Like abuse, racism, violence, emotional abuse, etc.
I really liked the narration exchange within the whole story, but it didn't really convince me about Kalayla's. As the supposed main character, I would like her better to take some more action. Because of this, I'll give Kalayla, from Jeannine Nicholas 3 out of 4 stars of rating. But I still encourage the reader to take a look into this book and discover the feelings that appear, which are intense and very well exposed.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Jeannine Nicholas brings us Kalayla, a story full of emotions like hurt and love. The whole story revolves around three characters: Kalayla, Maureen, and Lena who is Maureen and Kalayla's neighbor. These two had moved in from their old apartment since they're dealing with some economical problems. Because of this, Maureen works all day, and Kalayla stays alone, hanging around the neighborhood. Lena tries to get close to Kalayla and Maureen, trying to support them like she couldn't support her own family. The three of them become close and deal with loss, ghosts from the past, and give a new look into the future together as a family.
The book it's a roller coaster of feelings and different points of view. Since the story, it's narrated from the perspective of the three main characters. We, as readers, get to know every single feeling of the characters and we also can give it a glance at each one of the improvements of these throughout the novel. In the first chapters of the book, there is no sign of Maureen's point of view, which gives a poor version of the story, this was a weak point, but when Maureen's point of view was incorporated into the story, it really made it strong and a lot more interesting to read to. Another weak point could be hidden under the name of the story. The name is Kalayla, but the main protagonist seems to be Lena, as Kalayla herself toke less action than Lena in the main story.
The mix of perspectives lets us dig into the past of Lena and Maureen respectively, way before Kalayla was born. Which gives us a way more complete point of view of the story that brings them together, and also gives us empathy with them. We can see underneath the strong face Lena has to show, and realize that it's the mom that Maureen was waiting for, and the grandmother and friend that Kalayla needed. We can also give it a glance at the past of Maureen and her marriage that give birth to Kalayla. Although the whole story some serious and thought topics appear in the every day of these characters. Like abuse, racism, violence, emotional abuse, etc.
I really liked the narration exchange within the whole story, but it didn't really convince me about Kalayla's. As the supposed main character, I would like her better to take some more action. Because of this, I'll give Kalayla, from Jeannine Nicholas 3 out of 4 stars of rating. But I still encourage the reader to take a look into this book and discover the feelings that appear, which are intense and very well exposed.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
