“How the García Girls Lost Their Accents” has been my favourite novel thus far! I have laughed out loud so many times, and have also been close to tears. Even though I was born and raised in the same country, I feel like I can still relate to the four sisters with some of the different victories and failures that they experienced while growing up in two different nations. I am really enjoying how each chapter zooms in on a different character. Sometimes the chapters include all four of the García sisters and other times they revolve around one. Anyways I think it’s a fantastic way for the author to provide insight into the characters’ lives both individually and together as a family.
In one of my favourite chapters called “Daughter of Invention”, Yolanda has to write a speech for “Teacher’s Day” at her school, and after toiling for hours over this project she is finally able to write a speech that is both intelligent and thought provoking...something that, in her father’s eyes, crosses the boundaries of the American “freedom of speech”. And so, the protagonist of this chapter proudly practices her speech in front of her parents, only to have her appalled father rip up her sole copy. The author provides us with such vivid imagery of a daughter and father who, within a matter of seconds, are filled with such animosity towards each other, which provoke them to say and do some hurtful things contrary to each one’s character. However, following this episode is a scene with such a beautiful reconciliation that I almost cried! After reacting so violently, her father tries desperately to make amends, explaining that it was only out of love and out of his desire to protect her honour that he didn’t want her to make that speech. He feared the negative reaction she would get from her teachers. Anyways, he ends up coaxing her out of her room by telling her how much he loves her, and then he seals the reconciliation with a gift that he has bought for her, an electric typewriter; something she has wanted for a long time.
On a side note....I have often thought that when people buy gifts as a means to reconcile, that they’re trying to figuratively “buy back” that person’s love and acceptance. However, I’ve come to realise that when a father does this out of love it is not because he is trying to buy back his child’s love, it is because he loves his child so much that he wants to demonstrate it by doing whatever he can to make it up. So, sometimes he does this with an apology and a gift... (just some food for thought!) This story brought me near to tears because it really captured the protective yet desperate love that a father can have for his child.
Anyways I am excited to see where this book goes and I’m hoping that the author will provide the reader with some sort of resolution for these girls who feel so out of place living in America
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