Book Review: House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias



3.5/5 stars. While this story intrigues me with its contemplation of friendship, Puerto Rican life, and vengeance, it also frustrates me at times. Overall, Iglesias is a talented writer who weaves a story of a hurricane and its aftermath into a revenge tale about five friends trying to get justice when the mother of one of them is murdered. He ties the struggles of living in poverty on the island of Puerto Rico with battling with gangsters, inner demons, and actual demons. 

My frustrations lie with the writer’s use of language in his story. I have some knowledge of Spanish, but not enough to read passages written in that language with no corresponding translation. I understand what he is trying to do with this technique, but I wish he or his editor would have considered the implications for accessing a broader audience. Early in the novel, I sought translations for these passages, but these moments really threw me out of the story. Further in, I quit looking for a translation and just went with it but felt like I was missing out on potentially important moments or exchanges between the characters. 

However, overall, this was an entertaining read with a very interesting storyline and great characters. Definitely RECOMMENDED, despite my frustrations.

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