The House of Broken Angels [B0783]

2018 HCDJ in nice clean condition. From a Pulitzer Prize finalist comes a powerful and unforgettable portrait of one Mexican American family and the American dream. Brilliant, Exceptional, The House of Broken Angels hums with joy."-NPR. "A big, messy, warmhearted epic . . . Generous to the last breath."-Entertainment Weekly. "Filled with intelligence and wickedly funny cultural commentary, the story builds to an electrifying finale."- People Magazine. "One of the most vivid and engrossing family epics of the last twenty years."-Dave Eggers.

"All we do, mija, is love. Love is the answer. Nothing stops it. Not borders. Not death." In his final days, beloved and ailing patriarch Miguel Angel de La Cruz, affectionately called Big Angel, has summoned his entire clan for one last legendary birthday party. But as the party approaches, his mother, nearly one hundred, dies herself, leading to a farewell doubleheader in a single weekend. Among the guests is Big Angel's half brother, known as Little Angel, who must reckon with the truth that although he shares a father with his siblings, he has not, as a half gringo, shared a life. Across two bittersweet days in their San Diego neighborhood, the revelers mingle among the palm trees and cacti, celebrating the lives of Big Angel and his mother, and recounting the many inspiring tales that have passed into family lore, the acts both ordinary and heroic that brought these citizens to a fraught and sublime country and allowed them to flourish in the land they have come to call home. The story of the de La Cruzes is the quintessential American story. This indelible portrait of a complex family reminds us of what it means to be the first generation and to live two lives across one border. It takes us into a world we have not known, while reflecting back the hopes and dreams of our own families. Teeming with brilliance and humor, authentic at every turn, The House of Broken Angels is Luis Alberto Urrea at his best, and cements his reputation as a storyteller of the first rank.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Beautiful and heartfelt. It was truly a snapshot in the lives of these family members. Joyful and sorrowful and fearful all at once. Felt intimate and immersive. Took us through the emotions and tumultuous lives of each character, guiding us through how they mesh together to make one imperfect, but beautiful family."; "I felt like I was right there. This story reminded me so much of my family and my home life. Family full of drama but still love each other and there for each other no matter what."; "A story of family bonds spanning the border. Smart, funny, sweet and sincere. Such a fun read."