The Tortilla Curtain

By: T. C. Boyle

Narrated by: T. C. Boyle

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Topanga Canyon is home to two couples on a collision course. Los Angeles liberals Delaney and Kyra Mossbacker lead an ordered, sushi-and-recycling existence in a newly gated hilltop community: He is a sensitive nature writer, she an obsessive realtor. Mexican illegals Candido and America Rincon desperately cling to their vision of the American Dream as they fight off starvation in a makeshift camp deep in the ravine.

From the moment a freak accident brings Candido and Delany into intimate contact, these four and their opposing worlds gradually intersect in what becomes a tragicomedy of error and misunderstanding.

Winner of the Prix Medicis Etranger and now a major motion picture.

©1995 T. Coraghessan Boyle (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

• Winner of Audio Publishers Association 2007 Audie Award, Narration by the Author or Authors

"A compelling story of myopic misunderstanding and mutual tragedy." ( Chicago Tribune)

"This highly engaging story subtly plays on our consciences, forcing us to form, confirm, or dispute social, political, and moral viewpoints....Boyle manages to address these issues in a nonjudgmental fashion, depicting the vast inequity in [the characters'] parallel existences. This is a profound and tragic tale." ( Booklist)

“This novel examines America's guerrilla war between the haves and have-nots with a zing unequalled since The Bonfire of the Vanities.” ( The Observer)

Good book

Found the ending leaving a lot of questions. Somewhat hard to get into the beginning.

Brutal, gut-wrenching, etc.

I love TC Boyle’s style of storytelling. I love how he unfolds every detail, one corner at a time. I always feel like I’m looking through the eyes of his characters and thinking their thoughts. But in a story like this, it’s almost too brutal. Tragedy after tragedy, with no hope or resolution, and only the tiniest pin-prick of some possible but untold redemption. Too real, too terrible. Let’s love each other.

A Bit Disappointed in this One

I have enjoyed short stories by this author, but I didn't particularly enjoy this novel. There are no likeable characters and the story is quite unbelievable without feeling exactly like a fantasy. So many details that aim to make this sound authentic, but it didn't work for me.

Too much<br />

Good but too much description..

Could have been edited and would be have been a better read.

Thought provoking and well written

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This was a rather agonizing book to read. The juxtaposition between the two worlds is painted in such a striking and graceful way. And it hit fairly close to home.

Interesting

I enjoyed the story and the interesting interplay of the characters. The ending was left open-ended and after the level of detail in most of the book i find that disappointed.

Modern Saga

You will never look at the world the same after reading this book. A unique perspective on immigration and modern life.

Where’s the resolution?

This book has no real ending! It drags on and on and on and you wait for a conclusion for a happy ending, maybe even a not happy one but at the end you don’t get a sense of a resolution.

So true so tragic.

Great story. So authentic.
A tragedy of immigration and survival.
EXCELLENT audible!
Highly recommend.

racial divides in our society

A good story in which you can find yourself identifying with both sides of the “Tortilla Curtain.” Which character do you really most identify with? It leaves you with a few unanswerable questions and decisive image at the end.