The Tortilla Curtain

By: T. C. Boyle

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

PEN-Faulkner Award-winning author T. Coraghessan Boyle weaves together the stories of two families in Southern California: one affluent, the other destitute. As Boyle creates a counterpoint of personal needs, civic responsibility, and social custom, each family's quest for the American Dream fuels deep fear and anger that ultimately lead to a perilous confrontation.

©1995 T. Coraghessan Boyle (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"This highly engaging story subtly plays on our consciences, forcing us to form, confirm, or dispute social, political, and moral viewpoints. This is a profound and tragic tale, one that exposes not only a failed American Dream, but a failing America." (Booklist)

Endless

Sometimes the difference between a good book and a great book is the ending. This book didn't have one.

The Tortilla Curtain: Sadly, a Timeless Theme

Any additional comments?

TC Boyle is a master at demonstrating the pathos and struggle of everyday life. The Tortilla Curtain is definitely an unvarnished look at the great gulf between the haves and the have-nots. Despite Boyle having written this book nearly 20 years ago, the story is perhaps even more pertinent in 2013. The narrative is compelling in the way a Steinbeck story compels--one hopes against hope for some bright outcome, despite all signs pointing to tragedy. The narration is a seamless fit with the author's work.

Emotionally disturbing

Would you try another book from T. Coraghessan Boyle and/or Barbara Rosenblat?

Not if the writing style is the same as this book. The details are vivid and colorful, but the premise is disturbing and short sighted.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I'll go back to informational as well as history based books.

Do you think The Tortilla Curtain needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I don't see how they could interface the characters to show how they have improved and grown into the new world. without using the religion that they had in the old world to guide them, or the common sense that abounds in all of us after traumatic events, the story could not flow or connect to the point of being believable after this book...

Any additional comments?

Although the events are very believable, the 'dumbing down' of the main mexican characters was offensive as well as unfair. after the trauma at the border the first time, they would have learned to be wary of personal encounters as well as using the systems available to them through the church or local outreach programs. to set them so low in the social intelligence ranking is insulting as well as unbelievable. It is asking us to release too much of what we are to connect to the main protagonists. It's like watching a movie made by someone who has no idea how to cast actors...

Good read

A very topical book. Very interesting style of writing with correlating narratives. Interesting how you can hate your own culture.

Leaves you wanting more.

Good story about life in California from two different perspectives. Ends abruptly but the story has a lot of emotion and shows how people from two different paths in life struggle.

Should be required reading

This book gets very deep into the interconnectedness of man and nature and residents plus undocumented people of Southern CA canyon areas.

I don’t re-read or re-listen to a lot of books but this was my 3rd time for this extraordinary novel.

Excellent!

A tortured and passionate story of illegal immigrants and California natives, fear and naivete, hope and hate. This could have been written at any time in the past fifty years, and would be as relevant as it was when it was published. The characters are rich and I felt for them with every turn of the story. Despite the series of misfortunes that befall the characters, the author manages to end the book on a hopeful note, which made me smile. This is a great listen for all ages.

Well done!

It's going to take a while before I can fully process this book. What an amazing story. I was absolutely riveted. Love the narration, as well.

Good listen

This was a good book to listen to. Gives you a good insight of how life for immigrants were in the 90s

A great reader for an interesting story

The reader was amazing and brought the story to life. An interesting look at the life of some Mexicans in California.