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SciFiMagpie

Spiritual sequel to A Complicated Kindness

Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2014

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I really like this one because it's similar to an earlier story she wrote, but more mature and more complete. As noted, the characters are a little bit similar to the ones in A Complicated Kindness, but this actually works to its advantage instead of making itfeel like a rehash. I kind of liked it more because it did end up feeling more mature, as I said.

there are some quietly funny moments and more great characters that you can really empathize with. Certain elements explore the way people perceive each other's cultures--both correctly and incorrectly--and it was nice to see that done so well.

I try to think of negative traits about this book--it's slightly less raw than aCK, I guess, but otherwise, I'm struggling to think of anything else bad about it. It's not quite as bold in some ways, but that's not a bad or good thing, really, because it still works perfectly well.

Again, I recommend this one pretty strongly and it's a particularly good pairing with both A Complicated Kindness and Lullabies for Little Criminals.

CheriRae Wright

Secrets, Survival & Salvation

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2018

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A beautiful, complex, emotionally raw, dark, hopeful coming of age story. Irma Voth is born into a ultra conservative Mennonite family living in Canada. The family mysteriously moves to Mexico taking with them horrific secrets and consistently hiding behind a religious conservatism that denies their humanity and attempts to prohibit and deny worldly customs and events.

Pat

I didn't want the book to end

Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2011

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As the reviewer in the New York Times said, I would follow Irma anywhere. This novel is true to Mexico and its mysterious blend of love and violence and what can appear to outsiders as terminal dis-order. More importantly, Toews has created in Irma Voth a young woman who shows skill at being competent at survival and a self-questioner whose observations lead the reader to understand the world in which Irma lives...from her early years in Canada to her life in Mexico. There's so much about this story that's terrible... child abuse in many forms and violent death. But the total mix involves, not just tragedy, but humor, beauty, friendship, family love, and even the farce that lies behind the creative process of film making. I kept wishing that through some magic the book would suddenly expand to let me observe, marvel at, and learn from the next stages in Irma's life. I really want to see what becomes of the three sisters. I read a lot... and find myself disappointed over and over with authors whose books involve weak characterization and even weaker ability to use language effectively. In addition to showing a wide range of interesting people, Toews also handles first person narrative with rare skill. On a scale of 1 to 5, I give Irma Voth a 10.

Ann Hostetler

This intriguing and readable novel introduces us to the world ...

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2016

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This intriguing and readable novel introduces us to the world of an Old Colony Mennonite teenager living in Northern Mexico. Irma Voth's family has recently moved their from Canada, and her strict father throws her out of the house when he learns that she has eloped with a Mexican. He forces Irma and Jorge to live on the adjoining farm and work for him. When a movie crew moves into another abandoned farm close by and needs a translator, Irma finds her way out of her father's control and learns about other ways of life. The novel explores issues of art, representation and culture in a novel in a powerful way, challenging stereotypes about both Mennonites and Mexicans.

Kindle Customer

Opted for this book after reading All My Puny Sorrows

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2019

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Though a good book, not as strong as the first Toews book I read. It is a good read but lacked the zaniness of AMPS, which I really loved. Would I recommend it. Yes but not strongly. And I would go out of my way to recommend AMPS.

Lavon Page

Read this book if you’ve seen Silent Light

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2019

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The setting of this book is the filming of the enigmatic movie Silent Light (2007). If you’re obsessed by this movie (as I am), this book is a must read. Miriam Toews starred in the movie and wrote this novel. Each sheds light on the other. In 2016 The NY Times movie critics rated Silent Light as one of the 25 best films of the 21st century.

Sarah Renshaw

Devastatingly beautiful

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2016

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This author never ceases to amaze, perplex and dazzle with humor while looking at the dire circumstance of living in a world where one never quite fits. The immense darkness is spattered with light, like a blanket poked with holes emulating stars in the desert.

Carbone Valentina

A book in two phases

Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2016

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You need to read the second part of the book to fully appreciate the first one. Life comes in after a while, full life I mean, with all the contradictions and tensions, hopes and despair...
After an "out if the world' phase followed by extreme dissolute life and artistic loneliness you realise that real life is something else. Irma's heavy burdens will come out in the proper context

Top reviews from other countries

SusannahB

3.5 Stars. Original and Rather Quirky

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2012

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Irma Voth is a young woman of nineteen; she recently married against her father's wishes, and has even more recently been deserted by her husband, Jorge. Irma lives in northern Mexico, near Chihuahua, and is part of the Mennonite community - a strict religious group which has parallels with the Amish and, like the Amish, is not concerned with material matters or possessions and shuns the modern world of commercialism and consumerism. When a film crew arrives to make a film about the Mennonite community, which angers Irma's father, Irma makes the brave decision to work as a translator for the film director and, in doing so, comes into contact with people who live a very different life to hers.

Irma's father, however, is determined to prevent Irma, and more especially Irma's younger sister, thirteen-year-old Aggie, from becoming tainted by the film crew's modern ways and his behaviour towards his daughters becomes even more unreasonable and abusive than normal. After yet another painful confrontation with her father where he threatens to evict Irma from her home and follows this with physically abusing Aggie, Irma realizes that she can no longer put up with his behaviour and decides to make a bid for freedom. Taking Aggie with her and also her baby sister, Irma manages to escape to Mexico City where she feels they will all be safe. But Irma gradually comes to the realization that you cannot escape your past and that to move forward there are some things that must be faced and dealt with.

Miriam Toews is, I understand, one of Canada's most celebrated writers; she is also an actress and I would imagine that she has used her experience in the film industry to inform her writing for the first part of this novel; but it was not the first part of the novel that I found the most interesting - it was the second part where Irma struggled to cope with a difficult teenager and a very small baby in a strange city, which was more involving - if not entirely convincing. I found this book a little difficult to rate fairly as I had mixed feelings towards it; it's fresh, quirky, drily humorous and, in some ways, quite compelling, but I can appreciate that not everyone will find this a satisfying read. A friend, who was eager to read this immediately I had finished it, commented that the style of writing was difficult to 'get into', she found the first part of the story slow and she found the short sentences and lack of proper punctuation made for a confusing read. I do understand her reservations but I found that once I had acclimatized to Toews style of writing, this book made for an interesting, original and quite poignant, if not wholly convincing read.

3.5 Stars

J. Adams

irma voth: beautiful, funny, uniquely original

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2013

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Irma Voth, the 19 year narrator of this uniquely original novel, starts off by telling us that her husband told her he isn't coming back until she learns to be a better wife. By the time you've finished the first paragraph, I was totally sucked in. I was laughing, and curious, and touched with this girl's innocence. And then on this journey as she develops experience, and courage.

Having discovered Miriam Toews thru her novel, The Flying Fruckmans, I was curious about her background. She came from a Mennonite community in Canada. And then, with a few novels under her belt, was 'discovered' via the postage stamp sized author photo of her FACE, by a Mexican filmmaker who wanted to do a film on the Mennonite community.

Irma Voth is the love child of that real life experience.

Toews is so cool, walks this tightrope of humour and tragedy with such skill, and I wish I could sit down with her and ask her, how much of this is your story. She isn't Irma Voth - her experience as the 40-something female lead is actually a smaller characters - but Irma tells the story with such a great voice. She writes in English, but you really get the voice of the various Mexican characters.. what can I say. Just read it.

I'm surprised it isn't a best seller. This would also make an amazing film. These pale blonde blue eyed people in the desert.. the ending is one of the most powerful endings to any novel I've ever read, because we simply don't know what happens next. I found myself, long after I read it, really hoping it's a happy ending.

Gill Nicklin

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2016

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Excellent. Arrived promptly

Amazon Customer

Nice quality

Reviewed in Canada on March 30, 2019

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Good seller.
Book is fine