Adiós to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer, copyright 2006, 256 pages and available in ebook as well as paperback, publisher is MTV. Adiós to My Old Life is a apt title for a book about a young girl whose life changes because of a life-long dream to be a performer comes true. As the story opens, we are introduced to our narrator, 17 year-old Alegría Montero or “Ali” to her family and friends. Growing up in Miami as a single parent, her Papi is a college professor of music and has taught his daughter a love for music that goes soul deep. He even gives her a Bernabé guitar. Life starts to change for Ali when she sends in her Spanish rendition of Tony Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart” that lands her an audition with the judges of Oye Mi Canto. Her best friend, Sosi, is at her side doing her hair and make-up and providing her the necessary support. Thus, Ali makes the cut and life for her as she knows it–changes forever.
Of course, there is contention at home, however, when Ali’s father finds out about the audition. He’s not happy with it but allows Ali to compete. The producers of show require that Ali have a chaperon since she’s a minor and so her father taps a colleague and best friend, Elaine Garces, to watch over his daughter while at the “McMansion” as Ali dubs it, which is where the contestants are staying while they rehearse for the show.
There are many interesting subplots and threads that help make this book very engaging as we watch Ali transform from a high school nobody to an aspiring singer with talent. Let’s start off with the obvious– the competition. It’s fierce and naturally you have the typical jealous, vengeful competitor whose job it is to distract and eliminate you at any costs. I thought the antics were a bit over the top. Needless to say that the perp gets their just desserts that had me laughing out loud in the end. Then there is the single father story arc where you have Ali’s father who is described as being this hot music professor. That was a nice, very well done in it’s subtly. Alas, there’s the father/daughter story arc that was very nice as the two try to communicate past their differences to connect to what matters to both of them: their love of music and each other. Next you have the chaos and frenetic energy that is reality TV. Most of it was rather familiar seeing as this is the age of “reality TV.”
Then there’s the romance. I must admit it was rather nice. This book is geared toward YA so there are no sex scenes. Just a lot of kissing and one scene where the couple comes close but it doesn’t go any further. The author has a refreshing voice especially in how she blends in the Spanish phrases, giving her characters some authenticity. Alas, not being fluent in Spanish myself, I was able to follow along nicely. Ali made an interesting and rather funny narrator. I also like Elaine a lot who was the mother Ali never had. Secondary characters made certain scenes funny and memorable. Andre, the wardrobe designer had more than his fair share of funny scenes.
I enjoyed this book and while I thought that Ali sometimes bordered on being too absorbed in her new found stardom and publicity with the google searches and fan mail and the attention seeking fans and autographs- the author manages to keep her character somewhat grounded in reality. This is a short novel and it was a rather quick read. Great pacing, great story, good characters that all made this reader keep turning the pages till I reached the end. I could add a few more quips about other annoyances but feel it would be of no value. By no means was this a perfect book. What book is? I will end this review stating that this was a very nice debut and a enjoyable read. Yes, I would read more of her work. A B read for me.
Technorati Tags: Caridad Ferrer, Reality TV, YA novel, Romance
{ 1 trackback }
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
This book is on my bookstore shopping list–maybe today.
I’ve heard nothing but good things about it (not to mention a RITA win), so it’s definitely going on my reading mountain.
Great revew.
EC
I thought the antics were a bit over the top.
Have you ever seen a Spanish telenovela/I>? I actually toned things down.
Thank you for the fair and balanced review. It’s much appreciated.
How about YA novel with romantic elements?
Ah, so you consider this a romance novel?