Lorraine LópezBesprekingen

Reading these personal essays made me more interested in reading their fiction and poetry. I'm already familiar with the work of a couple of these writers, but I've now got a much longer to-read list.

Ugh. What a misleading, boring 300 pages of a total teasing let-down. There is nothing like a good coming of age book with a twist of sisterhood and magic, and this was nothing like a good coming of age book with a twist of sisterhood or magic. Don't let the title fool you, or the back flap they aren't given "gifts". Not in any sense of the word, not a physical or mystical gift. They got nothing, and the reader gets even less. Don't lie to me and tell me each of the sisters get these magical gifts when straight away it's clear that none of them have the gifts they imagined they did when they were 8! And then spend the next 200 pages confirming again and again that none of them have any gifts. I suppose it would have helped if any of the characters were develeoped well enough to care about them, but they weren't. All of the big moments in their life happen without the reader being there for them. Weddings, funerals, death, heartach, addiction, struggles, and triumps all happen without the reader. Total disappointment. Ticked off I stuck with it and read it until the end. Even more mad I paid 1.00 for it from a thrift store. Teach me to leave my library!

This is a Chicana coming-of-age novel set in Los Angeles. The four Gabaldon sisters (and their brother) were all named for movie stars – Bette Davis, Loretta Young, Sophia Loren, Rita Hayworth (and Cary Grant). When their mother died young, their father raised his brood in a modest LA bungalow with the help of their trusted criada (housekeeper/cook) Fermina, though she was quite old and in bed for much of her last year. Before she dies Fermina promises the girls they will each receive a gift on her death – one has the gift of telling stories; another, healing hands; a third makes people laugh; and the baby has the power to curse people.

Lopez tries hard to incorporate these “gifts” in the novel, without much success. If it weren’t for the blurb on the back I’m not sure I would have figured out what the gifts were supposed to be. The book’s chapters are narrated by the Gabaldon sisters – two told in first person, one in third person, and one in second person – and the story follows the family from 1966 to 1987. Interspersed is the story of Fermina, who was born in the 1860s. The result of the various narrators and different styles is a choppy story line that left me cold. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and had trouble with some of the story lines because years would be skipped from chapter to chapter.

Lopez uses a lot of Spanish phrases throughout, frequently without translation or explanation. . While this doesn’t bother me (since I speak Spanish), I think this would cause many people to give up. As for me, I would have given up due to boredom, except that I was reading it for my Hispanic book club. I give it 2 stars because I found Fermina’s story fascinating – THAT would have made a good book.

The Gifted Galbadon Sisters isn't a book I would have chosen on my own; instead, it came as part of a prize gift pack. After the four young Galbadon sisters lose their mother at an early age, they rely on their old Hopi caretaker, Fermina, to keep them going. Fermina is a mystery - always present, always speaking of the gifts she will leave for the girls, and so very, very old. In the 1960s when the story begins, Fermina is well over one-hundred. Only a year after losing their mother, Fermina is gone, too. The sisters struggle with their differences and grow up, all the while wondering if Fermina was a fairy godmother or a witch.

I didn't think this book was awful, but it didn't grab me, either. The story alternates between the four sisters, which can be confusing at times, and one of the viewpoints is even in second person. I could never get used to that. To complicate things further, the sisters are very realistic and in many ways unlikeable. The most "with it" sister, Loretta, doesn't even have a voice for a good chunk of the story, probably because she's not as dysfunctional as the rest. The real glue of the book is in the very brief stories from Fermina that were recorded by a WPA worker in the '30s; those are by far the most interesting tales, detailing Fermina's tragic young life and Hopi mythology and tradition. I would have rather had a full book on Fermina instead of the often-immature Gabaldon girls!

The premise of this novel seemed very interesting and the first several chapters were compelling. Unfortunately, the author couldn't maintain the momentum throughout the entire novel. Also, the story does not focus enough on the relationship between the sisters and their beloved caretaker, who bestows upon the girls the "gifts" referred to in the title. This makes the conclusion, where you learn what the gifts really are, a little out of left field.

Gee...I really enjoyed this book! I found it easy to follow. And, although I know no spanish, I didn't think the spanish lines were an impediment.
I cared about the characters and found them fascinating. This book left me with much to ponder. That's what I liked most about it. I will look for more by Ms. Lopez.

have read a few other reviews of this book; I sought them out after I started to read this book. I found myself getting a little bit lost in the beginning and wondered what others had thought about it. The reviews that I read are mixed. I thought that it was perhaps just me. When I read the reviews, I noticed that I wasn’t the only reviewer who had a bit of difficulty with the narration of this story.

The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters is a story of a family of four sisters and a brother. They live with their father and grandmother in L.A. Unfortunately, their mother has passed away. The setting is an apartment complex, at least in the beginning of the book. The book is written, chapter by chapter, by each of the four sisters. They explain their viewpoint and their lives in these chapters over a span of many years. The sisters believe that they are each given a certain gift by their grandmother, Fermina, a Native American, almost like a curse. As the sisters grow up, they each choose very different paths and yet are tethered to one another by the mystery of their past… the mystery of their mother and grandmother who have passed on. Their discovery journey does arrive at a conclusion that ties all of the characters together.

My biggest struggle with this novel is that I kept forgetting “who was who.” I got confused amongst the characters. This could very possibly be due to the fact that I am a pretty quick reader. Perhaps had I slowed the speed of my read, I would have understood the family tree a bit better. My second difficulty with the book is that I do not speak Spanish. There are several Spanish quotes that I did not know what they were saying. I do not feel that the author provided enough of an English explanation of what these phrases meant, although several of them were clearly explained.

The story is rich and colorful. At times, I very much enjoyed the story and was very “in tune” with it. At other times, I felt distant from the characters and the story. There are some lovely quotes in this book and the author is obviously very talented. I’m just not sure that I am the right audience for this novel.

Favorite Quotes of the Book:
“It’s like being blind,” Loretta said, “when the moon is gone.”

“How could I forget?” Sometimes my memory is like my answering machine at the office. It accumulates so much crap that I’ve developed a hyperactive delete finger. I throw sh*t out right and left. The crazy thing is, the more I try to streamline and cast out junk, the more junk seems to accumulate.”

Sher’s “Out of Ten” Scale:
I was hopeful that I would become completely engaged in this novel. It is rich in heritage and writing. However, in my personal taste… it just wasn’t my “cup of tea.” By no means am I suggesting you don’t read it. IF this book had been written from the viewpoint of just one of the sisters, I may have preferred it more. Although, I must state that the author’s approach to it is creative and brave… each of the characters telling it as they see it.. The part of the book that I enjoyed the most were the typed pages of Fermina’s life in between each chapter. They were beautifully written. On my “One to Ten Scale,” I’m sorry to have to give this one a 5.5 out of 10.

Add: On the Library Thing & Amazon.Com Rating: ♥♥

The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters is a unique story, woven together with the threads of four different voices. I really enjoyed the way the author, Lorraine Lopez, told the story, alternating from the life, experiences and thoughts of one sister to another. The reader is hopscotched through time in a sweeping, realistic tale. The characters were rich and believable, as were the poor choices they often made stemming from a difficult upbringing.
This book kept my attention throughout. I was continually looking forward to the sisters' reactions upon discovering the true identity of Fermina. Unfortunately, when the sisters-who throughout the book were always turbocharged with emotion-discovered the truth, there was very little reaction. The ending lacked depth and emotion, it was a very deflated ending for such a complicated story. This is why I am giving 3 stars rather than 4. It was very nearly a 4 star story, the ending just needed a little more oomph. Overall The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters was a very good book, and I recommend it.

Depressing, depressing, depressing. I can only recommend this book to people who thoroughly enjoy reading about characters who are self-destructive, self-absorbed, shallow, thoughtless, and willfully stupid. The four main characters are not fleshed out, and the only distinctions they posses are their birth order and their unique "gift". I had a hard time remembering which woman was which or, about half way through the novel, caring who was who. Many of the sentences in this book would be a complete nightmare to diagram, and as such, must be read several times to glean the intended info they are meant to convey. There is a story within the story that is not satisfactorily resolved, leaving the reader feeling like she has read a mystery, yet the last chapter neglected to reveal who committed the crime. I did not enjoy reading this book.½

The Gabaldón Sisters- Loretta, Bette, Rita and Sophia, all named after famous movie stars, lost their mother early in life and were taken care of by their father and their old, Pueblo housekeeper, Fermina. Upon her death, she leaves the girls with a gift which they don't discover until much later in their lives. They had always believed the gifts to be magical- the power to heal, to lie, to curse and to make others laugh when in fact, the gift she left them is so much more powerful and meaningful.

This is a beautiful story about family, secrets, lies, history and love. I really enjoyed the weaving of English and Spanish throughout the writing. It is so much like the way my family speaks that it was very comfortable to read.

The four motherless Gabaldón sisters now face the death of Fermina, the elderly Pueblo housekeeper who helped raise them. The girls are left to decipher the gifts Fermina has left behind. Bette, the oldest, can tell believable lies. Loretta can save dying animals; while Rita can help sick people die. Sophia, the youngest, can make people laugh. They struggle to understand and control these gifts. As adults, though, these worries give way to the tribulations of relationships, work, and motherhood. Years later, the Gabaldón women find Fermina's true legacy has always been hidden in their childhood home. This lyrical story is cleverly told by the sisters and through Works Progress Administration (WPA) interviews with Fermina that describe her harrowing path to the Gabaldón family. López folds in rich Pueblo Indian and Mexican American traditions and creates a loving, flawed, and interesting family that will entrance readers. -- Walker, Aleksandra (Reviewed 09-01-2008) (Booklist, vol 105, number 1, p47)

The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters begins in Los Angeles in 1966. We meet the four sisters - Loretta, Rita, Sophia, Bette and their brother Cary - all named by their late mother after movie stars. The girls are still mourning their mother. Their beloved housekeeper, Fermina, becomes ill as well. She has always promised that when she passes on she will give the girls each a gift. When she dies, the girls try to discover what each gift is. They aren't tangible items, but maybe the gifts are abilities......

Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of one of the sisters. Interspersed are tantalizing excerpts from Fermina's life, beginning in the 1930's, taken down by a data collector from Work Projects Administration.

This novel traces the lives of the girls through joy and heartache. Through it all runs the memory of their mother. Each girl remembers her differently. And Fermina - who was she really - her life with them is a bit of a mystery.

The women in this story are the dominant, strong characters. I was caught up in the lives of the Gabaldon sisters. Their bickering, angst, joy and passion for life was intoxicating. Although they make some bad decisions in life, their acceptance of what life brings, their devotion to their children and their love for each other is compelling. The story rings true and real, with no sugar coating.
As we follow the sisters' lives, we also follow Fermina's in further reports from the WPA until the two tales meet and we discover who Fermina was and what the gifts truly were.

This newly released novel from is a story that will appeal to sisters and friends. It would be an excellent suggestion for a book club.

Fermina's life is drawn from Lopez's own family history.

The Gifted Gabaldón Sisters by Lorraine López is at once a coming of age story, a testament to the enduring nature of family ties, and a portrait of Chicano subculture in Los Angeles.

The book begins in 1966 as the Gabaldón sisters struggle to adjust to life without their recently deceased mother. The girls live in Los Angeles with their father, their brother and an aging Hopi housekeeper named Fermina. Each sister is named after a movie star: the eldest (an eighth grader) is Bette Davis, and then there is Loretta Young, Rita Hayworth, and Sophia Loren Gabaldón, who is an infant when their mother dies. (In case you're wondering, their brother is named Cary Grant Gabaldón.)

About a year after their mother dies, Fermina, who has lived with the Gabaldóns as long as the girls can remember, succumbs to pneumonia. Just before she dies, Fermina promises that each girl will soon receive a gift. The girls are naturally curious about the nature of the gifts and this becomes a central, yet underlying story line.

Each chapter is narrated by a different sister. The reader follows their lives over the course of twenty years as they attend college and find jobs; fall in love, marry and divorce; and have children. Each Gabaldón sister has a distinctive voice that the reader quickly comes to know and recognize.

In chronicling the lives of the Gabaldón sisters, López portrays in vivid and often comical detail the nuanced form of interaction that is unique to sisters. They are brutally honest and sarcastic, yet full of love and loyalty.

Interspersed throughout the book are notes taken in 1938 by a journalist who was researching the housekeeper Fermina's life for FDR's Works Progress Administration. These notes - which for much of the novel, the Gabaldón sisters don't know exist - reveal a secret about Fermina. This secret will have a profound impact upon the girls when they finally discover it.

López has been favorably compared to Julia Alvarez, and there are indeed parallels between this novel and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. The Gifted Gabaldón Sisters is about the immigrant experience from the perspective of future generations. It's about family, sisters, fathers and daughters. And it speaks to the universal human need to know our cultural and familial roots as a means of understanding who we are and where we came from.½

The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters is a beautiful tale beautifully told. It is the story of Bette, Loretta, Rita and Sophie, four sisters who are inherently different yet share a common bond. This bond is an overwhelming desire to understand Fermina, the family housekeeper, and the gifts she said they would receive following her death. Each sister struggles to understand and control the gift she thinks Fermina has bestowed upon her. Lopez follows each sister through the twenty-year search for answers and allows the reader to share in their triumphs and bemoan their failures. Finally, the sister come together to learn the truth. The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters is a touching tale of family and finding one's role within it. Lopez has a true flair for words that lets the reader become part of the story.½

“The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters” is a lovely novel about the lives of four sisters who lost their mother at an early age. Their ‘maid’ Fermina became almost a surrogate mother to the girls until her death just a few years later. ’When I am gone,’ she would tell the girls, ‘then you will receive a gift from me.’ On the day of Fermina’s death, the gifts become convinced that she has left each of them a special power; the ability to lie convincingly; to heal animals; the power to curse people; and the ability to make other laugh.

The girls each get a chance to tell their story, in alternating chapters that move from childhood to adulthood. In each chapter, the girls work through what they see as their gift, try to decide whether they believe that Fermina could have left them supernatural gifts, and simply try to learn how to function on their own and as a family.

I was really impressed by the quality of Lopez’s writing. Her descriptions were lovely and very evocative, and I easily transitioned from one sister to another. They had distinct enough personalities that I never forgot who was narrating any given chapter. I was surprised to find that the book was much more down to earth about the family family and less magical realism, but it really worked. The family story was beautiful and occasionally heartbreaking.

The mother of four sisters dies, leaving them to be raised by an unobservant father and a beloved housekeeper, who has her own mysterious past. Unfortunately for the girls, the housekeeper dies shortly after. The girls are pretty much left to their own devices. They feel a void and begin to search to find out who their mother and their housekeeper were.

The sisters' lives are examined over more than twenty years as they reach maturity, go their separate ways, and reunite. Each chapter is taken by a different sister who reports the happenings from her vantage point. Using first-person, second-person, and third-person points of view, the tale unfolds in a smooth, easy-to-read fashion. Each girl has her own voice, and the reader has no difficulty following what could be a difficult read.

The characters are believable--each one is well written so that personality flaws are evident. They squabble, but the bond of family is tight.

Warning: A good bit of profanity is used throughout the book.

The Gabaldon sisters were raised by the mysterious and magical Fermina after their mother died. Now Fermina has died too, leaving each sister an unnamed special gift. The sisters search for their gifts suspecting that Fermina has bestowed magical powers on them. What they find is not quite what they expected.
I loved the magical realism of this book, it had some of the flavour of "Practical Magic" Or "Like Water for Chocolate". Unfortunately I didn't really fall in love with any of the characters, I wish they had been just a little more likeable. While I was drawn in and very curious to see the ending, I felt that it was a bit flat. I guess I would have liked more magic and less realism from this book! Still it was good enough that I will pick p this author's next one.