Book Analysis Sample: How The García Girls Lost Their Accents

How The García Girls Lost Their Accents is a book about four sisters who are forced to leave their home in the Dominican Republic when their fathers attempt to overthrow the dictator Rafael Trujillo is discovered. The book takes place primarily in 1959 and 1960. When the government finds out about the girl's father, Carlos, and his attempt to overthrow Rafael Trujillo, they are forced to flee from their home in the Dominican and go on a journey to reach New York City, NY, in 1960. I think the author wanted to give us insight into the brutal world of politics that took place in the Dominican Republic at the time. Throughout the story the girls feel as if they must abandon their culture and life in the Dominican, so they attempt to leave it behind, by trying to fit into the American standards, (such as fashion, hair, slang and language etc. which is also a subtle insight into life and the difference between the 1960s America opposed to the 1960s Dominican). This is against the will of their parents who want to hold on to their past life as much as they possibly can, because of their terrifying transition from riches to a more minor class. the opposing views, therefore causing conflict between the daughters and their parents. Moreover, at times in the book the family feels trapped, which the Author conveys well through changes in setting or the mood of the characters. This helps the reader understand what it feels like to experience an entirely new home and the feelings of the unknown, which are seen as both full of possibility and danger. This book conveys well what it's like to have to abandon your home country and life in America as an immigrant during the 1960s, especially coming from a very different culture. Overall the setting and time show the real struggle of almost being forced out of a situation and life from the perspective of a young immigrant girl forced out of her home into an unknown world during the 1960s.

How The García Girls Lost Their Accents is structured starting with the table of contents and a few thank yous to people important to the author and the production team. Soon after there is a 2-page chart of the Garcia family tree. The book is split up into three main sections, each containing 5 chapters within. Looking strictly at the titles of each chapter, they seem to make less and less sense as they go on, but this is showing the development and complexity of the story as it progresses. However, the author still manages to make it easy to follow and understand throughout the novel. This is an expansion of the short story that the novel stems from. I think the author used a short story because of how much was contained in it and how much more could be said. The odd styling of the chapters. It is difficult to fit a lot of personality into characters with fewer words, so a novel works excellently for describing the four protagonists of the story. The short story acts as a medium throughout the book, which also helps with the writing process, the author is far more able to focus on detail and other aspects of the story instead of the already predetermined plot and climax. This makes it much easier to write the book. This writing process is very unique and quaint. It’s simplistic yet allows for much more complexity, forming a compelling and absorbing story.I don’t think there would be any better way to write this story. It matches well with the structure and characters, along with main themes, settings, time, etc. It is a very well crafted story.

There are several different themes of identity throughout the entirety of the book, mainly amongst the four main characters and their father, known in the story as “Papa”. Every character in the book seems to have an internal conflict with themselves over their identity when they reach New York City in the USA. Their father particularly struggles with having to abandon his position and status in the Dominican to simply become a normal person living in America. This shows the difference between life in the Dominican and life in the US during the 1960s. Sofia, being the youngest of all the girls, has the easiest time leaving and does not cling to her life in the Dominican except during some of her relationships, mainly her ex-boyfriend Manuel, however, she eventually leaves him, refusing to conform to his demands. Carla is the oldest of the four sisters, and the most uncomfortable leaving her home, she prays multiple times in the book to go home. She has a difficult time abandoning how her past relationships worked, specifically in a sexual manner. She has many awkward encounters.

We first meet the second youngest sister, Sandra in a mental hospital, she seems to struggle with lots of things. She is an artist, but goes crazy when she breaks her arm and can no longer draw. She has an interesting story all around and probably the most unique of the four sisters Yolanda is the last of the four sisters. She has a very hard time in the US, having to divorce her husband because of his lack of understanding of her love for words. She considers herself a poet, but over time rejects that she is a Dominican woman and says she is American at heart. Overall the book did an excellent job showing the struggles of each of the sisters and their lives in America.