Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle

Amazon Review By historyfuzz (San Jose, California)

Mr. Boyle's book attempts to raise discussion over the immigration debate in a creative and effective manner. With the introduction of four main characters in very different circumstances, he vividly develops their individual personalities, feelings, pains and desires through a series of challenges that ultimately depict the unavoidable reality: that they are each deeply affected by the actions of the others. Boyle attempts to get readers to take a fresh look at the aging, yet unresolved debate over illegal immigration in the Southwest. By developing his characters and their exploits so thoroughly, Mr. Boyle firmly places the reader into each character's shoes, and makes it a little easier to see some of the unspoken realities of this issue; not the least of which are the human struggles and the unavoidable ethical dilemas that cannot be resolved by taking one extreme position or the other. The obvious question is whether Boyle has created fair characterizations without resorting to the gratuitous use of shallow stereotypes.

While many may feel diferently, I believe that his representations of each character (while at times redundant) were accurate. Hailing from California myself and having been frequently and directly affected by issues raised in this book throughout my own life, I don't feel that Mr. Boyle relied on unrealistic generalizations. In fact, it was apparent to me that Mr. Boyle must have had some personal experiences (or engaged in some extensive research)to have provided the details and descriptions appearing in the book. Since my family originates from both sides of the border, I can confortably say that one would have to be hyper-sensative to be offended by any characterizations in the book.

My primary concern with the book rests with the ending. Without providing any details, I must say that Mr. Boyle owes me either another chapter or a new edition with an ending that measures up to the rest of the book. In the end, I was actually left speculating that my copy was missing some pages. To Mr. Boyle's credit, the reader is drawn closer, into an intimate relationship with each character. Chapter after chapter I became completely invested in the story. As the book builds, one cannot help but hope for some resolve, not necessarily in the immigration debate, but of the personal struggles of the characters who almost seem to deserve it after all the trials they've undergone throughout the book. This sense of satisfaction never comes. And while Mr. Boyle's ending message is thoughtful and profound, the ending's simplicity overshadows its intended impact. Throughout this book, Mr. Boyle effectively avoids opining directly on the topic (or possible solutions) of illegal immigration and chooses to allow the reader the opportunity to form their own conclusions by personally experiencing it through each character's eyes. The author clearly wanted to be consistent by choosing such a safe path to an ending, but it is shallow and abrupt, and lacking the creativity found throughout the book. I suppose if closure is not a prerequisite in your choice of a novel, this book is a great read. The journey is gripping. But if a thoughtful and creative ending is important, it might not be a good investment of time if you end up experiencing the same disappointment I did. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
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